Knowing the timing of storm seasons is the first step in preparation. In the contiguous U.S., tornado season generally peaks in spring. National Weather Service (NWS) data show the bulk of U.S. tornadoes occur in March–June, with May often the busiest month. The central Plains (e.g. Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas) typically see their highest rates in May–June, while the Southeast can begin earlier in spring and even experience a secondary peak in late fall. (Some regions, like the Gulf Coast, can have tornadoes year-round.) By contrast, Atlantic hurricanes follow a well-defined season: June 1 through November 30. This “hurricane season” includes the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Atlantic coasts. (The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs May 15–November 30; Central Pacific June 1–November 30.) The peak of hurricane activity is late summer into early fall (especially August–October) when sea-surface temperatures are warmest. Pacific typhoons – the same tropical cyclones that are called hurricanes in the Atlantic – occur in the Western Pacific. Typhoon season is effectively year-round, but most storms form May–October, with November often seeing a smaller spike of storms (including some “super typhoons”). (For U.S. interests: Atlantic/Gulf hurricanes threaten the U.S. mainland; Eastern/Central Pacific hurricanes can reach Hawaii; Western Pacific typhoons primarily affect U.S. territories like Guam.)
Tornado season (U.S.): most common March–June (plains/Midwest peak in May–June; Gulf Coast can see spring and fall bursts).
Hurricane season (Atlantic): June 1–Nov 30 (Eastern Pacific: May 15–Nov 30; Central Pacific: June 1–Nov 30).
Typhoon season (Western Pacific): year-round, with majority May–Oct.
In practice, this means residents should be alert to tornado watches/warnings in spring, and hurricane/typhoon watches/warnings in summer and fall. (See our “Watch vs Warning” guide for details.) Energy-conscious readers and preppers should mark their calendars accordingly: stock emergency kits by spring in Tornado Alley and by May on the coasts, and always heed local advisories as the hurricane season approaches. For example, NOAA reminds us that “it only takes one storm… to cause a disaster”, so families and businesses in flood-prone or storm-prone states (e.g. Florida, Texas, Louisiana for hurricanes; Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama for tornadoes) need year-round readiness. Understanding that storm timing varies by region – e.g. spring storms in Kansas, early summer in Florida, fall typhoons in Guam – is critical. State Emergency Management websites often publish local “Severe Weather Seasons” for their area.
In summary, the calendar of extreme storms in the U.S. is roughly:
Spring (Mar–Jun): Peak tornado season across the central and southern U.S..
Summer–Fall (Jun–Nov): Atlantic/Gulf hurricane season. Pacific typhoon activity also peaks (relevant to Hawaii, Guam).
Fall (Oct–Nov): Late-season tropical storms (hurricanes or typhoons) and secondary tornado season in some areas.
Each community’s risk window is different. See our Geographical Risk article for state-by-state hazard maps, and consult NOAA or local emergency sites to know exactly when to be extra vigilant.
US Tornado, Hurricane, and Typhoon Risk by State
Every U.S. state has some exposure to storms, but where you live strongly affects the likelihood of each type. In general:
Tornado risk: Highest in the central and southeastern U.S. Tornado Alley (Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas) and Dixie Alley (Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia) see the most twisters by count and intensity. Texas alone averages ~137 tornadoes per year, more than any other state. The Plains states (KS/OK/NE) often have the record seasonal outbreaks in spring. Florida also has a high tornado count (usually weaker, many waterspouts). Northern states (Minnesota, Wisconsin) see fewer, and far western states (California, Oregon) have relatively low tornado frequency. (Still, tornadoes have been recorded in every state.) Detailed NOAA climatology shows Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Florida consistently leading by annual totals.
Hurricane risk: Confined to the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts of the continental U.S., plus Hawaii and Alaska (rare). Florida (especially the Keys, Gulf, and Southeast coasts) has had by far the most landfalls and intense hits. Other high-risk states include Louisiana, Texas, and the Carolinas, which regularly see tropical storms or hurricanes. Atlantic cities from New York to Maine have some risk (e.g. Sandy in 2012 hit NJ/NY, Irene in 2011 hit NY/VT/NC), but far northern states are only seldom impacted. The Eastern Pacific storm threat concerns Hawaii (e.g., Hurricane Iniki in 1992) and occasionally Mexico/California. Typhoons (Western Pacific) do not hit the U.S. mainland, but do threaten U.S. territories like Guam and CNMI; Guam averages one typhoon within ~180 miles each year, mostly in Oct–Nov.
Typhoon risk (U.S. territories): Guam, CNMI and the Marshall/Caroline Islands have the highest risk, as they lie in the Western Pacific “Typhoon Alley.” Guam sees on average one typhoon (≥74 mph winds) per year and dozens of tropical storms. The Northern Marianas (Saipan, Tinian, Rota) are similarly exposed. Hawaii is mainly affected by Central Pacific hurricanes (called hurricanes locally, not typhoons).
A risk map by state would show:
Tornadoes: Very high risk (thunderstorm/hail/tornado climatology) in TX, OK, KS, NE, MS, AL, etc. Moderate in FL, TN, IL; lower in coastal West/Cali, highest in Plains/South.
Hurricanes: Highest in FL, LA, TX, NC/SC, with some risk up to ME on rare events. Alaska/Rockies virtually no threat.
Typhoons: Essentially only Guam/CNMI (though Hawaii techinically sees Pacific hurricanes).
For example, according to FEMA’s National Risk Index (and NOAA data), Florida and Texas rank at the top for tropical cyclone risk (wind/flood), whereas Oklahoma and Kansas rank highest for tornado risk. The Climate Central analysis of power outages (2000–2021) also highlights that Texas, North Carolina, and Florida suffer many weather outages.
Energy-conscious and prepper note: If you live in a high-risk state, make preparedness routine. Tornado-prone states should have a “safe room” plan (interior storm shelter). Coastal states should know their evacuation zones and have home shutters. Interior flooding maps (e.g. for river floods from hurricanes) are also vital. Check your FEMA Flood Map Service and NOAA evacuation maps. See our Seasonal Timing and Types of Disasters articles for more on each hazard’s specifics by region.
