Tornadoes: The wild whirlwind of nature

It was early morning, just before 2 am, in Tennessee on March 3, 2020. 

An EF-4 tornado hit Jennifer’s neighborhood that Tuesday morning. The tornado brought baseball-sized hail with winds up to 175 mph, leveled several large homes, and sadly, 19 people lost their lives. Thankfully, Jennifer and her family sustained minimal physical injuries, but the emotional, mental, and financial toll was heavy.

In the U.S., an estimated 1,200 tornadoes occur annually, leaving uprooted trees, cars tossed over, houses leveled, and communities destroyed in their wake. However, recent trend data indicate that tornadoes are on the rise. In 2024, the second-worst year on record for tornadoes occurred, marking the worst year in 13 years. This year is also off to a blustery start. As of May 8, 2025, over 630 tornadoes have been reported in the U.S., surpassing the 15-year historical average.

For homeowners, especially those located east of the Rocky Mountains, this trend is particularly important to note. It is a call not only to understand tornadoes and similar high-wind events, such as derechos, but also to take steps to reduce the wind risks these storms bring.

Tornadoes 101

What are tornadoes, and how do they form?

Tornadoes form when thunderstorms have a specific combination of winds, typically rapidly swirling columns of air that extend downward. Scientists are still learning about how tornadoes form. Currently, it’s believed they develop when a storm's internal structure, including its forward and rear gust fronts, interacts with the flow of warm, sheared air around and under the rotating updraft (mesocyclone) within the storm. It’s complicated and windy!

How are tornadoes measured?

Since 2007, a twister’s power (and wind speed) has been measured by the National Weather Service using the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale), which looks at 28 damage indicators (such as destruction of softwood trees, damage to small structures or damage to an elementary school) and the degree of damage the tornado caused. The scale gives a sense of the power and degree of damage a tornado causes. 

How long do tornadoes last, and how far do they travel?

Each tornado is different, but in general, tornadoes tend to last less than 10 minutes and travel about 3.5 miles, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.

There are outliers on both ends of the curve. Some tornadoes spin up for only a minute, while meteorologists have tracked others for hours. A well-documented, long-lived tornado struck northwest Tennessee and central Kentucky in December. It was tracked for over three hours and covered an astonishing 165.7 miles.

When is tornado season?

Peak tornado season varies by region. It’s early spring for the Gulf Coast, May through early June for the Southern Plains, and June or July for the Plains and upper Midwest. Importantly, tornadoes may form ahead of a hurricane’s eye, as seen with both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Additionally, tornadoes tend to occur between 4 pm and 9 pm.

While these are the most common occurrences of tornadoes, it’s essential to note that tornadoes may occur at any time and that tornado season is becoming increasingly widespread.

Where do tornadoes occur?

In the U.S., tornadoes tend to occur east of the Rocky Mountains and are more common in the Deep South and parts of the Great Plains and Midwest. Spawning the terms “Dixie Alley” and “Tornado Alley.”

Blowing in the wind with derechos

Not all windy weather events are tornadoes, but all are capable of causing damage to your home and property. One of the more destructive types of windstorms is a derecho, which may have hurricane-force winds, torrential rain, and widespread destruction, typically along a straight path. In contrast, tornadoes have paths that may be more varied. Derechos are serious wind events, with many experiencing wind gusts of 75 mph or greater, and wind damage that extends more than 400 miles. Much of the destruction is caused by rapid, forceful downward blasts of wind. Like tornadoes, these high-wind events may cause significant damage and loss to homes, properties, and infrastructure.
 

Risk mitigation measures for tornadoes, derechos, and high-wind events

If you are a homeowner living in a tornado-prone area, take steps to strengthen and fortify your home. Preparing in advance could help your home better withstand high-wind events, such as tornadoes and derechos.

Below are a few actions you may wish to consider:

1. Request a wind mitigation inspection report. These are most common in coastal areas, but regardless of your location, our team of risk mitigation advisors could guide you in making your home wind-ready.

2. Next, focus on strengthening your roof with wind-rated products that perform well in high winds and hail, which often accompany tornadoes. A new roof with wind-rated products may improve your insurability.

• If you are replacing the roof, consider a sealed roof deck and impact-resistant Class 4-rated roof products.
• If you have skylights, consider using impact-resistant skylights.

3. Evaluate your windows, doors, and garage doors. You should use impact-rated glass and doors that are designed to withstand impact from debris and high-speed winds. A compromised garage door may lead to larger issues for the home.

4. Consider a tornado-safe room. These rooms are built to provide near-absolute protection during extreme wind events, including tornadoes and hurricanes, according to FEMA.

5. Consider the FORTIFIED program. This program requires that the entire home, from its foundation to the roof, be structurally connected. Learn more.

If you’d like to learn more about how to fortify your home, feel free to reach out to our risk mitigation team. We could share additional wind-rated products that may be suitable for your property and help guide you as you consider your options. 

Benefits of working with a broker

As tornadoes become more frequent and severe in the U.S., our team could help you safeguard your home and valuables. Our team includes risk mitigation advisors who may offer guidance as you fortify, build, or retrofit your home to better withstand high-wind events.

If your home is affected by a tornado or other severe weather event, our team of experienced claims advocates is here to guide you through the claims process. They could help you get organized, prepare your paperwork, and present your unique claim to your insurer in a strong and professional manner.

In the aftermath of a devastating tornado, when many claims are often being made simultaneously, and stress may be running high, working with a broker may provide you with an extra layer of support and additional peace of mind. If you’d like to learn more about how we could help you better prepare your properties or navigate a tornado, please reach out.