Spun Up- The Tornadoes of 2024
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2024 brought unprecedented severe weather to several portions of the United States, including tornadoes.
Midland's Meteorologist, Bruce Jones recounts the twisters of 2024.
By the numbers
Since official record-keeping began in the 1950’s, the US has seen only 2 years with more tornadoes than 2024.
The year’s total of 1,579 twisters is the highest count since 2019 and is just a few hundred shy of the all-time record.
Oklahoma led the states with 152 confirmed tornadoes in 2024.
57 tornado fatalities were recorded in 2024, 29% fewer than normal - a measure of the progress we’re making in forecasting and alerting for severe weather.
Oklahoma
With 152 recorded tornadoes, the state of Oklahoma saw its busiest tornado season on record, and the most tornadoes ever in the month of April.
Around 11:30 pm on April 27, the town of Marietta was struck by a 900-yard-wide EF4, but National Weather Service warnings delivered via NOAA Weather Radio had alerted residents 13 minutes in advance.
Although the town’s housing areas were spared, destruction to the commercial section of Marietta was extensive. The Dollar Tree distribution center, a major employer, was heavily damaged, as was the town’s hospital, and Love County’s only grocery store was leveled.
8 months afterward, with the grocery store still empty, residents were having to drive to another county to buy food - a stark reminder of the frustrating and lingering impacts of severe storms.
Iowa
On May 21, the town of Greenfield, Iowa was struck by a massive multi-vortex tornado packing surface winds roaring at an estimated 185mph, while a nearby radar-on-wheels vehicle recorded astonishing winds of 309-315 mph rotating within the funnel.
Had there been more modern construction in Greenfield, this twister would have qualified as the year’s only EF-5 tornado, but damage indicators supported just an EF-4 rating.
With 5 fatalities, Greenfield was one of the deadliest tornadoes of 2024; the average age of the victims was 74.5 years. Hearing loss, slower mobility, and limited sheltering options make the elderly particularly vulnerable to severe weather. Adding a strobe light and pillow shaker to a Public Alert-certified NOAA Weather Radio gives retirees and grandparents a better chance to receive and respond to life-saving alerts. Consider a weather radio a gift for your elders.
Outbreak days
Many of 2024’s tornadoes occurred on “outbreak” days, and National Weather Service (NWS) offices did outstanding jobs issuing the warnings that saved many lives.
On April 26, NWS-Omaha warned for 25 tornadoes with combined damage tracks of 208 miles, in a 6-hour marathon of meteorological mayhem. Omaha forecasters issued tornado warnings 29 minutes before the Blair EF-4, 27 minutes prior to the Elkhorn EF-4, and 42 minutes before the Minden, Iowa EF-3. The Minden storm exhibited extreme tornado damage, as areas of EF-1 and EF-3 damage were separated by only 100 yards…. indicating a violent multiple vortex structure was writhing inside the twister.
Chicago
Not to be outdone, on July 15 NWS-Chicago warned for 32 twisters, including 4 inside the Chicago city limits.
In a normal year, this office would issue only 1 tornado warning in the month of July, their least-active tornado month, and previously, 32 tornadoes had been the office’s record for an entire year.
The “derecho” squall line that spun-up these twisters was responsible for a total of 52 tornadoes across the state of Illinois, a new one-day state record, as well.
Arkansas
Arkansas also noted its largest-ever July tornado day when the remnants of Hurricane Beryl produced 10 tornadoes on July 8.
But by far the state’s worst severe weather day was May 26, when three EF-3 tornadoes damaged numerous homes and killed 5 people.
One of those, a 3/4 mile-wide beast, touched down at 3:27am and rampaged for 22 miles, lofting and destroying several poorly anchored homes.
This is a reminder of the importance of “having a plan”. If you live in vulnerable housing, have a NOAA Weather Radio to wake you at night, and designate a nearby shelter or a well-built home as your place to hide when the radio announces, “Tornado Warning!"
Hurricane Milton
A whopping 46 of the year’s tornadoes were spun-up by Hurricane Milton, a prolific over-achiever.
Because of their strongly whirling wind fields, hurricanes, and tropical storms are the source of many tornadoes, but as a rule, hurricane twisters are weaker and short-lived.
Their quick, capricious manner make them difficult to warn for, as they sometimes appear on only one sweep of the radar and then dissipate seconds later.
Milton would have none of that, as it produced several historic strong, long-track tornadoes including three rated EF-3 -- powerful enough to completely remove a home’s roof and knock down some of its walls.
The St. Lucie County, Florida EF-3 struck at 3:00 pm, destroying 180 structures and causing 6 direct deaths. NWS-Melbourne issued the St. Lucie tornado warning 26 minutes before impact, saving many lives.
It is important to note that several of the Milton tornado fatalities are ranked “indirect”, and include a couple asphyxiated in their home by carbon monoxide from their gasoline-powered generator, a heart attack while cleaning up debris, electrocution by stepping on downed power lines, and 2 falls from roofs or ladders, one of them while closing storm shutters in advance of the tempest.
To make your family weather-ready, be sure to understand the dangers before, during, and after severe weather events.
The final outbreak
The final tornado outbreak of 2024 occurred December 27-29, and ranks as the second largest December outbreak in US history.
5 fatalities were reported in 4 states as a line of strong storms produced a preliminary total of 86 twisters from Texas into the Carolinas.
Alerting people for severe weather during “off season” months such as December is made more difficult because of the need to overcome most people’s, “it can’t happen this time of year” mindset. Severe weather can happen anytime, anywhere, when the proper weather ingredients are in place.
Weather in America
America has the worst weather on Earth and we need to be prepared to deal with it. Ready.gov is a great place to learn about severe weather risks and how you and your family can survive them.
Important to every plan is a Public Alert-certified NOAA Weather Radio. These devices silently monitor a radio broadcast direct from your local weather forecast office. When the radar operator issues a warning, your weather radio will be the first thing to go off, even before your cell phone.
Make 2025 the year you “make a plan” and “build a kit”, including one desktop weather radio for your home, and one emergency crank radio you can take with you. Having more than one way to receive life-saving alerts makes you an active part of our Weather-Ready Nation.
Desktop emergency radio
WR10 NOAA Weather and Emergency Alert Radio - WR120
The first line of alerting at home during severe weather and emergencies, the Public Alert-Certified WR120 brings the fastest, most reliable life-saving information to keep your family safe.
On-the-go emergency radios
ER50 Portable Emergency Weather Alert Crank Radio - ER50
Midland’s ER50 brings instant alerts from the National Weather Service anytime, anywhere. The ER50 is the dependable device on the go with its several sources of power and flashlight, making preparedness a priority before, during, and after the storm.
ER310 Portable Emergency Crank Weather Radio - ER310
When you’re on the go, Midland’s ER310 brings life-saving emergency and weather alerts anytime, anywhere with multiple power sources to ensure safety before, during, and after the storm or emergency.