Tornadoes: Background and Forecasting (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Nov. 26, 2024 |
| Report Number |
IF12695 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Eva Lipiec |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Tornadoes are narrow, violently rotating columns of air,
extending from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground.
They affect communities across the United States every
year. Tornadoes can cause fatalities and injuries, destroy
property and crops, and disrupt businesses. For example, a
weather system on April 25-28, 2024, produced over 150
tornadoes (Figure 1), high winds, and large hail; it caused
multiple deaths and injuries across parts of the Midwest and
South, according to preliminary estimates from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Tornadoes have been reported on all continents except
Antarctica. They occur most commonly in North America,
particularly in the United States, which reports
approximately 1,200 tornadoes per year based on official
data dating back to the 1950s. Tornadoes occur across the
United States but form frequently in three regions: (1)
southern plains (e.g., Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas), (2) Gulf
Coast (e.g., Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi), and
(3) northern plains and upper Midwest (e.g., North and
South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota). Although
tornadoes can form at any time, they occur mostly during
spring and summer and usually during the late afternoon or
early evening.
