States With the Deadliest Tornadoes Since 1950

Of all severe weather events that occur with some regularity in the United States, tornadoes are among the most dangerous. According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes result in an average of about 73 fatalities per year in the United States–more than the number of fatalities associated with hurricanes, extreme cold, or winter storms. Across the country, tornadoes have killed more than 6,400 people since 1950. 

Although tornadoes have been reported in all 50 states, they are far more common in certain regions of the country and at certain times of year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identifies the Southeast at especially high risk in the early spring. Between May and June, the southern and central Plains are at elevated risk, and by early summer, tornadoes become more common in the upper Midwest. In several states across these regions, tornadoes and tornado fatalities are, in fact, far more common than they are nationwide. 

Using data compiled by NOAA, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states with the deadliest tornadoes. We reviewed state-level data on the number of reported tornadoes and tornado fatalities since 1950, and ranked each state in high-risk regions on the tornado fatality rate–or the number of deaths for every 100 tornadoes. All supplemental data is also from NOAA. 

10. Oklahoma

• Annual tornado fatality rate: 7.2 deaths for every 100 tornadoes
• Total tornado fatalities since 1950: 364 (5.7% of tornado fatalities nationwide)
• Number of people injured by tornadoes since 1950: 5,501 (5.5% of all tornado injuries nationwide)
• Total property damage caused by tornadoes since 1950: $5.9 billion (6.8% of all tornado property damage nationwide)
• Number of tornadoes reported in state since 1950: 5,081

9. Georgia

• Annual tornado fatality rate: 9.3 deaths for every 100 tornadoes
• Total tornado fatalities since 1950: 220 (3.4% of tornado fatalities nationwide)
• Number of people injured by tornadoes since 1950: 4,351 (4.4% of all tornado injuries nationwide)
• Total property damage caused by tornadoes since 1950: $3.7 billion (4.3% of all tornado property damage nationwide)
• Number of tornadoes reported in state since 1950: 2,356

8. Ohio

• Annual tornado fatality rate: 12.8 deaths for every 100 tornadoes
• Total tornado fatalities since 1950: 200 (3.1% of tornado fatalities nationwide)
• Number of people injured by tornadoes since 1950: 4,716 (4.7% of all tornado injuries nationwide)
• Total property damage caused by tornadoes since 1950: $3.0 billion (3.4% of all tornado property damage nationwide)
• Number of tornadoes reported in state since 1950: 1,565

7. Indiana

• Annual tornado fatality rate: 13.1 deaths for every 100 tornadoes
• Total tornado fatalities since 1950: 276 (4.3% of tornado fatalities nationwide)
• Number of people injured by tornadoes since 1950: 4,383 (4.4% of all tornado injuries nationwide)
• Total property damage caused by tornadoes since 1950: $2.9 billion (3.3% of all tornado property damage nationwide)
• Number of tornadoes reported in state since 1950: 2,106

6. Missouri

• Annual tornado fatality rate: 13.8 deaths for every 100 tornadoes
• Total tornado fatalities since 1950: 429 (6.7% of tornado fatalities nationwide)
• Number of people injured by tornadoes since 1950: 4,590 (4.6% of all tornado injuries nationwide)
• Total property damage caused by tornadoes since 1950: $7.1 billion (8.2% of all tornado property damage nationwide)
• Number of tornadoes reported in state since 1950: 3,120

5. Mississippi

• Annual tornado fatality rate: 15.2 deaths for every 100 tornadoes
• Total tornado fatalities since 1950: 537 (8.4% of tornado fatalities nationwide)
• Number of people injured by tornadoes since 1950: 7,200 (7.2% of all tornado injuries nationwide)
• Total property damage caused by tornadoes since 1950: $2.8 billion (3.2% of all tornado property damage nationwide)
• Number of tornadoes reported in state since 1950: 3,532

4. Arkansas

• Annual tornado fatality rate: 16.1 deaths for every 100 tornadoes
• Total tornado fatalities since 1950: 413 (6.4% of tornado fatalities nationwide)
• Number of people injured by tornadoes since 1950: 5,569 (5.6% of all tornado injuries nationwide)
• Total property damage caused by tornadoes since 1950: $3.6 billion (4.2% of all tornado property damage nationwide)
• Number of tornadoes reported in state since 1950: 2,565

3. Kentucky

• Annual tornado fatality rate: 16.4 deaths for every 100 tornadoes
• Total tornado fatalities since 1950: 246 (3.8% of tornado fatalities nationwide)
• Number of people injured by tornadoes since 1950: 3,784 (3.8% of all tornado injuries nationwide)
• Total property damage caused by tornadoes since 1950: $1.1 billion (1.3% of all tornado property damage nationwide)
• Number of tornadoes reported in state since 1950: 1,498

2. Alabama

• Annual tornado fatality rate: 21.6 deaths for every 100 tornadoes
• Total tornado fatalities since 1950: 692 (10.8% of tornado fatalities nationwide)
• Number of people injured by tornadoes since 1950: 8,468 (8.5% of all tornado injuries nationwide)
• Total property damage caused by tornadoes since 1950: $6.4 billion (7.4% of all tornado property damage nationwide)
• Number of tornadoes reported in state since 1950: 3,207

1. Tennessee

• Annual tornado fatality rate: 23.9 deaths for every 100 tornadoes
• Total tornado fatalities since 1950: 408 (6.4% of tornado fatalities nationwide)
• Number of people injured by tornadoes since 1950: 5,018 (5.0% of all tornado injuries nationwide)
• Total property damage caused by tornadoes since 1950: $3.4 billion (3.9% of all tornado property damage nationwide)
• Number of tornadoes reported in state since 1950: 1,704

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