Counties Where Deadly Tornados Are Becoming More Common

While the relationship between global temperatures and tornado frequency is complex, tornado outbreaks are becoming more common in some parts of the United States.

Tornado frequency is trending downward in the “Tornado Alley” region of the Great Plains, and increasing in portions of the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast. Rising tornado activity in fast-growing population centers also means greater property damage and a higher potential for injury and fatalities. A look at historical tornado tracks reveals the counties where tornado activity is increasing at the fastest rate.

To determine the counties where tornado activity is increasing the fastest, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on historical tornado tracks from the Storm Prediction Center of the NOAA’s National Weather Service. Counties were ranked based on the average annual increase in the number of tornados from 1950 to 2023. Tornadoes were assigned to counties using spatial intersection in GIS, assigning a tornado track to the county where it has the greatest overlap. Tornado death counts were assigned to counties with majority overlap of the tornado track.

10. Smith County, MS

• Annual increase in tornadoes, 1950-2023: +0.031 per year
• Est. tornado count, 1990-2023: 60 storms (76 injuries)
• Est. tornado count, 1950-1989: 25 storms (350 injuries)
• Worst tornado: January 23, 1969 (241 injuries)

9. Cheyenne County, CO

• Annual increase in tornadoes, 1950-2023: +0.031 per year
• Est. tornado count, 1990-2023: 58 storms ( injuries)
• Est. tornado count, 1950-1989: 18 storms (5 injuries)
• Worst tornado: July 20, 1958 (5 injuries)

8. Grand Forks County, ND

• Annual increase in tornadoes, 1950-2023: +0.031 per year
• Est. tornado count, 1990-2023: 53 storms (19 injuries)
• Est. tornado count, 1950-1989: 16 storms (2 injuries)
• Worst tornado: August 26, 2007 (18 injuries)

7. Kiowa County, CO

• Annual increase in tornadoes, 1950-2023: +0.034 per year
• Est. tornado count, 1990-2023: 63 storms (17 injuries)
• Est. tornado count, 1950-1989: 26 storms (1 injury)
• Worst tornado: March 28, 2007 (9 injuries)

6. Limestone County, AL

• Annual increase in tornadoes, 1950-2023: +0.034 per year
• Est. tornado count, 1990-2023: 57 storms (245 injuries)
• Est. tornado count, 1950-1989: 11 storms (541 injuries)
• Worst tornado: April 3, 1974 (267 injuries)

5. Rankin County, MS

• Annual increase in tornadoes, 1950-2023: +0.035 per year
• Est. tornado count, 1990-2023: 67 storms (164 injuries)
• Est. tornado count, 1950-1989: 37 storms (892 injuries)
• Worst tornado: March 3, 1966 (518 injuries)

4. Leake County, MS

• Annual increase in tornadoes, 1950-2023: +0.035 per year
• Est. tornado count, 1990-2023: 56 storms (212 injuries)
• Est. tornado count, 1950-1989: 20 storms (655 injuries)
• Worst tornado: March 3, 1966 (518 injuries)

3. Tuscaloosa County, AL

• Annual increase in tornadoes, 1950-2023: +0.036 per year
• Est. tornado count, 1990-2023: 65 storms (1,996 injuries)
• Est. tornado count, 1950-1989: 20 storms (774 injuries)
• Worst tornado: April 27, 2011 (1,500 injuries)

2. Christian County, KY

• Annual increase in tornadoes, 1950-2023: +0.036 per year
• Est. tornado count, 1990-2023: 47 storms (607 injuries)
• Est. tornado count, 1950-1989: 5 storms (47 injuries)
• Worst tornado: December 10, 2021 (515 injuries)

1. Washington County, CO

• Annual increase in tornadoes, 1950-2023: +0.040 per year
• Est. tornado count, 1990-2023: 91 storms (6 injuries)
• Est. tornado count, 1950-1989: 36 storms (4 injuries)
• Worst tornado: July 21, 1993 (6 injuries)