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How Many Tornadoes a Year in the U.S.? Every Year Since 1950

By Twisters.us · Updated · How we count

The U.S. gets more tornadoes than any other country. Here is every year’s total since 1950.

From 1950 to 2024 the U.S. recorded 71,808 tornadoes, an average of 957 a year. Over the last ten years (2015 to 2024) the average was 1,287.

Busiest years: 2004 (1,817), 2024 (1,791), 2011 (1,691), 2008 (1,689), 2019 (1,517).

Why the numbers rose

The jump from a few hundred a year in the 1950s to well over 1,000 today is mostly detection: Doppler radar in the 1990s, more storm spotters, more people and phones, and better damage surveys. The count of strong (F3/EF3 and up) tornadoes has not risen the same way.

Sources

Sources last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many tornadoes does the U.S. get a year?

About 1,287 a year over 2015 to 2024.

What year had the most tornadoes?

2004, with 1,817 in NOAA’s database.

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