Tornadoes are one of the most destructive natural phenomena on the planet. In the United States, they are also one of the most common. There were more than 72,000 tornadoes recorded in the United States from 1950 through 2020, resulting in nearly 6,000 fatalities, tens of thousands of injuries, and property and crop damage in the billions of dollars.
Of course, parts of the United States are far more susceptible to tornadoes than others. Some states have reported fewer than a few dozen tornadoes since 1950, and tornadoes in those states were mostly relatively weak, resulting in limited destruction. Meanwhile, other states have reported thousands of tornadoes over that period — and many of those tornadoes were devastating.
Using historical data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most tornadoes. States are ranked on the number of tornadoes reported from 1950 through 2020. Supplemental information on fatalities, injured persons, and destruction, also came from NOAA. The dollar value assigned to damages are rough estimates, and for many decades, are rounded figures beginning with “25.”
Tornadoes vary considerably in power and wind speed. The National Weather Service groups tornadoes into six categories of severity using the Enhanced Fujita Scale: EF0 – a light damage tornado, having wind speeds of 65-85 mph; EF1 – a moderate damage rating, with winds from 86-110 mph; EF2 – a tornado causing considerable damage, with wind speeds ranging from 111-135 mph; EF3 – a tornado resulting in severe damage, ranging in speed from 136-165 mph; EF4 – a tornado that causes devastating damage, with winds between 166-200 mph; and finally, EF5 – a tornado that results in incredible damage, with wind blowing at speeds over 200 mph. The vast majority of tornadoes in the United States are either EF0 or EF1, though there have been nearly 140 F5 tornadoes in the U.S. since 1950. Here is a look at the worst natural disaster in every state.
The parts of the country hit hardest by tornadoes are nicknamed “Tornado Alley,” a region that spreads from northern Texas into the southern plains of the central U.S., and “Dixie Alley,” a region in the southeast around the Gulf Coast. Still, though tornadoes are rare in much of the rest of the country, no state has been completely spared. Here is a look at the rarest types of weather on Earth.
Click here to see states with the most tornadoes.
Click here to see our methodology.
50. Alaska
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 3
> Total fatalities since 1950: 0
> Total injuries since 1950: 0
> Most destructive tornado on record: N/A
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: N/A
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49. Rhode Island
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 13
> Total fatalities since 1950: 0
> Total injuries since 1950: 23
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.5 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Thursday, Aug. 7, 1986; Providence County
48. Hawaii
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 42
> Total fatalities since 1950: 0
> Total injuries since 1950: 6
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.5 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Thursday, Jan. 28, 1971; Hawaii County
47. Vermont
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 46
> Total fatalities since 1950: 0
> Total injuries since 1950: 10
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.5 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, Aug. 8, 1983; Chittenden County
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46. Delaware
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 72
> Total fatalities since 1950: 2
> Total injuries since 1950: 76
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.5 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Friday, June 9, 1989; New Castle County
45. Nevada
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 94
> Total fatalities since 1950: 0
> Total injuries since 1950: 2
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250,000 in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, March 30, 1992; Clark County
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44. New Hampshire
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 107
> Total fatalities since 1950: 1
> Total injuries since 1950: 30
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.5 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Thursday, Aug. 7, 1986; Carroll County
24/7 Wall St.
43. Connecticut
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 117
> Total fatalities since 1950: 4
> Total injuries since 1950: 703
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, July 10, 1989; New Haven County
42. Oregon
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 121
> Total fatalities since 1950: 0
> Total injuries since 1950: 5
> Most destructive tornado on record: $25.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Tuesday, June 11, 1968; Wallowa County
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41. Washington
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 127
> Total fatalities since 1950: 6
> Total injuries since 1950: 303
> Most destructive tornado on record: $25.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Wednesday, April 5, 1972; Clark County
40. Utah
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 133
> Total fatalities since 1950: 1
> Total injuries since 1950: 96
> Most destructive tornado on record: $170.5 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1999; Salt Lake County
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39. Maine
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 139
> Total fatalities since 1950: 1
> Total injuries since 1950: 20
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.5 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Thursday, July 14, 1988; Androscoggin County
24/7 Wall St.
38. West Virginia
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 159
> Total fatalities since 1950: 3
> Total injuries since 1950: 118
> Most destructive tornado on record: $7.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Tuesday, June 2, 1998; Preston County
37. New Jersey
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 169
> Total fatalities since 1950: 1
> Total injuries since 1950: 70
> Most destructive tornado on record: $25.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, July 13, 1975; Cumberland County
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36. Massachusetts
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 184
> Total fatalities since 1950: 105
> Total injuries since 1950: 1,562
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Tuesday, June 9, 1953; Worcester County
35. Idaho
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 216
> Total fatalities since 1950: 0
> Total injuries since 1950: 9
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.5 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Friday, April 7, 1978; Bonneville County
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34. Arizona
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 269
> Total fatalities since 1950: 3
> Total injuries since 1950: 152
> Most destructive tornado on record: $25.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Wednesday, June 21, 1972; Maricopa County
33. Maryland
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 394
> Total fatalities since 1950: 9
> Total injuries since 1950: 319
> Most destructive tornado on record: $114.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, April 28, 2002; Charles County
32. Montana
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 418
> Total fatalities since 1950: 4
> Total injuries since 1950: 29
> Most destructive tornado on record: $30.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, June 20, 2010; Yellowstone County
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31. California
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 461
> Total fatalities since 1950: 0
> Total injuries since 1950: 90
> Most destructive tornado on record: $25.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Friday, June 5, 1987; Los Angeles County
30. New York
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 485
> Total fatalities since 1950: 27
> Total injuries since 1950: 317
> Most destructive tornado on record: $60.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, May 31, 1998; Saratoga County
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29. New Mexico
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 627
> Total fatalities since 1950: 5
> Total injuries since 1950: 163
> Most destructive tornado on record: $25.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Thursday, May 27, 1982; Lea County
24/7 Wall St.
28. Wyoming
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 718
> Total fatalities since 1950: 4
> Total injuries since 1950: 106
> Most destructive tornado on record: $25.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, July 16, 1979; Laramie County
27. Virginia
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 856
> Total fatalities since 1950: 38
> Total injuries since 1950: 943
> Most destructive tornado on record: $53.8 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Friday, Sept. 17, 2004; Henry County
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26. Pennsylvania
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 935
> Total fatalities since 1950: 82
> Total injuries since 1950: 1,293
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, July 21, 1980; Crawford County
25. South Carolina
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 1,173
> Total fatalities since 1950: 66
> Total injuries since 1950: 1,424
> Most destructive tornado on record: $100.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, April 13, 2020; Oconee County
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24. Michigan
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 1,176
> Total fatalities since 1950: 244
> Total injuries since 1950: 3,375
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, April 11, 1965; Branch County
23. Kentucky
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 1,213
> Total fatalities since 1950: 148
> Total injuries since 1950: 3,066
> Most destructive tornado on record: $100.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Tuesday, May 28, 1996; Bullitt County
22. Ohio
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 1,300
> Total fatalities since 1950: 196
> Total injuries since 1950: 4,657
> Most destructive tornado on record: $500.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, May 27, 2019; Montgomery County
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21. Tennessee
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 1,450
> Total fatalities since 1950: 374
> Total injuries since 1950: 4,784
> Most destructive tornado on record: $1.1 billion in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Tuesday, March 3, 2020; Davidson County
20. North Carolina
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 1,549
> Total fatalities since 1950: 129
> Total injuries since 1950: 2,628
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, Nov. 28, 1988; Wake County
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19. Wisconsin
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 1,566
> Total fatalities since 1950: 96
> Total injuries since 1950: 1,635
> Most destructive tornado on record: $40.4 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Thursday, July 18, 1996; Fond Du Lac County
18. North Dakota
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 1,649
> Total fatalities since 1950: 26
> Total injuries since 1950: 362
> Most destructive tornado on record: $52.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007; Grand Forks County
17. Indiana
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 1,787
> Total fatalities since 1950: 266
> Total injuries since 1950: 4,279
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Wednesday, April 3, 1974; Perry County
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16. South Dakota
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 1,833
> Total fatalities since 1950: 19
> Total injuries since 1950: 475
> Most destructive tornado on record: $25.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Tuesday, June 16, 1992; Buffalo County
15. Georgia
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 2,066
> Total fatalities since 1950: 206
> Total injuries since 1950: 4,172
> Most destructive tornado on record: $300.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017; Dougherty County
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14. Minnesota
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 2,150
> Total fatalities since 1950: 100
> Total injuries since 1950: 1,980
> Most destructive tornado on record: $166.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, May 22, 2011; Hennepin County
13. Colorado
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 2,213
> Total fatalities since 1950: 5
> Total injuries since 1950: 276
> Most destructive tornado on record: $147.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Thursday, May 22, 2008; Weld County
12. Arkansas
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 2,289
> Total fatalities since 1950: 401
> Total injuries since 1950: 5,421
> Most destructive tornado on record: $300.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Saturday, March 28, 2020; Craighead County
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11. Louisiana
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 2,436
> Total fatalities since 1950: 171
> Total injuries since 1950: 2,867
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, April 12, 2020; Ouachita Parish
10. Alabama
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 2,686
> Total fatalities since 1950: 659
> Total injuries since 1950: 8,257
> Most destructive tornado on record: $1.5 billion in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Wednesday, April 27, 2011; Tuscaloosa County
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9. Missouri
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 2,741
> Total fatalities since 1950: 399
> Total injuries since 1950: 4,493
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.8 billion in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, May 22, 2011; Jasper County
8. Mississippi
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 2,880
> Total fatalities since 1950: 499
> Total injuries since 1950: 6,875
> Most destructive tornado on record: $500.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, April 4, 2011; Lawrence County
7. Illinois
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 2,895
> Total fatalities since 1950: 225
> Total injuries since 1950: 4,533
> Most destructive tornado on record: $910.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013; Tazewell County
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6. Iowa
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 2,976
> Total fatalities since 1950: 86
> Total injuries since 1950: 2,272
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, July 28, 1986; Woodbury County
5. Nebraska
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 3,066
> Total fatalities since 1950: 56
> Total injuries since 1950: 1,202
> Most destructive tornado on record: $250.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Tuesday, June 3, 1980; Hall County
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4. Florida
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 3,487
> Total fatalities since 1950: 171
> Total injuries since 1950: 3,390
> Most destructive tornado on record: $175.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, Feb. 2, 1998; Miami-Dade County
3. Oklahoma
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 4,471
> Total fatalities since 1950: 348
> Total injuries since 1950: 5,299
> Most destructive tornado on record: $2.0 billion in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Monday, May 20, 2013; Cleveland County
2. Kansas
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 4,648
> Total fatalities since 1950: 236
> Total injuries since 1950: 2,841
> Most destructive tornado on record: $500.0 million in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Saturday, April 14, 2012; Sedgwick County
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1. Texas
> Total number of tornadoes (1950-2020): 9,425
> Total fatalities since 1950: 573
> Total injuries since 1950: 9,194
> Most destructive tornado on record: $1.6 billion in estimated damage
> Most destructive tornado start date and location: Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019; Dallas County
Methodology:
24/7 Wall St. reviewed the total number of unique tornadoes recorded in every state between 1950 and 2018 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center.
Total deaths and injuries are also from NOAA. We only considered those fatalities and injuries that were classified as having resulted directly from the tornado. Indirect fatalities and injuries were not counted.
The monetary value of damages for the most destructive tornado includes damage to both crops and property. These values are rough estimates reported by NOAA and are not adjusted for inflation. It is important to note that other tornadoes in a given state’s history, other than the one that occurred on the date listed, could have resulted in monetary damages equal to the one listed. However, for the purposes of this list, only one tornado was selected as representative.
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