22 States at Highest Risk of Severe Storms in 2025

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Severe storms are a designation for a broad category of weather events, including lightning, high winds, hail, tornadoes, and flooding. These characteristics of severe storms can be extremely dangerous and destructive. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an average of 200 Americans are killed every year by severe storms. Additionally, in recent decades, the United States has been impacted by hundreds of severe storms that have caused over $1 billion in damage. Cumulatively, these major, severe storm events have caused over half a trillion dollars in damage across the U.S. since 1980, adjusting for inflation.

According to research published by NASA, extreme weather, including severe storms, have been occurring with greater frequency and intensity as the planet warms. And these findings are corroborated by data published by NOAA. Each of the 10 hottest years on record occurred within the last decade, and in recent years, severe storms have become far more common in the most susceptible states. There are 22 states that have been impacted by an average of at least one severe storm that resulted in at least $1 billion in damage every year since 1980. In each of these states, the year with the most major severe storm incidents in the last 45 years occurred in 2020 or later.

NOAA data on severe storms can provide some insight into what millions of Americans may confront in the coming months of 2025, as in certain states, historical patterns suggest that at least one severe storm resulting in at least $1 billion in damage is more than likely.

Climate Crisis 247 identified the 22 states at highest risk of severe storms in 2025. Severe storm risk was calculated by taking the total number of severe storms that resulted in at least $1 billion in damage that have impacted each state since 1980, and dividing that number by 45, the number years of available historical data. Only states determined likely to be impacted by at least one billion-plus dollar severe storm in 2025 were included in this analysis. All data in this story, including supplemental data, are from NOAA. All risk calculations in this story are based on historical patterns only.

It is important to note that these projections may, if anything, underestimate severe storm risk in 2025, as major severe storm events have become more severe and more common in recent years, and the calculations used in this story are based on historical data going back to 1980.

22. Wisconsin

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.0
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 44
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $220.4 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $9.9 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2022; 6 major, severe storms impacted state

21. South Carolina

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.0
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 44
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $115.5 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $5.2 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2020; 5 major, severe storms impacted state

20. Louisiana

*Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash*

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.0
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 44
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $291.0 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $13.1 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2024; 7 major, severe storms impacted state

19. Nebraska

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.0
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 44
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $366.2 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $16.5 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2022, 2023, 2024; 4 major, severe storms impacted state

18. New York

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.1
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 48
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $111.2 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $5.0 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2024; 7 major, severe storms impacted state

17. Mississippi

*Photo by Pieter van de Sande on Unsplash*

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.1
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 50
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $157.5 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $7.1 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2020; 5 major, severe storms impacted state

16. Virginia

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.2
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 53
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $90.4 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $4.1 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2023; 7 major, severe storms impacted state

15. North Carolina

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.2
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 54
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $196.6 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $8.8 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2024; 6 major, severe storms impacted state

14. Arkansas

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.2
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 55
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $268.5 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $12.1 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2020; 7 major, severe storms impacted state

13. Iowa

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.3
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 57
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $518.0 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $23.3 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2023; 6 major, severe storms impacted state

11. Alabama

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.3
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 58
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $330.0 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $14.9 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2020, 2023; 6 major, severe storms impacted state

12. Kentucky

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.3
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 58
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $372.5 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $16.8 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2023; 7 major, severe storms impacted state

10. Pennsylvania

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.4
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 64
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $217.8 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $9.8 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2023, 2024; 8 major, severe storms impacted state

9. Tennessee

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.5
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 68
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $530.2 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $23.9 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2023; 10 major, severe storms impacted state

8. Georgia

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.5
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 68
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $294.6 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $13.3 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2023; 11 major, severe storms impacted state

7. Ohio

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.5
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 69
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $424.8 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $19.1 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2024; 8 major, severe storms impacted state

6. Kansas

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.6
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 71
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $314.7 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $14.2 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2023, 2024; 6 major, severe storms impacted state

5. Indiana

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.6
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 72
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $353.3 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $15.9 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2023; 7 major, severe storms impacted state

4. Oklahoma

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.7
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 76
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $615.7 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $27.7 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2023; 7 major, severe storms impacted state

3. Missouri

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 1.8
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 82
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $659.2 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $29.7 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2023; 10 major, severe storms impacted state

2. Illinois

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 2.0
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 92
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $647.1 million
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $29.1 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2024; 9 major, severe storms impacted state

1. Texas

Est. number of billion-dollar severe storms in 2025: 2.8
Total number of billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 126
Average annual destruction from major, severe storms: $2.2 billion
Total damage from major, severe storms in state since 1980: $99.5 billion (inflation adjusted)
Year(s) with the most billion-dollar severe storms impacting the state since 1980: 2024; 16 major, severe storms impacted state