Strong tornadoes hitting the central U.S.

Tornado season in the U.S., especially in the southern Great Plains, is in full swing despite reporting drought conditions. On April 23, an EF4 twister went through Enid, Okla., the largest tornado reported so far this year. The town is about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City. Over three dozen homes were damaged or destroyed and the tornado also damaged Vance Air Force Base.

To date, there have been approximately 454 tornadoes reported across the U.S. This figure is less than last year as there were 628 twisters through April 20. Since 2010, the most tornadoes ever reported to date was back in 2011 with 726. On average the U.S. receives more than 1,200 tornadoes each year with a total of about 2,000 worldwide.

Most of the twisters touch down east of the Rockies, especially through a region called “Tornado Alley.” This area is concentrated on northeastern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, most of Iowa and southern Minnesota. A recent study reported in Scientific American has shown that the focus of the twisters has moved eastward by around 400 to 500 miles. This includes states like Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, western Ohio and across northern Mississippi and Alabama. The state that has the highest average number of twisters each year is Texas with a total of 135. In recorded history, tornadoes have been seen in all 50 states.

As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, the intensity of a tornado is currently measured by the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which was implemented in 2007. It examines the damage caused by the twister and wind speeds. An EF0 and EF1 tornado generally inflicts minor damage, but an EF5, the most severe, will cause widespread destruction as maximum winds are between 261 and 318 miles per hour. Prior to the enhancement, the Fujita Scale was used based on the damage of structures and area vegetation.

From 1950 through 2006, there were 50 tornadoes that were rated an F5, which was the original Fujita scale for measuring tornado intensity. However, in 1997 and 1999, devastating tornadoes led to the revision of the Enhanced Fujita scale in 2007. Since its implementation, there have been officially10 EF5 twisters in the U.S.

The last time the U.S. reported a twister that strong was June 20, 2025, in Enderlin, N.D. Winds were “greater than 210 miles per hour” on that date. One of the most devastating seasons was back in 2011 when there were multiple EF-5 twisters reported. Joplin, Mo., experienced devastating tornadoes May 22 as that event was the deadliest in the United States.

One of the most active months for tornadic activity in the U.S. is in May. The average number of tornadoes for May is 276 with the majority occurring in Texas (43), Oklahoma (28) and Kansas (38). Both Idaho and Washington average one tornado during the month of May. For an entire season, the average number of twisters in Idaho is four.

In 2025, there was an above normal 1,429 twisters leading to nearly two billion dollars in damage in the U.S. Idaho reported two tornadoes last year, one near Pocatello and the other near Rigby. There were no reported twisters in Washington last year.

One of the worst tornados in Idaho’s history, based on damage and intensity, occurred in the Magic Valley region near Jerome and Twin Falls in the southern part of the state. On May 31, 1990, an F2 size twister damaged dozens of homes and buildings. Some agricultural equipment was destroyed, and power poles were snapped. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

On May 31, 1997, there was another F2 tornado that developed near Athol and was also listed as one of the strongest in the state. No one was injured and most of the damage was to old trees in the area.

Other F2 twisters in Idaho occurred in Power, Perce, Minidoka, Madison and Bonneville County. There was an F2 twister that was reported in Bonner County on April 9, 1991.

In terms of our local weather, after scattered shower activity expected early this week, drier and warmer weather is expected across the Inland Northwest. As I’ve been mentioning, the latest spring forecast from NOAA calls for a drier than normal weather pattern across the Inland Northwest as sea-surface temperatures warm.

The latest sea-surface temperature data does indicate warmer than normal ocean temperatures near the West Coast of South America. There are some areas where readings are at least several degrees above average. We’re now in a “La Nada,” the in-between cooler La Nina and warmer El Nino. If the warming continues at this rate, then a new El Nino may be declared very soon. Many forecasters are predicting a very strong El Nino event later this year and could rival some of the strongest ones in recorded history. With sea-surface temperatures warming, the upcoming summer season would likely be drier than average as well with temperatures near to above seasonal averages.

• • • 

Contact Randy Mann at [email protected].