Washington, D.C. – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported a significant surge in tornado activity for July 2024, with at least 180 confirmed tornadoes, marking the most active July since 1997. This sharp increase has propelled 2024 into third place for the most year-to-date tornadoes since records began in 1950.
According to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, these tornadoes were largely driven by extreme weather events, including Hurricane Beryl and a derecho that impacted the Chicago area. The total number of tornadoes recorded in 2024 has already surpassed 1,240, approaching the record set in 2011, which saw 1,507 tornadoes by early August.
Additionally, New York state experienced its highest number of tornadoes on record, with 27 confirmed so far in 2024, surpassing the previous record of 25 tornadoes in 2007. Despite the overall near-average severe weather reports for July, the significant tornado activity highlights the increasing intensity of severe weather patterns across the country.
As NOAA continues to monitor these trends, the heightened tornado activity serves as a reminder of the growing unpredictability and severity of weather events in the United States.
