The United States has experienced almost twice the historical average of tornado activity for this time of year, with over 470 reports logged in 2025. This increase is part of a broader pattern of severe weather that has caused hundreds of billions of dollars in damage across the country. Recent tornado outbreaks in the Midwest and Southeast have contributed to the spike in tornado activity, surpassing the typical average of 260 tornadoes by early April. Storm systems have tracked through areas outside of Tornado Alley, such as Mississippi and Alabama, leading to high numbers of tornado reports.
Mississippi has seen the highest number of tornado reports so far in 2025, with 92 tornadoes reported. This is followed by Missouri with 57 tornadoes and Illinois with 55. Three widespread outbreaks in March and April have driven this year’s tornado total, with a multi-state outbreak from March 14 to 16 producing 115 confirmed tornadoes, including EF4s and EF3s. Between March 30 and 31, 71 tornadoes were confirmed, and a further 56 were confirmed between April 2 and 3. Tornado activity has been recorded outside of these major outbreaks, with tornadoes reported every day from March 26 to April 7.
AccuWeather forecasts that the U.S. could see between 1,300 and 1,450 tornadoes this year, slightly above the long-term annual average of 1,225. The severity of extreme weather this year has been alarming, with catastrophic flash flooding and widespread damage from tornadoes impacting communities across the central and southeastern U.S. Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather’s senior director of forecasting operations, emphasized the toll that weather disasters are taking on people’s lives, finances, physical health, and mental health. Weather analyst Ryan Hall highlighted the intensity of the severe weather from March 30 to April 5, with over 50 tornadoes reported, some of which were intense to violent.
Despite no expected severe weather outbreaks in the next week, AccuWeather’s lead long-range expert, Paul Pastelok, indicated that another outbreak may be possible around Easter weekend, on April 19 or 20. The frequency and severity of extreme weather events this year highlight the importance of preparedness and mitigation efforts to protect lives, property, and infrastructure from the impacts of tornadoes and other severe weather events. With the potential for additional severe weather activity in the coming weeks, it is crucial for communities to stay informed and take necessary precautions to minimize risks and ensure safety.
