Tornado Climatology

Annual and monthly tornado day averages by NWS forecast area

Many offices of the Weather Service see five or more tornado days in the average year.

3 years ago

Maximum tornado probabilities by month and year

Past forecasts from the Storm Prediction Center offer many clues. A visual examination of the data back to 2002.

3 years ago

Peak tornado season is often April or May, but that’s not always the case

May is by far the favorite in total counts. April leads for strong tornadoes.

4 years ago

How peak tornado season ends up active or quiet in the Plains

While outbreak details evolve into the day one happens, there are a number of large scale pattern hints to look…

5 years ago

Clues from a decade of Storm Prediction Center tornado outlooks during peak season

We can get an idea of the tornado forecasting normal by looking at past data.

6 years ago

Key facts about violent tornado season

A quick look at when the first and last violent tornado of the year typically happens, and some potential trends…

6 years ago

The most tornadoes in a calendar day by state

All states have had a big tornado day, and many have come in recent decades.

6 years ago

When is the best time of year to schedule a storm chasing vacation?

Chasing prizes often come down to persistence, but there are ways to play the odds.

7 years ago

Rethinking how we conceptualize tornado days

Simple ways of defining tornado days leave a lot to be desired.

7 years ago

An overview of the modern tornado record, 1950 through present (maps)

Here's a concise look at the official tornado record.

7 years ago