By Kelly Maue
It’s not your imagination. This spring, we have seen more wild weather than usual.
By the end of Easter weekend, there were 59 confirmed tornadoes in Missouri and 58 in Illinois since the beginning of the year. By contrast, the two states each typically record tornado totals in the high teens by the end of April. And although tornadoes can happen year-round, they are most likely to occur between April and June – so buckle up.
While these two states have been unusually active, the entire country has also seen an increase, with well over 500 twisters during 2025. This is on top of the fact that the US already leads the rest of the world in the frequency and intensity of tornadoes. The US experiences four times as many twisters as Europe.
Why the US? Geography plays a big role. Wet winds travel from the Pacific Ocean over the Rocky Mountains, where they dry out while heading farther east. At the same time, warm and humid air tracks north from the Gulf of Mexico, colliding with dense polar air that heads southward. Over the flat terrain, this meeting place creates unstable air and the potential for dangerous weather.
A tornado usually stems from a supercell, a thunderstorm with air rotation. Twisters form when warm, wet, low-level air crashes into dry, cooler air at a higher altitude. The conditions to produce these storms become even more favorable as the atmosphere warms up quickly during the spring months.
While at least one tornado has hit each US state since 1950, some areas are far more prone to this type of weather activity. Missouri experienced five of the 25 deadliest tornadoes in US history – most recently, the Joplin tornado of 2011 that killed over 150 people. An area known as “tornado alley” includes Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, and Minnesota. However, in recent decades, tornadic activity has been shifting eastward. States, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, have all seen an increase in tornado frequency and intensity.
While severe weather events have intensified over the years, fortunately, forecasting abilities have vastly improved. Radar, satellites, imaging systems, and other tools help identify when and where conditions are likely to produce tornadoes. For example, forecasters can measure the flow of water vapor, which can be one indicator of favorable conditions for a tornado. While dangerous weather can pop up unexpectedly, sometimes trained experts can spot troubling circumstances far in advance. This can be lifesaving because tornadoes are among the most destructive weather events.
The year 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded. With temperatures rising, the result is more frequent and severe storms. Have a severe weather plan year-round but be especially vigilant during the spring season. The basics are a charged phone, flashlights, use of an early warning system, and a predetermined location in a basement or behind interior walls. Be watchful and stay safe.
