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Through Tornado, Bengal and China

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 with a below average number of tornadoes through the first three months despite a few significant outbreaks on January 9, February 27–28, and March 13–15. 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 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. The worst events occurred on April 26, May 6 - 8, and May 21.

Average to above average activity continued through essentially the rest of the year as several derechos and multiple tornado outbreaks spawned by tropical cylcones 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. Additionally, 2024 was the final year of a record EF5 drought, as a tornado of such intensity occurred the following year.

Events

United States

Europe

  • Note: Some tornadoes have been rated using different scales. They are counted as their closest IF-Scale equivalent on this table.

China

  • Note: 27 tornadoes have been confirmed, but not yet rated.

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