Special Report

States With the Most Tornadoes

mdesigner125 / Getty Images

Some people know of tornadoes only through movies and news reports. But for people in Tornado Alley and Dixie Alley, tornadoes are a common occurrence during certain parts of the year. In states like Texas and Alabama, residents are all too familiar with the need to rush for the shelter of the bathtub in response to a tornado warning.

Those living in areas prone to tornadoes are often willing to accept the occasional danger to live in nicer-weather regions. In fact, many of the states with the most tornadoes are also home to some of the cities with the best weather.

Tornadoes do not typically result in damage, injury, or loss of life. Approximately 1,200 tornadoes form in the United States each year. More than 75% are considered weak, classified as EF-0 to EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage Intensity Scale. Only about 5% are on the upper end of the intensity scale, EF-3 to EF-5, and are considered violent. An even smaller percentage reach the maximum level on the scale, EF-5, characterized by wind speed of 200 mph or higher and severe destruction.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed for every state the total number of unique tornadoes recorded between 1950 and the middle of 2018 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center. Total crop and property damage, as well as the total injuries and fatalities incurred for every year since 1950 also came from NOAA. Property damage figures are not available for years prior to 1996, and crop damage figures are not available until 2006.

Click here to see the states with the most tornadoes.

Joe Raedle / Getty Images

50. Alaska
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 4
> Total damage since 1996: Not available
> Total fatalities since 1950: Not available
> Most destructive tornado on record: Not available

See all stories featuring: Alaska

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buzzfarmers / Flickr

49. Rhode Island
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 11
> Total damage since 1996: $155,000
> Total fatalities since 1950: Not available
> Most destructive tornado on record: $60,000, on Wednesday, July 23, 2008

See all stories featuring: Rhode Island

Courtesy of Commander Grady Tuell, NOAA Corps

48. Hawaii
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 41
> Total damage since 1996: $60,000
> Total fatalities since 1950: Not available
> Most destructive tornado on record: $60,000, on Sunday, March 24, 2002

See all stories featuring: Hawaii

pictus photography / Getty Images

47. Vermont
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 45
> Total damage since 1996: $1.3 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: Not available
> Most destructive tornado on record: $630,000, on Sunday, May 31, 1998

See all stories featuring: Vermont

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Photo by Master Sgt. Keith Strouss, Delaware Air National Guard

46. Delaware
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 63
> Total damage since 1996: $1.5 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 2
> Most destructive tornado on record: $1 million, on Tuesday, September 28, 2004

See all stories featuring: Delaware

kenlund / Flickr

45. Nevada
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 92
> Total damage since 1996: $32,000
> Total fatalities since 1950: Not available
> Most destructive tornado on record: $30,000, on Friday, September 11, 1998

See all stories featuring: Nevada

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Maudib / Getty Images

44. New Hampshire
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 94
> Total damage since 1996: $2.9 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 1
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.0 million, on Thursday, July 24, 2008

See all stories featuring: New Hampshire

jeepersmedia / Flickr

43. Connecticut
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 102
> Total damage since 1996: $11.6 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 4
> Most destructive tornado on record: $5 million, on Monday, July 1, 2013

See all stories featuring: Connecticut

rhyman007 / Getty Images

42. Oregon
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 113
> Total damage since 1996: $3.5 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 6
> Most destructive tornado on record: $1.2 million, on Tuesday, December 14, 2010

See all stories featuring: Oregon

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Incomel / Getty Images

41. Washington
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 120
> Total damage since 1996: $2.5 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 6
> Most destructive tornado on record: $525,000, on Thursday, January 10, 2008

See all stories featuring: Washington

Courtesy of KTVX News 4 Utah / NOAA / Wikimedia Commons

40. Utah
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 130
> Total damage since 1996: $175.9 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 1
> Most destructive tornado on record: $170 million, on Wednesday, August 11, 1999

See all stories featuring: Utah

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National Weather Service, Caribou, Maine / Wikimedia Commons

39. Maine
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 134
> Total damage since 1996: $394,000
> Total fatalities since 1950: 1
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250,000, on Thursday, November 24, 2005

See all stories featuring: Maine

BackyardProduction / Getty Images

38. West Virginia
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 149
> Total damage since 1996: $14.6 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 3
> Most destructive tornado on record: $5 million, on Tuesday, June 2, 1998

See all stories featuring: West Virginia

Damiano LoBasso / Getty Images

37. New Jersey
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 150
> Total damage since 1996: $12.9 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 1
> Most destructive tornado on record: $4.2 million, on Friday, August 20, 1999

See all stories featuring: New Jersey

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Matthew Cavanaugh / Getty Images

36. Massachusetts
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 167
> Total damage since 1996: $238.4 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 109
> Most destructive tornado on record: $227.6 million, on Wednesday, June 1, 2011

See all stories featuring: Massachusetts

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

35. Idaho
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 213
> Total damage since 1996: $4.4 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 0
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.2 million, on Monday, February 14, 2000

See all stories featuring: Idaho

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EuToch / Getty Images

34. Arizona
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 246
> Total damage since 1996: $2.5 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 3
> Most destructive tornado on record: $1 million, on Wednesday, October 6, 2010

See all stories featuring: Arizona

imatty35 / Flickr

33. Maryland
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 363
> Total damage since 1996: $260 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 8
> Most destructive tornado on record: $124 million, on Sunday, April 28, 2002

See all stories featuring: Maryland

warrenlong / Flickr

32. Montana
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 423
> Total damage since 1996: $40.8 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 5
> Most destructive tornado on record: $32.5 million, on Friday, July 2, 2010

See all stories featuring: Montana

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David McNew / Getty Images

31. California
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 435
> Total damage since 1996: $35.3 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: Not available
> Most destructive tornado on record: $18 million, on Thursday, August 6, 2015

See all stories featuring: California

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

30. New York
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 444
> Total damage since 1996: $214.5 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 30
> Most destructive tornado on record: $70.6 million, on Sunday, May 31, 1998

See all stories featuring: New York

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Drew Angerer / Getty Images

29. New Mexico
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 592
> Total damage since 1996: $26 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 4
> Most destructive tornado on record: $19 million, on Friday, March 23, 2007

See all stories featuring: New Mexico

noaaphotolib / Flickr

28. Wyoming
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 674
> Total damage since 1996: $7.4 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 4
> Most destructive tornado on record: $5 million, on Friday, August 12, 2005

See all stories featuring: Wyoming

Jay Paul / Getty Images

27. Virginia
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 724
> Total damage since 1996: $253.3 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 37
> Most destructive tornado on record: $53.8 million, on Friday, September 17, 2004

See all stories featuring: Virginia

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Josh Gardner / Flickr

26. Pennsylvania
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 809
> Total damage since 1996: $174.7 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 83
> Most destructive tornado on record: $45.7 million, on Monday, July 21, 2003

See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

25. South Carolina
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,001
> Total damage since 1996: $78.9 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 78
> Most destructive tornado on record: $8 million, on Friday, July 6, 2001

See all stories featuring: South Carolina

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

24. Kentucky
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,002
> Total damage since 1996: $926 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 228
> Most destructive tornado on record: $101 million, on Tuesday, May 28, 1996

See all stories featuring: Kentucky

andyfowler / Flickr

23. Michigan
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,038
> Total damage since 1996: $367 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 241
> Most destructive tornado on record: $90 million, on Wednesday, July 2, 1997

See all stories featuring: Michigan

J.D. Pooley / Getty Images

22. Ohio
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,106
> Total damage since 1996: $566.1 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 260
> Most destructive tornado on record: $102.4 million, on Saturday, June 5, 2010

See all stories featuring: Ohio

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Scott Burton / Getty Images

21. Tennessee
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,225
> Total damage since 1996: $1.24 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 374
> Most destructive tornado on record: $101 million, on Thursday, April 16, 1998

See all stories featuring: Tennessee

Sara D. Davis / Getty Images

20. North Carolina
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,306
> Total damage since 1996: $758.3 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 128
> Most destructive tornado on record: $172.1 million, on Saturday, April 16, 2011

See all stories featuring: North Carolina

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Storm talk / Wikimedia Commons

19. Wisconsin
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,372
> Total damage since 1996: $387.9 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 102
> Most destructive tornado on record: $39.5 million, on Thursday, July 18, 1996

See all stories featuring: Wisconsin

dvids / Flickr

18. Indiana
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,495
> Total damage since 1996: $578.1 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 310
> Most destructive tornado on record: $103 million, on Friday, September 20, 2002

See all stories featuring: Indiana

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

17. North Dakota
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,565
> Total damage since 1996: $112.6 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 38
> Most destructive tornado on record: $50 million, on Sunday, August 26, 2007

See all stories featuring: North Dakota

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Gavin Averill / Getty Images

16. Georgia
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,668
> Total damage since 1996: $1.47 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 236
> Most destructive tornado on record: $310.3 million, on Sunday, January 22, 2017

See all stories featuring: Georgia

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

15. South Dakota
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,798
> Total damage since 1996: $69.7 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 18
> Most destructive tornado on record: $18 million, on Saturday, May 30, 1998

See all stories featuring: South Dakota

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Steve Pope / Getty Images

14. Minnesota
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,837
> Total damage since 1996: $688.5 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 99
> Most destructive tornado on record: $166.6 million, on Sunday, May 22, 2011

See all stories featuring: Minnesota

Mark Wilson / Getty Images

13. Arkansas
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 1,841
> Total damage since 1996: $1.52 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 411
> Most destructive tornado on record: $223.5 million, on Sunday, April 27, 2014

See all stories featuring: Arkansas

Sean Gardner / Getty Images

12. Louisiana
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 2,031
> Total damage since 1996: $704.7 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 227
> Most destructive tornado on record: $386 million, on Saturday, April 24, 2010

See all stories featuring: Louisiana

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Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

11. Alabama
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 2,161
> Total damage since 1996: $7.1 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 793
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.45 billion, on Wednesday, April 27, 2011

See all stories featuring: Alabama

Stefan Klein / Wikimedia Commons

10. Colorado
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 2,176
> Total damage since 1996: $178.7 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 5
> Most destructive tornado on record: $147 million, on Thursday, May 22, 2008

See all stories featuring: Colorado

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Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

9. Mississippi
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 2,198
> Total damage since 1996: $2.49 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 672
> Most destructive tornado on record: $501 million, on Monday, April 4, 2011

See all stories featuring: Mississippi

dvids / Flickr

8. Missouri
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 2,319
> Total damage since 1996: $3.81 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 428
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.8 billion, on Sunday, May 22, 2011

See all stories featuring: Missouri

Jon Durr / Getty Images

7. Illinois
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 2,495
> Total damage since 1996: $1.56 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 232
> Most destructive tornado on record: $935.23 million, on Sunday, November 17, 2013

See all stories featuring: Illinois

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NOAA Photo Library / Flickr

6. Iowa
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 2,558
> Total damage since 1996: $1.39 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 89
> Most destructive tornado on record: $750 million, on Friday, July 23, 2010

See all stories featuring: Iowa

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

5. Nebraska
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 2,882
> Total damage since 1996: $369.8 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 60
> Most destructive tornado on record: $160.2 million, on Saturday, May 22, 2004

See all stories featuring: Nebraska

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Timmy27 / Wikimedia Commons

4. Florida
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 3,359
> Total damage since 1996: $977.6 million
> Total fatalities since 1950: 165
> Most destructive tornado on record: $205 million, on Monday, February 2, 1998

See all stories featuring: Florida

Daphne Zaras / Wikimedia Commons

3. Oklahoma
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 3,848
> Total damage since 1996: $4.15 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 474
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2 billion, on Monday, May 20, 2013

See all stories featuring: Oklahoma

Brian Davidson / Getty Images

2. Kansas
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 4,254
> Total damage since 1996: $1.43 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 297
> Most destructive tornado on record: $500 million, on Saturday, April 14, 2012

See all stories featuring: Kansas

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

1. Texas
> Total unique tornadoes (1950 – August 2018): 8,782
> Total damage since 1996: $2.38 billion
> Total fatalities since 1950: 639
> Most destructive tornado on record: $400 million, on Tuesday, April 3, 2012

See all stories featuring: Texas

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