Fact Check Team: Tornadoes remain unpredictable yet costly

WASHINGTON (TND) — Tornadoes, the unpredictable natural phenomena capable of devastating landscapes in mere moments, remain a perpetual concern for communities across the United States, especially during this time of year. While they can strike at any time and in any location, statistics reveal that 70% occur during March through June.

In April alone, the National Weather Service Prediction Center reported over 300 tornadoes. According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, the monthly average stands at 182. The only time the U.S. witnessed more tornadoes in April was in 2011, with a staggering count of 757.

Zooming out to assess broader patterns, on an average year, approximately 1,200 tornadoes sweep through the nation. Scientists struggle with understanding the complex mechanisms behind tornado formation, making it challenging to understand whether tornadoes are occurring more frequently than in the past. As of now, there is no clear historical or scientific evidence that tornadoes have become more common or damaging.

Official tornado records only date back to 1950, and while there may be an increase in recorded tornadoes today compared to previous decades, the majority fall under the weakest category, EF0.

The damages associated with tornadoes are often extremely expensive. Indeed, President Biden last week declared a major disaster in Nebraska after tornadoes tore through the state, meaning federal funding will be available to those affected.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), since 1980 there have been 378 weather and climate disasters resulting in damages that reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of the disasters was around $3 trillion. From 2018 to 2023, 17 of those billion-dollar disasters were tornadoes.

Most recently, damages from the tornadoes in Oklahoma, Iowa and Nebraska are expected to cost over $2.1 billion. Some of the costs will be covered by insurance, some by city and state governments, and the federal government is providing assistance through FEMA.

The most expensive tornado in the U.S. was in Joplin, Missouri in 2011, costing close to $3 billion. When adjusting for inflation, however, it cost closer to $4 billion. The second most expensive tornado was in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that same year, costing nearly $2.5 billion, or over $3 billion adjusted for inflation.