United States Tornadoes of 2012

　

*Updated Jan. 6, 2013 and subject to revision.

Comparisons are made for the 62-year period 1950-2011 unless otherwise noted. The official NOAA/NWS period of record for tornadoes in the United States extends back to 1950. Fatality records for significant tornado events prior to 1950 are used for historical comparison. Tornado numbers from January through October, 2012 are derived from
Storm Data while numbers for November through December are preliminary estimates based on NWS Public Statements and Local Storm Reports.

First Tornado.....................................8:45 AM CST, 9-Jan (EF0-TX)

Last Tornado......................................5:00 PM EST, 26-Dec (EF1-NC)

2012 Total Tornadoes..............................936 (Ranked 25th since 1950)


Record Annual Total..............................1817 in 2004


Greatest 2012 Monthly Total........................206 in April


Greatest Monthly Total on Record...................759 in April 2011


2012 Tornado Days..................................170


Annual Average.....................................178 (50-years, 1962-2011)

Record Tornado Days in Any Year....................211 in 2000


Greatest 2012 Daily Total (Mid-Mid CST).............86 on 14-Apr


Greatest Daily Total on Record.....................200 on 27-Apr-2011


States Reporting Tornadoes in 2012..................46


Annual Average Number of States.....................43 (50-years, 1962-2011)

Most States Reporting Tornadoes in Any Year.........48 (2011 and 1989)


2012 Tornado Deaths.................................68 (Ranked 25th since 1950)


Annual Average Tornado Deaths.......................91 (62-years, 1950-2011)

2011 Tornado Deaths................................553 (Ranked 2nd in History)

Greatest Annual Number of Tornado Deaths...........794 (1925)


2012 Tornado Injuries..............................829 (Ranked 43rd since 1950)


Greatest Annual Number of Injuries................6824 in 1974


2012 Deadliest Single Tornado.......................Henryville, IN (11, 2-Mar)


Record Deadliest Single Tornado (modern era)........Joplin, MO, 158, 22-May-2011


2012 Longest Track..................................85 miles (KY-WV, 2-Mar)


Record Longest Track...............................235 miles (LA-MS, 22-Mar-1953)


2012 Tornadoes Rated EF4.............................4 (Fewest since 2 in 2009)


Record Annual Number................................36 in 1974


2012 Tornadoes Rated EF5 (200+mph)...................0 (Fewest since 0 in 2010)


Record Annual Number of EF5 Tornadoes................7 in 1974


2012 Estimated Property and Crop Losses...........~1.6 billion USD


2011 Estimated Property and Crop Losses..........~10.0 billion USD (Ranked 1st)

Greatest Losses from Single Tornado...............~2.8 billion USD (Joplin, MO)


Statistics compiled by Gregory.Carbin.at.noaa.gov, NOAA/NWS/Storm Prediction Center,

www.spc.