Maps Show Every Confirmed Tornado To Hit US This Year

A series of maps shows where confirmed tornadoes have struck the U.S. in 2026, as Illinois heads toward a record-breaking year of tornado activity.

Warning areas and potential impact

Illinois has recorded 203 confirmed tornadoes in 2026, more than triple its 20-year annual average.

The maps below, based on monthly data from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), show how tornado activity has spread across the country throughout the year.

January averages 39 tornadoes across the U.S., with tornado activity typically concentrated along the Gulf Coast caused by the interaction of warm, moist air from the Gulf and cold air masses moving into the Deep South.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Storm Prediction Center recorded 23 preliminary tornado reports in January 2026, 59 percent of the 1991–2020 average.

Tornadoes were reported on five days during the month. February averages about 36 tornadoes in the U.S., with activity typically concentrated along the Gulf Coast.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center recorded 52 preliminary tornado reports in February 2026, 44 percent above the 1991–2020 average and the fourth consecutive February with above-average activity.

Much of the first half of the month was quiet, while activity increased along the Gulf Coast and parts of the Midwest during the second half, producing four tornado days.