Which states have the highest tornadoes risk?

Alabama currently ranks at the top of this list (Very High). Rankings are statewide averages — a county can sit well above or below that score.

Does homeowners insurance cover tornadoes?

Wind damage is usually covered; flood from the same storm often is not. Photograph the roof now, before hail or a tornado makes the “before” pictures impossible.

How should I use this ranking?

Find your state, open the state × hazard page, then verify the address on the official maps linked there. This page is a comparison tool, not a determination.

Tornadoes Risk by US State — Maps, Data & Home Preparedness

Tornadoes can strike with little warning, producing winds over 200 mph that destroy homes in seconds.

How to prepare your home

Identify a safe room: a basement or interior room on the lowest floor without windows.
Consider installing an engineered storm shelter or safe room.
Sign up for local emergency alerts and keep a NOAA weather radio.
Practice tornado drills with everyone in your household.
Anchor manufactured homes and know where the nearest sturdy shelter is.

Official sources

All states ranked by tornadoes risk

Highest exposure first. Click a state for the full tornadoes briefing and source links.

Alabama Alabama faces a very high tornado risk, rated level 5 of 5. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, with peaks… Very High Arkansas Arkansas gets hit by tornadoes in every season, and the statewide risk is about as high as it gets. If you… Very High Kansas Kansas sees some of the highest tornado risk in the country, and that affects your home insurance and safety.… Very High Mississippi Mississippi is one of the most tornado-prone states in the country, rated 5 out of 5 for this hazard. The… Very High Missouri Missouri is at high risk for tornadoes, with activity possible statewide and throughout the year. The state… Very High Nebraska Nebraska is one of the most tornado-prone states in the U.S., with the highest risk concentrated in central… Very High Oklahoma Oklahoma is one of the most tornado-prone states in the U.S., with a level 5 of 5 risk rating. Tornadoes can… Very High Texas Texas records more tornadoes than any other state, with the greatest exposure in the Panhandle, the Red River… Very High Georgia Georgia is a level 4 out of 5 for tornado risk, and that catches people off guard because we think of the… High Illinois Illinois gets a lot of tornadoes, and if you're buying or insuring a house here, you need to know your wind… High Indiana In Indiana, tornado risk is a real thing — the state gets about two dozen tornadoes a year, and some… High Iowa If you're buying or insuring a home in Iowa, tornado risk is one of the first things I'd look at, not the… High Kentucky Kentucky is one of the most tornado-prone states in the country, with a primary season in spring and a… High South Dakota South Dakota faces a relatively high tornado risk, especially in the eastern half of the state. Tornadoes can… High Tennessee Tennessee sits in the heart of "Dixie Alley," where tornadoes occur in every month of the year and often… High Colorado Colorado gets tornadoes, but they cluster on the eastern plains and the Front Range, not evenly across the… Moderate Florida Florida can see tornadoes in any month, and the risk is not just a Panhandle thing. If you are buying or… Moderate Louisiana Tornadoes are a year-round risk in Louisiana, which lies in the region known as 'Dixie Alley' where storms… Moderate Michigan Michigan experiences tornadoes each year, mainly in the southern Lower Peninsula during spring and summer.… Moderate Minnesota Minnesota experiences tornadoes primarily from spring through summer, with peak activity in June. While the… Moderate North Carolina North Carolina experiences tornadoes statewide, with an average of about 30 per year according to the NOAA… Moderate North Dakota North Dakota experiences tornadoes each year, with the greatest risk from late spring through summer. While… Moderate Ohio Ohio experiences tornadoes each year, with the risk rated as level 3 out of 5 by HomeRiskMap. Tornadoes can… Moderate South Carolina South Carolina faces a moderate tornado risk, rated 3 out of 5, with tornadoes possible statewide in every… Moderate Wisconsin Tornadoes occur in Wisconsin every year, most often from May through August, with the southern part of the… Moderate Connecticut Connecticut doesn't get tornadoes like the Plains, but the state still sees damaging spin-ups, and your roof… Low Delaware Delaware isn't Tornado Alley, but the state does get tornadoes — the risk is rated 2 out of 5. If you own a… Low District of Columbia District of Columbia rates a level 2 of 5 for tornado risk, which sounds low until you remember how tightly… Low Maryland Maryland has a moderate tornado risk, rated 2 out of 5. While not in the traditional 'Tornado Alley,' the… Low Massachusetts Massachusetts has a moderate tornado risk (level 2 of 5). Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the state, but they… Low New Jersey Tornadoes in New Jersey are less frequent and typically weaker than in the central U.S., but they do occur… Low New York New York has a relatively low tornado risk compared to the central United States, but tornadoes do occur… Low Pennsylvania Pennsylvania has a moderate risk of tornadoes, rated 2 out of 5. While not in the traditional Tornado Alley,… Low Virginia Virginia experiences tornadoes each year, though the overall risk is rated moderate (level 2 of 5) compared… Low West Virginia West Virginia has a relatively low tornado risk, rated level 2 out of 5, but tornadoes do occur in the state.… Low Wyoming Wyoming’s tornado risk is real but lower than the southern Plains — the state sits at level 2 of 5. If… Low Alaska In Alaska, tornadoes are rare and the statewide risk is level 1 out of 5, but that doesn't mean you can… Very Low Arizona Arizona sees a few tornadoes most years, but they're usually weak and short-lived. Still, if you own a home… Very Low California Tornadoes in California are rare, but they do happen—mostly as weak, short-lived storms in the Central… Very Low Hawaii Hawaii's tornado risk is low—level 1 out of 5—but rare storms do touch down here, mostly in winter and… Very Low Idaho Idaho doesn't get many tornadoes, but when they hit, they're usually weak and short-lived. Still, if you own… Very Low Maine Tornadoes are rare in Maine, and HomeRiskMap rates the state Level 1 out of 5 for this hazard. The tornadoes… Very Low Montana Montana has a relatively low tornado risk, rated Level 1 of 5 by FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornadoes are… Very Low Nevada Nevada has a low tornado risk, rated 1 out of 5, but tornadoes do occur, most often as weak EF0 or EF1 storms… Very Low New Hampshire Tornadoes are relatively rare in New Hampshire, and the state is rated level 1 out of 5 for this hazard. Most… Very Low New Mexico Tornadoes are relatively uncommon in New Mexico compared with the Plains states, but they do occur — mostly… Very Low Oregon Tornadoes are rare in Oregon, and the state has a very low overall tornado risk compared to the rest of the… Very Low Rhode Island Rhode Island has a relatively low risk of tornadoes compared to other states, rated level 1 out of 5.… Very Low Utah Utah is rated Level 1 of 5 for tornado risk, meaning tornadoes are relatively rare but still possible across… Very Low Vermont Vermont has one of the lowest tornado risks in the United States, rated level 1 out of 5, and most years… Very Low Washington Washington state has a low tornado risk, rated level 1 out of 5. Tornadoes are rare and usually weak, but… Very Low

Official maps for tornadoes

About these rankings

Which states have the highest tornadoes risk?: Alabama currently ranks at the top of this list (Very High). Rankings are statewide averages — a county can sit well above or below that score.
Does homeowners insurance cover tornadoes?: Wind damage is usually covered; flood from the same storm often is not. Photograph the roof now, before hail or a tornado makes the “before” pictures impossible.
How should I use this ranking?: Find your state, open the state × hazard page, then verify the address on the official maps linked there. This page is a comparison tool, not a determination.

Last updated: June 12, 2026. Rankings are state-wide estimates based on public hazard data (FEMA, NOAA, USGS) — always verify your specific address with official sources.

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