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Facts + Statistics: Tornadoes and thunderstorms
Tornadoes
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm and comes into contact with the ground, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In an average year about 1,000 tornadoes are reported nationwide, according to NOAA. Tornado intensity is measured by the enhanced Fujita (EF) scale. The scale rates tornadoes on a scale of 0 through 5, based on the amount and type of wind damage. It incorporates 28 different damage indicators, based on damage to a wide variety of structures ranging from trees to shopping malls.
The U.S. experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, according to a 2013 report by Lloyd’s of London. (See Executive Summary, page 4 of Tornadoes a Rising Risk? for additional findings and statistics.)
The Fujita Scale For Tornadoes
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(1) Original scale: wind speeds represent fastest estimated speeds over one quarter of a mile.
(2) Enhanced scale: wind speeds represent maximum 3-second gusts.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Insured Losses
The United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country. Tornadoes accounted for 39.9 percent of insured catastrophe losses from 1997 to 2016, according to Verisk’s Property Claim Services (PCS). A March 2017 report by Willis Re found that the average annual loss from severe convective storms is $11.23 billion (in 2016 dollars) compared to $11.28 billion from hurricanes, based on PCS data. In 2016 insured losses from U.S. tornadoes/thunderstorms totaled $14 billion, up from $9.6 billion in 2015. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notes that tornadoes can happen any time of year. The costliest U.S. catastrophe involving tornadoes, based on insured losses, occurred in April 2011. It hit Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and other areas, and cost $7.9 billion in insured damages (in 2016 dollars). That event was the 10th costliest U.S. catastrophe, based on insured losses, according to PCS. The second costliest catastrophe involving tornadoes, based on insured losses, struck Joplin, Missouri, and other locations in May 2011. The catastrophe cost $7.4 billion in insured losses in 2016 dollars. (See chart below.) The National Weather Service posts updated information on tornadoes.
2017 Tornado Season
The number of tornadoes rose to 1,406 in 2017 from 971 in 2016, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The 2017 total was the highest since 2011, when there were 1,691 tornadoes, including two spring events that resulted in over $14 billion in losses when they occurred. There were 35 direct fatalities from tornadoes in 2017, up from 18 in 2016, according to NOAA. May was the top month for tornadoes in 2017, with 287 twisters.
Natural Catastrophe Losses In The United States, 2016
(Based on perils)
Source: © 2017 Munich Re, NatCatSERVICE; Property Claim Services (PCS®)*, a Verisk Analytics® business. As of February 2017.
Number Of Tornadoes And Related Deaths Per Month, 2017 (1)
(1) Excludes Puerto Rico. A tornado that crosses state lines is counted as a single event in this chart.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service.
Top 10 Costliest U.S. Catastrophes Involving Tornadoes (1)
($ millions)
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(1) Based on data through May 30, 2017.
(2) Property coverage only. In addition to losses due to tornadoes themselves, amounts may include losses due to hail, wind and flooding during the same event.
(3) Adjusted for inflation through 2016 by ISO using the GDP implicit price deflator.
Source: The Property Claim Services® (PCS®) unit of ISO®, a Verisk Analytics® company.
Top 10 States, By Number Of Tornadoes, 2017 (1)
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(1) Tornadoes that cross state lines are counted in every state in which they touch down.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service.
Tornadoes And Related Deaths By State, 2017 (1)
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(1) Ranked by total number of tornadoes.
(2) States with the same number receive the same ranking.
(3) State had no tornadoes in 2017.
(4) The U.S. total will not match data used in other charts because it counts tornadoes that cross state lines.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service.
Tornadoes And Related Deaths In The United States, 1998-2017 (1)
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(1) Excludes Puerto Rico. A tornado that crosses state lines counts as one event.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service.
U.S. Convective Loss Events, 1980-2015
(2015 $ billions)
Source: © 2016 Munich Re, NatCatSERVICE; Property Claim Services (PCS®)*, a Verisk Analytics® business. As of January 2016.
