Norman, Oklahoma — Tornado activity across the United States remained above historical averages in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of elevated twister reports, according to newly released preliminary data from federal forecasters.
Data from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center shows that 1,558 tornadoes were reported nationwide in 2025, exceeding the 15-year historical average of 1,392, though falling short of 2024’s preliminary total of 1,910.
While tornado frequency dipped slightly compared to the year before, where storms occurred — and which states were hit hardest — shifted noticeably, reflecting changing atmospheric patterns across the country.
The five states with the most tornadoes in 2025
Based on preliminary counts, the following states recorded the highest number of tornadoes last year:
- Texas – 162
- Illinois – 146
- Missouri – 120
- Mississippi – 111
- Alabama and North Dakota – 72 each
Texas once again topped the list, a familiar outcome given its size and location in Tornado Alley, where warm Gulf moisture often collides with cooler, drier air from the Plains.
Because of its geography and scale, Texas almost always ranks first in annual tornado counts, meteorologists noted.
Several states saw no tornadoes at all
Despite widespread activity elsewhere, seven states in the contiguous U.S. reported zero tornadoes in 2025:
- Connecticut
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
This highlights how tornado risk can vary dramatically year to year, even in regions that occasionally see severe storms.
Tornado hot spots shifted south in 2025
Compared to 2024, tornado activity declined along parts of the East Coast and increased across the South and portions of the Upper Plains.
States such as Florida, Iowa, and Nebraska dropped out of the top rankings, while Mississippi, Alabama, and North Dakota moved into the top five.
The overall pattern reflected fewer East Coast tornadoes and more activity across the South, forecasters said.
Although most tornadoes occurred east of the Mississippi River, notable clusters also developed in western Texas and North Dakota.
North Dakota spikes after major outbreaks
North Dakota’s placement among the top states was driven largely by major tornado outbreaks in June and September, events that stood out in an otherwise uneven severe weather season.
Several large outbreaks significantly boosted North Dakota’s annual total, despite the state typically seeing fewer tornadoes than southern regions.
Those outbreaks helped push the state into a tie for fifth place nationally.
Deadly year despite mid-season slowdown
Tornadoes claimed 68 lives in 2025, an increase from 54 deaths in 2024, underscoring the continued danger posed by severe weather.
Early in the year, forecasters feared 2025 could become the most destructive tornado season in 14 years, following damaging outbreaks in March, April, and May.
However, tornado activity declined sharply in June, and the second half of the year remained relatively quiet.
The absence of landfalling U.S. hurricanes and a weaker late-season severe weather pattern helped limit the final count, experts said.
By year’s end, 2025 ranked as the fourth-highest tornado total of the past 15 years.
Notable tornadoes defined the year
Several individual storms stood out in 2025:
A 117-mile-long EF4 tornado tore through parts of Arkansas and Missouri on March 14, becoming the third-longest tornado on record in Arkansas.
The following day, a tornado tracking from Kentwood, Louisiana, to Darbun, Mississippi, killed five people, making it the deadliest tornado of the year.
Perhaps most significant:
On June 20, an EF5 tornado struck southeastern North Dakota, ending a 12-year drought of EF5 tornadoes in the U.S. — the strongest category on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
Tornado warnings also declined
Warnings issued by the National Weather Service mirrored the overall trend.
- 3,018 tornado warnings were issued in 2025
- Down from 3,636 warnings in 2024
April was the most active month, accounting for 838 warnings nationwide.
The Oklahoma City National Weather Service office issued 184 tornado warnings, more than any of the agency’s 122 offices across the country.
What this means heading into 2026
Meteorologists say 2025 reinforces a growing trend: tornado risk is expanding beyond traditional Tornado Alley, with more frequent activity in the South and Upper Midwest.
Where tornadoes strike matters just as much as how many occur, experts warn, especially as populations grow in high-risk areas.
As researchers continue analyzing final storm data, forecasters urge residents nationwide to stay prepared, regardless of past tornado history.
Did your state experience more severe weather than usual last year? Do you feel tornado risks are changing where you live? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
