Could this be the worst year for tornadoes in more than a decade?
Weather forecasters say that an already perilous 2025 is shaping up to be the most active tornado season in 14 years – and it's not over yet.
There have been more than 750 preliminary tornado reports thus far, which is more reports by mid-May than any other year since 2011.
'It has been an exceptionally dangerous start to the spring severe weather season in the U.S.,' AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said in a statement. 'We've seen a steep increase in the number of tornado reports during March and early April. Unfortunately, we expect these numbers to continue climbing over the next few days.'
Increased activity is disquieting, but comes following near-historic levels last year. Severe weather in 2024 resulted in the second-highest number of tornadoes since record-keeping began in 1950, according to the National Weather Service. Despite the near-historic year, the 54 tornado-related deaths were well below the 20-year average. More than half of those occurred in mobile and manufactured homes.
This year, deadly twisters have torn across much of the eastern U.S., but they were also reported in the Los Angeles area in March. In April, they killed people in the South and Midwest, launching debris into the air. In March, Mississippians hid inside their car as tornadoes ripped through their home.
Much of the recent activity has been outside the region known as 'tornado alley,' which includes a wide swath of the central and southern U.S. Instead, it's occurred eastward, except in Texas. There have been dozens of deaths, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy said.
This week, more tornadoes are anticipated alongside large hail in areas from the Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes.
Tornadoes can occur at any time, but typically peak from March through June.
AccuWeather predicts that there will be 1,300 to 1,450 tornadoes across the U.S. this year: a tally that is above the historical average of 1,255 tornadoes.
Scientists are still studying how tornadoes form, hoping to be able to provide Americans with faster warning times that could save lives. Until then, forecasters stress the importance of being prepared for such an emergency.
'Our analysis of records dating back to 1950 found that May 25 is the statistical peak with the most tornado reports on the date,' AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. 'Being prepared can save your life.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Tornado in Pulborough damages trees but misses homes
A research group is collecting information about storm damage after "evidence of a moderate tornado" in West weather event happened in Pulborough just before 18:00 BST on Saturday, according to the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Torro).This followed a yellow Met Office thunderstorm warning in south-east England on the same site investigator Sarah Horton told BBC Radio Sussex she was "particularly interested in what happened next" after observing the 0.8-mile (1.3km) damage trail south of the village. She said: "Did the thunderstorm that produced the tornado in Pulborough do anything else as it went further east?"Torro graded the event as T2 on its scale, meaning it was a moderate tornado with a wind speed between 73mph (117km/h) and 92mph (148km/h).The privately run organisation said no homes were damaged and asked for pictures of storm damage to be uploaded to its website. Tim Anderson, who witnessed the tornado from his home, told BBC Radio Sussex it was "a bit scary but surprising to see" the twister moving across Pulborough Brooks nature reserve."The rain was beating against the window and then the window started vibrating," he said."It was literally like a wall of rotating debris coming off the brooks and heading downriver." Ms Horton said she found "damaged trees, mostly along the River Arun" and it is "very clear from the track" that this was caused by a tornado."If you look at some of the trees you can see that they've been twisted," the storm investigator said."It's quite a long narrow track so it's only around 50m wide at its widest point."She added that tornadoes are "unusual but not rare" and that Sussex experiences "a reasonable amount" of them, particularly near the coast. Torro was established in 1974 and describes itself as a privately supported research body serving the national and international public interest.
The Sun
14 hours ago
- The Sun
Weatherman Gary England who featured in hit movie Twister dies at 85 as tributes pour in for ‘meteorology legend'
RENOWNED meteorologist Gary England who starred in the hit movie Twister has died at the age of 85. England was a weatherman on the TV station KWTV for more than four decades before his retirement in 2013. 4 4 The meteorologist, from Oklahoma, died peacefully with his family by his side on June 10, as reported by the ABC affiliate KOCO-TV. 'Gary was proud to have protected Oklahoma from its deadliest storms,' his family said. 'He will be deeply and forever missed.' England was the first weatherman to use Doppler radar when warning viewers about the risks of tornadoes. The weatherman was known for his folksy-style of broadcasting and used to start his reports on Friday's with the line "It's Friday night in the big town." He made a cameo appearance in the 1996 film Twister, which starred Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. The movie was nominated for two Oscars. England reported on the 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado, which ripped through Oklahoma City. Winds of more than 300 mph were reported and 36 people were killed. "The sheer intensity and violence of it was unbelievable," England told The Oklahoman. "We saw the power lines down, and I knew there were people out there dying. It was not a fun evening." He warned those who were set to be most affected by the storm to shelter underground. "Most of the people that died were right in the core of the tornado," he said. "It killed 40 or so people and injured 800 or so. Wow! "But I love what I do and I'm still here." Tributes have poured in after news of the weatherman's death emerged. 'The world lost a legendary meteorologist and even better man. He was such a great role model for any weather enthusiast,' storm chaser Brad Arnold posted on X. Journalists have described England as a legend. 'The meteorology world has lost a legend. Gary England of Oklahoma,' Rusty Surette said. 'This man saved countless lives during tornadoes, and I'm honored I worked side by side with Gary for several years. 'He was a pioneer in severe weather broadcasting and a trusted voice for generations of Oklahomans. "Jump back and rest in peace, sir.' David Payne, the chief meteorologist for KWTV, described England as "one of a kind." "There will only ever be one Gary England - an Oklahoman through through," he wrote on social media. "He was one of a kind and the impact he had on our state, meteorology and severe weather prediction and tracking will be felt for years and years to come." Colton Williams revealed England was the reason he became a weatherman. "I was fortunate to exchange a few emails from him as a kid, and he even sent me a signed copy of his book," he wrote on X. "I appreciate that sentiment now more than I did when I was a kid." 4 4
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Scorching 'heat dome' descends over usually mild states as NWS warns of record temperatures
The Pacific Northwest is set to break record temperatures this week due to a 'heat dome' parked over several states. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Spokane said the mercury would soar into the high 90s and the low 100s. A heat dome is a high-pressure area with hot air trapped inside, making the area even hotter. An extreme heat warning was in place for parts of eastern Washington until 9pm on Tuesday, with advisories covering half of the state. Other areas of Oregon and even parts of Northern California were also expected to be hit by the heat. In their advisory, the NWS said there would be 'very little relief at night', and urged people to stay out of the sun. They added: 'Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.' Alongside the stifling temperatures, low humidity and winds of up to 30mph have also raised concerns of potential wildfires. Temperatures started to rise over the weekend, with a record breaking temperature of 90 degrees being recorded in Seattle, the NWS said. The last record held was a temperature of 87 degrees that was set in 1948 and last reached in 2015. Seattle also broke its record high minimum temperature, with the mercury only dropping to 61 degrees, again breaking a record from 1958. Temperatures got so high that North King County published a list of cooling sites for those struggling in the heat over the weekend. According to the Energy Information Administration only 30 percent of homes in Washington state have air conditioning. The advisory had also advised to stay clear of snow-fed rivers that remain frigid, with the potential for cold shock still a worry despite the high heat. It added: 'Early season warm-ups like this, especially overlapping with the weekend, tend to elevate the number of people seeking relief in area waters. 'We're still early in the season and waters are still running cold and fast and we've already had cold water-related fatalities this year.' The dome was formed by a ridge of high pressure that managed to push the jet stream north into Canada, moving inclement weather away from the area. The hot weather is expected to ease off on Wednesday as a ridge of high pressure moves across the area. As the Pacific Northwest cooked, the southern Plains and the southeast were hit with days of wet and windy weather. Rain has soaked parts of the region from New Mexico and Texas to parts of Northern Florida and Georgia, the weather service said. In 2021 an extreme heat wave affected much of the North West of America, bringing with it scorching temperatures. During this temperatures broke daily records in some locales by 54 degrees, while Canada's highest ever temperature 121.3 was recorded in Lytton, British Columbia.
