2024 Had The Second Most US Tornadoes On Record

Two Fishermen And Dog Get Caught In Tornado

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The post-Christmas tornado outbreak pushed 2024 into second place for most U.S. tornadoes recorded in a single year in 75 years of records.

A​s of Jan. 5, the National Weather Service confirmed at least 105 tornadoes touched down during the Dec. 26-29 outbreak in the South, from Texas to South Carolina. Damage surveys by a few NWS offices continue, and that count is expected to tick higher in the coming days.

On Jan. 3, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center noted at least 1,735 tornadoes have been confirmed in the U.S. in 2024.

That's more than only one other year (2004; 1,813 tornadoes) in records dating to 1950. That's over 500 more tornadoes than the 30-year average of 1,225 tornadoes from 1991 through 2020.

N​OAA SPC noted the increased tornado counts in recent decades compared to, say, the mid 20th century, were primarily due to better detection and documentation of weaker (EF0 or EF1) tornadoes with technology such as dual-polarization Doppler radar, social media and drones for aerial video of areas inaccessible to storm survey crews. This is known as tornado inflation.

H​owever, SPC also noted the number of strong tornadoes (EF2 or higher) in 2024 was the most since 2011.

There were some notable tornado outbreaks that helped bring 2024's tornado numbers to historic levels.

Spring Tornadoes

Yes, Spring is typically busy in the U.S. for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. But, according to the SPC, it was the most active April-May period in 74 years. ​Their latest estimate is 883 April-May tornadoes occurred in the U.S. in 2024.

T​hree major outbreaks in late April, mid-May and late May - each with more than 100 tornadoes - tore through the central U.S. Sixteen killer tornadoes in nine different states, from Louisiana and Texas to Iowa, claimed a total of 32 lives. EF4 tornadoes leveled parts of Barnsdall, Oklahoma, and Greenfield, Iowa.

Chicago Derecho

In mid-July, two derechos ripped through parts of the Plains and Midwest. The second of those blasted portions of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, including Chicago.

Within this derecho, more than 46 tornadoes were spawned. In the Chicago area alone, 32 tornadoes touched down, breaking the record for the most tornadoes in a single day.

Hurricane Beryl’s Tornadoes

Hurricane Beryl produced more tornadoes than any tropical system in nearly 20 years, stretching from Texas to upstate New York. Between July 8 and July 10, 65 tornadoes ripped through portions of six states.

Forty three of those tornadoes touched down in the area served by the NWS-Shreveport, Louisiana office, the most in a single day in their forecast area since 1995.

Ten tornadoes occurred in Arkansas, the state's most in any July outbreak.

Among 10 strong tornadoes (EF2 or higher), one EF3 tore through areas near Mt. Vernon, Indiana. That was the strongest July tornado to occur in the NWS-Paducah, Kentucky, forecast area since 1950.

While tornadoes are common during tropical systems, this hurricane was unprecedented.

Holiday Outbreak 2024

We won’t see a full tally from the most recent tornado outbreak until the NWS finishes all of their storm surveys, however, we know that it spawned at least 92 tornadoes, which will only add to the final count for 2024 tornadoes.

Tornadoes ripped through seven states from Texas to the Carolinas, leaving at least four people dead, and tens of thousands without power.

While December tornadoes aren’t typically that numerous, winter outbreaks can occur, at times, in the South.

J​ennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.