Rating Ruin

The Worst States for Tornadoes, From Oklahoma to Illinois

Oklahoma is no stranger to tornadoes. In fact, according to a new ranking by The Daily Beast, it’s the most tornado-prone state in America. See the full list.

(Clockwise from top left) Lori Mehmen/AP; Sean Gardner/Getty; Seth Perlman/AP; Tom Pennington/Getty;

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/130521-tornado-states-intro_gsubsp — For the community of Moore, Oklahoma, tornadoes are a nearly annual occurrence. Since 1950, Cleveland County has experienced 67 tornadoes, including the record-breaking twister of 1999. But it’s not just the suburban enclave of Moore that’s favored by twisters—according to national weather data analyzed by The Daily Beast, Oklahoma is the most tornado-prone state in the country.

Using data compiled by NOAA’s National Weather Service severe weather database files, which includes tornado reports from 1950 through the end of 2012, we calculated which states have the highest tornado incidence rates. As we did two years ago, we ranked the states based on the number of tornadoes per square mile and the average severity of tornadoes using the Fujita scale. (The tornado per square mile was weighted twice the severity level.)

(Clockwise from top left) Lori Mehmen/AP; Sean Gardner/Getty; Seth Perlman/AP; Tom Pennington/Getty;

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/130521-tornado-states-oklahoma_kl8e9e — **Tornadoes per square mile:** 0.051

**Average intensity (scale 1 to 5):** 0.99

**Total fatalities:** 462

**Total injuries:** 7,390

*Photo: Moore, Oklahoma, 2013*

Charlie Riedel/AP

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/130521-tornado-states-florida_ya1oc9 — **Tornadoes per square mile:** 0.059

**Average intensity (scale 1 to 5):** 0.53

**Total fatalities:** 162

**Total injuries:** 3,310

*Photo: Lady Lake, Florida, 2007*

Joe Raedle/Getty

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/130521-tornado-states-mississippi_otmqvf — **Tornadoes per square mile:** 0.041

**Average intensity (scale 1 to 5):** 1.16

**Total fatalities:** 509

**Total injuries:** 6,647

*Photo: Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 2013*
Sean Gardner/Getty

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/130521-tornado-states-indiana_ulqwpm — **Tornadoes per square mile:** 0.037

**Average intensity (scale 1 to 5):** 1.21

**Total fatalities:** 341

**Total injuries:** 5,271

*Photo: Henryville, Indiana, 2012*

Michael Conroy/AP

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/130521-tornado-states-louisiana_vycvh2 — **Tornadoes per square mile:** 0.042

**Average intensity (scale 1 to 5):** 1.00

**Total fatalities:** 205

**Total injuries:** 3,336

*Photo: New Orleans, Louisiana, 2006*
Eliot Kamenitz/Times-Picayune/Landov

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/tornado-states-alabama_lanijl — **Tornadoes per square mile:** 0.038

**Average intensity (scale 1 to 5):** 1.14

**Total fatalities:** 823

**Total injuries:** 9,285

*Photo: Holt, Alabama, 2002*
Tom Pennington/Getty

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/tornado-states-kansas_b4dx3o — **Tornadoes per square mile:** 0.047

**Average intensity (scale 1 to 5):** 0.73

**Total fatalities:** 297

**Total injuries:** 3,306

*Photo: Ogallah, Kansas, 2008*
Charlie Riedel/AP

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/tornado-states-iowa_bmck4j — **Tornadoes per square mile:** 0.041

**Average intensity (scale 1 to 5):** 0.97

**Total fatalities:** 84

**Total injuries:** 2,258

*Photo: Orchard, Iowa, 2008*
Lori Mehmen/AP

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/tornado-states-arkansas_dtd3yj — **Tornadoes per square mile:** 0.032

**Average intensity (scale 1 to 5):** 1.24

**Total fatalities:** 384

**Total injuries:** 5,368

*Photo: Etna, Arkansas, 2011*
Joe Raedle/Getty

galleries/2013/05/21/the-worst-states-for-tornadoes-from-oklahoma-to-wisconsin/tornado-states-illinois_pnha7g — **Tornadoes per square mile:** 0.040

**Average intensity (scale 1 to 5):** 0.89

**Total fatalities:** 236

**Total injuries:** 4,719

*Photo: Ridgway, Illinois, 2012*
Seth Perlman/AP

The Worst States for Tornadoes, From Oklahoma to Illinois

Unlock a year of full access to The Daily Beast for $35.

Looks like you already have a subscription!

You're all set!

Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.

Looks like you already have a subscription!

You're all set!

TRENDING NOW

Unlock a year of full access to The Daily Beast for $35.

Looks like you already have a subscription!

You're all set!

Register below to read this article for free or subscribeto unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.

Looks like you already have a subscription!

You're all set!

TRENDING NOW

Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.