Disclaimer: not a forecast or warning service

Tornado History Map shows tornadoes that have already happened. It does not forecast the weather, it does not issue warnings, and it cannot tell you whether a tornado is likely in your area today.

For live tornado watches, warnings and forecasts, use the National Weather Service at weather.gov, or the alerts on your phone or a NOAA Weather Radio. If you are told to take shelter, take shelter first and read this site afterwards.

A historical record, not a risk assessment

• How many tornadoes have passed near a place says little about what will happen there next. Tornadoes can strike anywhere they form, and a quiet history does not make a place safe.
• The summary for a spot is not an assessment of risk, and it is not insurance, property or safety advice.
• The record reflects how tornadoes were found and reported, which has changed a great deal since 1950. More tornadoes, especially weak ones, are recorded now than in the early decades, partly because more people are watching and reporting. Compare places and decades with care.
• Paths are mostly straight lines between a recorded start and end point, and some records have only a start point. They are not surveyed damage paths, and older records are less precise.

Useful links

• National Weather Service warnings
• Storm Prediction Center
• Tornado safety

We take care to present the official record accurately, but we cannot promise that it is free from error. See also our terms of use.