Analysis
Analysis
Questions and findings from the federal record, each answered with a table, a chart and the files behind it.
Facts from the record
- Tornado facts from 76 years of federal records73,458 US tornadoes since 1950: 21.9% of them in May, 51.8% between 3 and 8 pm, and 97 counties with none on record.
- Hurricane facts from the record since 1851334 hurricanes have come within 50 miles of a US county since 1851. Florida leads with 137, and 28 states have none on record.
- Wildfire facts from four decades of mapped firesAugust Complex is the largest US fire since 1984 at 1,067,970 acres. 2 fires have passed a million acres, and Alaska has burned the most.
- Flood facts from river gauges and insurance claims$89.3 billion paid on 2,657,408 flood claims since 1978, and 238,551 listed river crests. 2005 alone accounts for 19.9% of the money.
- Earthquake facts from the USGS catalogThe largest US earthquake since 1900 is magnitude 9.2. 23 states have no magnitude 5 on record, and Oklahoma once outpaced California.
- Drought facts from 131 years of county dataJuly 1934 put 52.2% of counties in severe drought. Nuckolls County spent 96 straight months there. More from the county record.
- Temperature and rain facts from US weather stationsAmong cities of 50,000 or more, readings run from 128°F to -45°F, and one county spans 171 degrees between its records. More extremes from the daily record.
- Hail and wind facts from 70 years of storm reports414,481 hail reports and 562,054 damaging wind reports since 1955, with 1,053 wind reports in one day. More from the record.
- What has struck on American holidaysChristmas Day has seen 79 tornadoes since 1950 and Independence Day 251. The record for nine fixed-date holidays.
- Where each state ranks highest for natural hazardsEach state's strongest ranking across tornadoes, hurricanes, fire, floods and earthquakes, computed from federal records.
- Hazard facts about the 25 largest US citiesOklahoma City has the most tornadoes nearby among the 25 largest cities, with 345. Tornadoes, tropical systems, earthquakes and temperature extremes for each.
Tornadoes
- Which state has the most tornadoes per square mile?Florida has the highest tornado density since 1950 at 701 per 10,000 square miles; since 2006, Mississippi leads. All 50 states ranked.
- Is Tornado Alley moving east? 76 years of state sharesSeven Southeast states rose from 15.4% to 26.1% of US tornadoes between 1950-69 and 2010-25; six Plains states fell from 45.6% to 30.0%.
- What time of day do tornadoes happen?51.8% of US tornadoes since 1950 started between 3 and 8 pm Central Standard Time. Hour-by-hour counts, and how the night differs.
- Every F5 and EF5 tornado since 195060 tornadoes rated F5 or EF5 since 1950, the latest on June 20, 2025. None was recorded for 12 years before that. The full list.
- Do tornadoes happen in winter?November to February holds 14.9% of US tornadoes since 2010, up from 10.6% in 1950-79. Winter counts by decade and by state.
- The 97 US counties with no recorded tornado since 195097 of 3,143 US counties have no tornado in the SPC record since 1950, including New York County, San Francisco County and Jackson County.
- The biggest tornado days on recordApril 27, 2011 holds the record with 210 tornadoes in one day. Every US day with 40 or more tornadoes or six rated F3 or stronger, ranked.
- The longest and widest tornadoes in the federal recordThe longest listed tornado path since 1950 is 234.7 miles; the widest tornado is 4,576 yards across. Top 25 of each.
- When is tornado season? Every state's month-by-month recordTornado season peaks in different months by state: May in Texas, April in Mississippi and June in Minnesota. The record for all 50.
- What month do tornadoes happen the most?May has 21.9% of US tornadoes since 1950, and April to June has 54.5%. Counts, strong tornadoes and deaths by month.
- Dixie Alley and Tornado Alley comparedSoutheast states see 3.7 times the deaths per tornado of the Plains, and more night and winter tornadoes. The two regions side by side.
- The most tornado-dense county in every statePinellas County, Florida, has the highest tornado density of any county on this list. The densest and the highest-count county in each state.
- EF scale and F scale: what changed in the ratings in 2007Before February 2007, 2.9% of rated tornadoes reached F3 or stronger in 1990-2006; since then, 2.7% have reached EF3 or stronger.
- The deadliest US tornadoes since 1950The deadliest US tornado since 1950 killed 158 people on May 22, 2011. The 50 deadliest, and deaths by decade.
- Most tornadoes in one day in one stateTennessee recorded 72 tornadoes on April 27, 2011, the most in one state on one day since 1950. The top 40.
- Have tornadoes hit major cities? The 50 largest comparedOklahoma City has the most recorded tornadoes within 25 miles of any of the 50 largest US cities, with 345; San Francisco has the fewest, with 0.
- Has a tornado ever hit New York City?Yes. New York City's five boroughs have 12 recorded tornadoes since 1950, the strongest rated EF2, the latest on August 2, 2018.
- Has a tornado ever hit Chicago?Yes. Cook County, which includes Chicago, has 87 recorded tornadoes since 1950, the strongest rated F4, the latest on March 19, 2025.
- Do tornadoes happen in fall? The second season by stateSeptember to November holds 12.8% of US tornadoes. Texas has the most, and Arizona the highest share among states with 100 or more.
- What share of tornadoes are weak?81.4% of rated US tornadoes since 1950 are F0, F1, EF0 or EF1. Counts, deaths, path length and width at each rating.
- Where tornado fatalities were recorded, by location typeOf 2,239 tornado fatalities in Storm Events since 1996, the most common recorded location is mobile/trailer home, at 38.9%.
Hurricanes
- How many hurricanes have hit each state since 1851?Florida leads with 137 hurricanes within 50 miles since 1851, then Louisiana (76) and Texas (72). All 50 states.
- Has a hurricane ever hit California?Not in this record: no storm has passed within 50 miles of California at hurricane strength. 13 tropical systems or their remnants came within 100 miles.
- Has a hurricane ever hit Ohio?Not in this record: no storm has passed within 50 miles of Ohio at hurricane strength. 62 tropical systems or their remnants came within 100 miles.
- Has a hurricane ever hit Hawaii? The recordYes. 10 hurricanes passed within 50 miles of Hawaii at hurricane strength in this record, the strongest being Iniki in 1992, with 129 mph winds that close.
- Has a hurricane ever hit New York City?Yes. 7 hurricanes passed within 50 miles of New York City at hurricane strength in this record, the strongest being an unnamed storm in 1938, with 121 mph winds that close.
- Has a hurricane ever hit Los Angeles or San Diego?Not in this record: no storm has passed within 50 miles of Los Angeles and San Diego counties at hurricane strength.
- Has a hurricane ever hit Arizona?Not in this record: no storm has passed within 50 miles of Arizona at hurricane strength. 21 tropical systems or their remnants came within 100 miles.
- Has a hurricane ever hit Tennessee?Not in this record: no storm has passed within 50 miles of Tennessee at hurricane strength. 137 tropical systems or their remnants came within 100 miles.
- The last hurricane to reach each coastal stateThe most recent hurricane within 50 miles of a coastal state is Milton (Florida, 2024); Delaware has gone longest, since 1985.
- The strongest hurricane to reach each coastal stateThe unnamed 1935 storm is the strongest within 50 miles of any state, at 184 mph near Florida. The strongest for each coastal state.
- When is hurricane season? Each coastal state by monthSeptember has the most hurricanes near the US. By state, the busiest month is September in Florida and August in Texas. The record for each coastal state.
- How many hurricanes have hit Florida in the last 10 years?Florida: 11 hurricanes within 50 miles from 2016 to 2025, plus 15 weaker tropical systems. Every storm listed.
- How many hurricanes have hit Houston in the last 10 years?Harris County (Houston): 1 hurricane within 50 miles from 2016 to 2025, plus 3 weaker tropical systems. Every storm listed.
- When was the last hurricane in Miami?Irma, on September 10, 2017, is the latest hurricane within 50 miles of Miami-Dade County: it came within 46 miles, with winds of 129 mph that close.
- When was the last hurricane in Charleston, SC?Ian, on September 30, 2022, is the latest hurricane within 50 miles of Charleston County: it came within 10 miles, with winds of 83 mph that close.
- Every storm with Category 5 winds within 50 miles of the US5 storms had Category 5 winds within 50 miles of a US state since 1851: the unnamed 1935 storm, Camille (1969), Andrew (1992), Michael (2018) and Ian (2022).
- Most US hurricanes in one season2020, 1985 and 1886 share the most hurricanes within 50 miles of a US county, with 7 each. The 25 busiest seasons.
- Would any storm rate Category 6? Peak winds above 157 mphThe highest peak wind among storms that came near the US is 190 mph, in Allen (1980). 31 storms peaked at Category 5.
- The earliest and latest US hurricanes in the calendar yearBy calendar date, the earliest hurricane near a US county came on May 29, 1908 and the latest on November 24, 1982. Both lists.
Wildfire
- Acres burned by decade in the federal recordLarge US fires burned 25 million acres in the 1990s and 63 million in the 2000s. The busiest year is 2020, at 9.7 million.
- The worst wildfire seasons in the federal record2020 is the largest US fire season in the MTBS record at 9.7 million acres, then 2015 and 2005.
- The largest US wildfires since 1984August Complex (2020) is the largest fire in the MTBS record at 1,067,970 acres, ahead of Smokehouse Creek and Dixie. The top 100.
- The largest wildfire in every state since 1984The largest mapped fire in each state since 1984, from August Complex in California (1,067,970 acres) down. 27 states have a fire of 25,000 acres or more.
- Wildfire acres burned by state since 1984Alaska has burned the most at 38.4 million acres since 1984. Relative to its size, Idaho leads. Every state's total.
- The largest wildfires in California since 1984August Complex (2020) is California's largest mapped fire at 1,067,970 acres. 8 of its ten largest have come since 2017.
- The largest wildfires in Colorado since 1984Cameron Peak (2020) is Colorado's largest mapped fire at 208,743 acres. 7 of its ten largest have come since 2017.
- The US smoke record: every year since 2011The average county saw 46 days of medium or heavy smoke in 2023, against 2 in 2016. Yearly figures and the 50 smokiest counties.
Floods
- $89.3 billion in flood claims: how much came from five yearsThe NFIP paid $89.3 billion on 2,657,408 flood claims from 1978 to 2025. Five years account for 58%, and Louisiana, Florida and Texas hold 65%.
- Ten counties hold 30% of US flood insurance claimsTen counties account for 30% of US flood insurance claims since 1978, led by Harris County, TX, with 170,854.
- The average flood insurance payout by stateThe flood insurance program has paid an average of $33,599 per claim since 1978.
- What flood stages mean, across every listed crestOf 238,551 crests listed at 5,753 river gauges, 146,667 reached flood stage and 16,608 reached major. What each stage is, and which gauges reach it.
- The years the most river gauges reached major flood2011 had the most gauges at major flood, with 409. The single worst month was June 2008, with 164 gauges.
- Every major flood gauge on the Mississippi River70 gauges on the Mississippi River have listed major crests, led by Mississippi River at Osceola with 42. 2019 has the most major crests of any year, with 67.
- Every major flood gauge on the Missouri River36 gauges on the Missouri River have listed major crests, led by Missouri River at Yankton with 38. 2019 has the most major crests of any year, with 20.
- Every major flood gauge on the Ohio River43 gauges on the Ohio River have listed major crests, led by Ohio River at Pomeroy with 34. 1937 has the most major crests of any year, with 28.
- Every major flood gauge on the Arkansas River22 gauges on the Arkansas River have listed major crests, led by Arkansas River at Little Rock with 29. 2019 has the most major crests of any year, with 18.
- Every major flood gauge on the Susquehanna River18 gauges on the Susquehanna River have listed major crests, led by Susquehanna River at Wilkes Barre with 15. 2011 has the most major crests of any year, with 17.
- High-tide flooding by gauge: the sunny-day flood recordTide gauges averaged 2.9 high-tide flood days a year in 1996 to 2005 and 7.9 in 2016 to 2025. Berwick, Atchafalaya River now has the most.
- The worst flood years in the US record, by two measuresBy insurance claims, 2005 is the worst US flood year since 1978, with 276,670. By river gauges at major flood, 2011 is.
- Flood disaster declarations by decade731 federal declarations since 1970 list flood as the incident type, out of 4,425 declarations with county rows.
- Flash flood deaths by state since 1996Storm Events lists 2,079 direct flash flood deaths since 1996. Texas has the most, with 533, and West Virginia the highest rate. Every state.
- Where flood fatalities were recorded, by location typeOf 2,919 flood fatalities in Storm Events since 1996, the most common recorded location is vehicle/towed trailer, at 45.2%.
Disasters
Earthquakes
- The largest earthquake in every state since 1900Alaska has the largest US earthquake since 1900, magnitude 9.2. 27 states have one of magnitude 5 or more. All states listed.
- Has there ever been an earthquake in Florida?Yes. Florida has 3 cataloged earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more inside the state since 1900, the largest magnitude 3.5 on October 31, 1900.
- Has there ever been an earthquake in New York?Yes. New York has 104 cataloged earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more inside the state since 1900, the largest magnitude 5.7 on September 5, 1944.
- Has there ever been an earthquake in Texas?Yes. Texas has 4,651 cataloged earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more inside the state since 1900, the largest magnitude 6.3 on August 16, 1931.
- Has there ever been an earthquake in Minnesota?Yes. Minnesota has 6 cataloged earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more inside the state since 1900, the largest magnitude 4.6 on July 9, 1975.
- Earthquakes in Ohio: the catalogYes. Ohio has 83 cataloged earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more inside the state since 1900, the largest magnitude 5.4 on March 9, 1937.
- Oklahoma's earthquakes in the catalog, year by yearOklahoma went from 1.3 magnitude 3+ earthquakes a year in 2000-08 to 887 in 2015. The yearly record, with California for scale.
- How often do earthquakes happen in California?California has averaged 40 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more a year since 1973, and 3.6 of magnitude 5 or more. The record by year and the largest.
- How often do earthquakes happen in Los Angeles?Los Angeles has seen 6.4 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more a year within 50 miles since 1973. The largest listed is magnitude 7.5.
- How often do earthquakes happen in San Francisco?San Francisco has seen 2.0 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more a year within 50 miles since 1973. The largest listed is magnitude 7.9.
- The largest US earthquakes since 1900The largest US earthquake since 1900 is magnitude 9.2, in Alaska on March 27, 1964. The 50 largest.
- The New Madrid seismic zone since 1973The catalog lists 727 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more around New Madrid since 1973, the largest magnitude 4.8. The 1811-12 sequence predates it.
- Tsunamis recorded on US coastsNOAA lists 4,445 tsunami run-ups on US coasts. Hawaii has the most, with 2,047. Every coastal state's record.
Weather extremes
- The 1930s still hold more all-time highs than any other decadeOf 920 stations with records back to 1930, 355 set their all-time high in the 1930s. Since 2000, 197 set a high and 56 set a low.
- 100-degree days and freezing days, decade by decadeAt 656 stations with records in every decade, 100-degree days went from 5.3 a year in the 1950s to 3.7 in the 1960s and 5.7 in the 2020s; freezing days fell from 117.1 to 107.2.
- The hottest temperature at a long-record station in each stateThe highest reading at any long-record station we track is 126°F, in California. The hottest for every state, with date and station.
- The coldest temperature at a long-record station in each stateThe lowest reading at any long-record station we track is -76°F, in Alaska. The coldest for every state, with date and station.
- Last frost dates by city, from the station recordThe median last freeze ranges from Jan 18 in Fremont to May 16 in Anchorage, for large US cities from 1996 to 2025.
- First frost dates by city, from the station recordThe median first freeze ranges from Sep 27 in Anchorage to Dec 16 in Scottsdale, for large US cities from 1996 to 2025.
- Lightning deaths by state since 1996Storm Events lists 948 direct lightning deaths since 1996. Florida has the most, with 175, and Wyoming the highest rate. Every state.
- Rip current deaths by state since 1996Storm Events lists 1,183 direct rip current deaths since 1996. Florida has the most, with 517 and the highest rate. Every state.
- Heat deaths in the Storm Events record, by stateStorm Events lists 5,370 direct heat deaths since 1996. Arizona has the most, with 1,944 and the highest rate. Every state.
- Cold deaths in the Storm Events record, by stateStorm Events lists 935 direct cold deaths since 1996. Illinois has the most, with 210 and the highest rate. Every state.
- The costliest US ice storms since 1996Storm Events lists 12,673 ice storm county reports since 1996, led by Iowa. The costliest logged episode was in Oklahoma in 2007.
- The costliest US blizzards since 1996Storm Events lists 17,342 blizzard county reports since 1996, led by North Dakota. The costliest logged episode was in New Mexico in 2015.
- Dust storms by state since 1996Storm Events lists 2,135 dust storm county reports since 1996, led by Arizona. The costliest logged episode was in Nevada in 2013.
Drought
- The worst months for drought since 1895July 1934 had 52.2% of lower-48 counties in severe drought, the most on record. April 2026 ranks 5th.
- The longest droughts by county since 1895Nuckolls County, NE, spent 96 straight months in severe drought from June 1933 to May 1941, the longest in the list.
- The worst drought year in each state's record1965 is the worst drought year in 8 states, more than any other year. Texas's worst is 1956. Every state in the lower 48.
- The Dust Bowl in the county drought record1934 was the worst Dust Bowl year by county, with 37.1% in severe drought on average, peaking in July 1934 at 52.2%.
Hail and wind
- When is hail season? Every state's month-by-month recordTexas has the most hail reports. Hail peaks in May in Texas, June in Colorado and June in Minnesota. All states.
- Hail season in ColoradoJune has the most hail reports in Colorado, with 33.9% since 1955. El Paso County has the most of any county, with 1,890.
- Hail season in TexasMay has the most hail reports in Texas, with 32.2% since 1955. Tarrant County has the most of any county, with 1,317.
- Derechos and the biggest severe wind days on recordThe most damaging-wind reports in one day is 1,053, on June 29, 2012. 221 days meet our severe wind test, each listed. SPC does not label which were derechos.