The U.S. has the world’s highest tornado risk…
Tornadoes occur across every continent, yet the U.S. consistently leads the curve annually in the number of tornado events worldwide, widely due to its geographic disposition. According to NOAA, around 1,200 tornadoes occur in the U.S. per year, surpassing any other region globally, and just ahead of Canada who experiences 100 tornadoes per year. However, comparing data internationally poses challenges due to variations in reporting methodologies among countries. For instance, the European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL) notes potential underreporting in Europe, particularly in countries like France and the UK, where weaker tornadoes might not be regularly reported.
Tornado activity is also present in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia contends with around 50 tornadoes annually, while South Africa also reports annual occurrences. South America experiences severe convective storms that are mostly contained within a particular region dubbed the “pasillo de los tornadoes,” spanning Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and parts of Brazil.
Why do most tornadoes occur in the United States?
The United States averages several EF4 or stronger tornadoes every year, although EF5 occurrences are relatively rare. The vast expanse of the country certainly contributes to this phenomenon, as more land area equates to increased potential for tornado formation. However, it's the unique geography and positioning within the continent that amplifies the risk.
Tornadoes are one of the consequences of severe convective storms that arise from specific atmospheric conditions. They typically develop where cold, dry air collides with warm, humid air—a clash that is particularly pronounced between 30 and 60 degrees latitude in both the northern and southern hemispheres. This is the area in which a significant portion of the Earth's tornadoes occur and much of the lower 48 states of the U.S. lie.
According to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), most tornadoes in the US occur in the Great Plains of the central United States. The proximity to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, combined with dry air descending from the Rockies and cold air from northern regions (accentuated by the flat terrain of the Great Plains), creates an ideal environment where elements perfectly converge to provide fuel for the kinds of storms that produce tornadoes.
How is tornado strength measured?
Unlike weather perils such as hurricanes, which are assigned a category of intensity primarily based on their sustained wind speeds and central pressure, tornadoes are assessed based on the damage they cause, in addition to other factors.
The National Weather Service (NWS), a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), uses the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale to assign a tornado a ‘rating’ based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. Tornadoes receive a scaled rating ranging from EF0, indicating minor damage, to EF5, denoting winds exceeding 200 mph and catastrophic destruction, such as:
- Strong frame houses completely lifted off foundations and thrown considerable distances, often leading to immediate destruction.
- Trees stripped of bark.
- Robust steel and concrete structures suffering severe damage.
This scale provides a standardized framework for comprehensively categorizing tornadoes and assessing their impact on affected areas.
Tornadoes threaten warehouses and manufacturing plants…
Tornadoes develop very quickly and cause devastation within confined areas, propelled by their formidable winds and the debris they hurl with relentless force. In the most extreme cases, tornado wind speeds can reach 300 mph, propelling vehicles airborne, demolishing ordinary structures, and transforming shattered glass and debris into deadly projectiles.
Among the most vulnerable to the impacts of tornadoes are companies with warehouse assets and manufacturing facilities. A recent incident in July, 2023 saw a tornado rip through a major Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina, nearly obliterating its warehouse, which stored raw materials, packaging supplies and finished medications.
According to a 2023 report by Transport Topics, twenty-seven of North America’s top 100 logistics firms are based in the Midwest, home to several states that fall into Tornado Alley. According to NOAA, Tornado Alley is a nickname for an area of relatively high tornado occurrence. While it’s not a clearly defined area, increasing severe weather is expanding its boundaries.
As industrial development continues to grow in high-risk areas as a result of population shifts, developers face the imperative of reinforcing facilities and securing insurance coverage against tornado risks.
Descartes’ Parametric insurance offers relief fast, through a predefined index that triggers payment when a tornado passes over an insured location.
With no need for on-site loss adjustment to process claims, parametric insurance offers a source of swift financial stability amid the aftermath of a tornado. Through our streamlined claims process, empowered by a bespoke tornado index developed in collaboration with clients and brokers, Descartes offers transparent and straightforward coverage tailored to the unique needs and assets of each client.
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