Tornadoes of 2024
Clockwise from top: An NSSL Mobile Mesonet Truck observing an EF2 tornado near Eldorado, Oklahoma on May 23; Aerial view of high-end EF3 damage to structures in downtown Sulphur, Oklahoma following a tornado on April 27; An illustration of where traditional and mobile radars usually scan a tornado or its parent circulation relative to where damage occurs, superimposed over an EF2 tornado near Custer City, Oklahoma on May 19; A large EF4 tornado in Elkhorn, Nebraska on April 26; Aerial view of EF4 damage to destroyed homes in northeastern Greenfield, Iowa following a tornado on May 21; EF3 damage to a mobile home in Wellington, Florida following a tornado spawned by Hurricane Milton on October 9. | |
| Timespan | January 3 – December 31 |
|---|---|
| Maximum rated tornado | EF4 tornado
|
| Tornadoes in U.S. | 1,796 |
| Fatalities (U.S.) | 53 |
| Fatalities (worldwide) | 90 |
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2024. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Argentina, Southern Brazil, the Bengal region and China, but can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during summer in the Northern Hemisphere and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, South Africa, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Tornadic events are often accompanied by other forms of severe weather, including thunderstorms, strong winds and hail.
Worldwide, 90 tornado-related deaths were confirmed – 53 in the United States, 14 in China, 12 in South Africa, five in India, three in Indonesia, two in Mexico and one in Russia.
In the United States, the year started off somewhat slow with a below average number of tornadoes through the first three months. However, the El Niño pattern that was in place during that period weakened in April; the pattern shift caused the more traditional Tornado Alley zone to rapidly become extremely favorable for tornado outbreaks, and several large outbreaks occurred in late spring. In a month-long span between April 26 and May 26, almost 700 tornadoes touched down across the United States, causing widespread destruction and dozens of casualties. Average to above average activity continued through essentially the rest of the year as several derechos and multiple outbreaks spawned by tropical cyclones occurred across the United States.
As a result, 2024 ended as the second most active year on record for tornadoes and the most active season of the 2020s decade so far, with 1,880 preliminary reports and at least 1,796 confirmed tornadoes. Only 2004 had more tornadoes with 1,817. This year surpassed 2019 as the busiest year ever recorded in Oklahoma, with at least 152 confirmed tornadoes. With a violent tornado occurring near Marietta in Oklahoma, 2024 was the first year since 2016 to feature an EF4 tornado in Oklahoma. Another EF4 tornado struck Barnsdall in northeast Oklahoma, marking it the first time since 2013 Oklahoma saw more than one violent tornado. 2024 was also the busiest year on record for tornadoes in Florida, Illinois, Iowa, New York, Ohio and West Virginia.