2023 was predicted to have a heavy tornado season. While the year didn’t end up being as severe as experts predicted, there were still higher-than-average numbers of twisters, with 1,423 tornadoes wreaking havoc across the country in 2023. And 2024 is predicted to have higher-than-average numbers of tornadoes as well, with AccuWeather predicting somewhere between 1,250 and 1,375 tornadoes before the end of the year. [1]
Read on to find out what states historically experience the most twisters each year — and how to ensure your home insurance policy adequately covers you against tornado damage.
Top 5 states with the most tornadoes in 2024 so far
Here's a look at the top five states with the most tornadoes in 2024 as of January 31st — the most recent data available from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).:
State | Approx. number of tornadoes as of April 1, 2024 |
|---|---|
Illinois | 136 |
Alabama | 101 |
Texas | 89 |
Colorado | 89 |
Mississippi | 81 |
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Top 10 states with the most tornadoes in 2023 vs. 2022
There were 1,423 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. in 2023, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). [2] Illinois has experienced the most tornadoes with 136 touching down in the state, followed by Alabama and Texas.
Mississippi experienced the most tornadoes in 2022, followed by Texas and Alabama. Here's a complete look at the top 10 states with the most tornadoes in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the NOAA. [3]
Based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service Preliminary Severe Weather Report Summary of 2023, which was last updated December 31, 2023, as well as the NOAA National Service Preliminary Severe Weather Report Summary of 2022.
What state has the most tornadoes on average?
Since 1997, Texas has averaged 135 tornadoes per year — the highest of any other state in the U.S., according to our analysis of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). [4] It’s followed by Kansas with 91 annual tornadoes and Oklahoma with 75 twisters per year.
As you can see in the map above, the majority of tornadoes are concentrated in states throughout the Midwest and Southeast.
Of the average 1,375 tornadoes that occur in the U.S. each year, 75% of them form in states located in Tornado Alley and Dixie Alley — two regions with a disproportionately high number of tornadoes due to ideal twister-forming weather conditions that persist for long stretches of the year.
Tornadoes by state over the last 25 years
Here’s a complete breakdown of the average number of tornadoes per year in each state over the last 25 years.
Top 10 states with the most tornadoes
Here are the top 10 states with the most tornadoes annually over the last 25 years:
Does home insurance cover tornado damage?
Homeowners insurance covers tornado damage caused by wind and hail, fallen trees, and wind-driven rain. However, water damage from flooding that occurs during a twister would not be covered under your standard home insurance policy — you’ll need separate flood insurance for that.
The one exception is if you live in an area at high risk for wind damage — your home insurance policy might exclude coverage for wind and hail. In this case, you’ll need to purchase a separate wind-only policy to fill that coverage gap.
Do I need to pay a separate deductible for tornado damage?
Depending on your state and insurance company, you may have to pay a separate deductible on losses caused by wind and hail damage thanks to your separate windstorm insurance policy. Known as a wind/hail deductible, it can either be a flat-dollar amount or a percentage of your home’s dwelling coverage limit — usually between 1% and 5%.
You choose your deductible when you purchase your home insurance or windstorm insurance policy. A higher deductible leads to lower insurance rates, and vice versa.
Frequently asked questions
What states have the most tornadoes?
These five states see the most tornadoes on average: Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Mississippi. But surprisingly, many homeowners who've lived through a tornado believe they're less likely than others to experience future ones.
What states are in Tornado Alley?
States that were traditionally in Tornado Alley include South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas, according to the NOAA.
However, climatologists have since seen a shift in tornadoes to the Southeast and identified what they call the new Tornado Alley that consists of Eastern Texas and Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and parts of Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.
How often do tornadoes happen in Maine?
Maine homeowners experienced an average of two tornadoes per year between 1997 and 2022, according to our analysis of NOAA data.
