National Weather ServiceTornado WarningVTEC TO.WArchive to October 1, 2026
Tornado Warning: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 3,014 tornado warnings in 2025 and 2,804 a year on average in 2008-2025; Texas, Florida and Oklahoma got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 2,742, 11% above the average of 2,474 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a tornado warning?
The NWS issues a tornado warning when a tornado has been seen or weather radar indicates one in the warned area. Warnings are drawn as polygons around the storm's path and usually last 30 to 60 minutes. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many tornado warnings a year?
National count: each tornado warning counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 2,745 |
| 2025 | 3,014 |
| 2024 | 3,636 |
| 2023 | 2,531 |
| 2022 | 2,320 |
| 2021 | 2,445 |
| 2020 | 2,120 |
| 2019 | 3,061 |
| 2018 | 2,021 |
| 2017 | 2,811 |
| 2016 | 2,049 |
| 2015 | 2,328 |
| 2014 | 1,873 |
| 2013 | 1,831 |
| 2012 | 2,412 |
| 2011 | 4,642 |
| 2010 | 3,445 |
| 2009 | 3,231 |
| 2008 | 4,699 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Which states get the most tornado warnings?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A tornado warning covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 281 | 291 | 287 |
| Florida | 183 | 148 | 55 |
| Oklahoma | 178 | 141 | 276 |
| Mississippi | 158 | 186 | 195 |
| Illinois | 150 | 123 | 227 |
| Arkansas | 141 | 129 | 217 |
| Missouri | 141 | 145 | 233 |
| Louisiana | 139 | 157 | 119 |
| Alabama | 137 | 169 | 134 |
| Iowa | 109 | 93 | 58 |
| Georgia | 106 | 110 | 96 |
| Tennessee | 104 | 108 | 196 |
| Kentucky | 102 | 97 | 162 |
| Nebraska | 98 | 96 | 67 |
| North Carolina | 96 | 103 | 37 |
| Kansas | 95 | 133 | 68 |
| Colorado | 84 | 87 | 69 |
| Minnesota | 77 | 76 | 135 |
| Indiana | 76 | 75 | 120 |
| Ohio | 69 | 60 | 55 |
| Virginia | 61 | 64 | 34 |
| Wisconsin | 60 | 44 | 81 |
| South Carolina | 56 | 50 | 22 |
| Pennsylvania | 47 | 39 | 47 |
| South Dakota | 38 | 45 | 49 |
| North Dakota | 35 | 52 | 90 |
| Maryland | 30 | 26 | 28 |
| Michigan | 29 | 26 | 35 |
| New York | 29 | 25 | 20 |
| West Virginia | 19 | 15 | 27 |
| New Mexico | 15 | 18 | 15 |
| New Jersey | 15 | 9 | 12 |
| Wyoming | 11 | 20 | 6 |
| Massachusetts | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| California | 9 | 8 | 10 |
| Delaware | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| Arizona | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Montana | 4 | 12 | 6 |
| Maine | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Connecticut | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Washington | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Idaho | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Vermont | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Oregon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Nevada | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
The latest tornado warnings in AreaZine's record
NWS Dodge CityWarningSeptember 30, 2026
Tornado Warning: Pawnee, KS
Expired 3:45 p.m. CDT, September 30, 2026
NWS AmarilloWarningSeptember 29, 2026
Tornado Warning: Gray, Roberts and Wheeler, TX
Expired 8:30 p.m. CDT, September 29, 2026
NWS AmarilloWarningSeptember 29, 2026
Tornado Warning: Carson, Potter and Randall, TX
Expired 8:30 p.m. CDT, September 29, 2026
NWS AmarilloWarningSeptember 29, 2026
Tornado Warning: Deaf Smith, TX
Expired 8:30 p.m. CDT, September 29, 2026
NWS AmarilloWarningSeptember 29, 2026
Tornado Warning: Randall, TX
Expired 8:30 p.m. CDT, September 29, 2026
NWS AmarilloWarningSeptember 29, 2026
Tornado Warning: Armstrong, Carson, Donley and 1 more, TX
Expired 8:15 p.m. CDT, September 29, 2026
NWS AmarilloWarningSeptember 29, 2026
Tornado Warning: Gray and Wheeler, TX
Expired 7:30 p.m. CDT, September 29, 2026
NWS CharlestonWarningSeptember 20, 2026
Tornado Warning: Vinton, OH
Expired 11:30 p.m. EDT, September 20, 2026
This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).
Tornado Warning or tornado watch?
A tornado watch (from the Storm Prediction Center, for a large area over several hours) means the conditions are possible: be ready; a tornado warning (from the local NWS office, for the area at risk) means the hazard is happening or imminent: act now. Tornado watches come from the NWS Storm Prediction Center when thunderstorms able to produce tornadoes are possible over a large area, usually for several hours; local offices list the counties it covers. A watch means the conditions for the hazard are possible or favourable, but it is not yet happening: be ready to act if a warning follows. The NWS issued 197 tornado watches in 2025, against 3,014 tornado warnings. The tornado watch record.