The graph above shows the monthly distribution of "killer" tornadoes in the US from 1950-1994. Statistics show that the least likely month for a tornado dangerous enough to take lives is July, and the most likely is April. Note that this distribution is different than the monthly distribution for ALL tornadoes. On that graph, which is below, May is the month that has the most tornadoes. You might think that the month that has the MOST tornadoes would also be the month that has the most tornado deaths, but that is not so. There are a number of factors that affect this difference.
- The tornadoes that occurr earlier in the year are more intense and violent than those that occur later.
- Since darkness falls earlier in March and April than it does in May or June, the tornadoes often strike after dark, and sometimes very late at night, when tornadoes are more difficult to spot visually, and are more likely to catch people unawares.
- Tornadoes that occur earlier in the year tend to be in the southern states of the US. They are often rain wrapped. Since the weather in the southern states is more temperate, the homes are built to different specifications than those in states that experience colder weather. Many homes are set on blocks rather than on a slab foundation or over a basement. They may be built of unreinforced cement or cinder blocks. A high water table in some states precludes construction of a basement. Rural poverty is prevalent in some areas. These factors make the homes and their occupants in the Southern states more vulnerable.
Take a look at our first Top Ten page, and you will notice the preponderance of southern states in the categories that mention "deaths." The state of Massachusetts sticks out as an exception because of a single tornado that killed 94 people in 1953, and Indiana and Ohio stand out because of the many deaths in the April 11, 1965 Palm Sunday tornado and the April 3, 1974 SuperOutbreak.
If you want to use frames, you will get more reliable results by using the navigation panel on the left.
Frames Home
No-frames Home
Recent tornadoes
Tornadoes in the past
Tornado Top Tens
The Fujita Scale
Videos, Books and Posters
FAQ about Tornadoes
Tornado Safety
Tornado Oddities
Storm Chasing
Tornado Project
Tornado Myths
All Tornadoes
Tornado Stories
Favorite Sites
Other Neat Stuff about Tornadoes
The Storm Cellar
The Tornado Project
PO Box 302
St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819
USA
© 1999 The Tornado Project All rights reserved. All content, text, and graphics on these pages are the property of The Tornado Project and may not be reproduced, electronically or otherwise unless specified.