National Weather ServiceTornado WatchVTEC TO.AArchive to October 1, 2026
Tornado Watch: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 197 tornado watches in 2025 and 213 a year on average in 2008-2025; Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 161, 11% below the average of 182 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a tornado watch?
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.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many tornado watches a year?
National count: each tornado watch 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) | 161 |
| 2025 | 197 |
| 2024 | 251 |
| 2023 | 179 |
| 2022 | 178 |
| 2021 | 177 |
| 2020 | 153 |
| 2019 | 188 |
| 2018 | 136 |
| 2017 | 171 |
| 2016 | 129 |
| 2015 | 213 |
| 2014 | 184 |
| 2013 | 173 |
| 2012 | 197 |
| 2011 | 327 |
| 2010 | 286 |
| 2009 | 283 |
| 2008 | 405 |
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 watches?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A tornado watch covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 44 | 42 | 50 |
| Arkansas | 33 | 33 | 43 |
| Mississippi | 32 | 34 | 34 |
| Alabama | 31 | 31 | 22 |
| Louisiana | 31 | 32 | 35 |
| Georgia | 26 | 26 | 14 |
| Florida | 26 | 26 | 11 |
| Missouri | 26 | 30 | 31 |
| Oklahoma | 26 | 28 | 32 |
| Tennessee | 24 | 22 | 33 |
| Illinois | 22 | 21 | 34 |
| Kentucky | 21 | 18 | 32 |
| Kansas | 17 | 22 | 15 |
| Indiana | 17 | 16 | 26 |
| North Carolina | 15 | 18 | 8 |
| Iowa | 13 | 17 | 12 |
| Nebraska | 11 | 17 | 10 |
| South Carolina | 10 | 13 | 4 |
| Virginia | 10 | 12 | 9 |
| Ohio | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| Minnesota | 8 | 11 | 10 |
| Wisconsin | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| West Virginia | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| South Dakota | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Colorado | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Maryland | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| Michigan | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| New Mexico | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| North Dakota | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| District of Columbia | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| New York | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Delaware | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Wyoming | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Montana | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Vermont | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Maine | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| California | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Utah | 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.
Tornado Watch or tornado warning?
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. 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. The NWS issued 3,014 tornado warnings in 2025, against 197 tornado watches. The tornado warning record.