AccuWeather predicts between 1,050 and 1,250 tornadoes will occur across the United States in 2026, which is close to the historical norm but poses considerable severe weather threats in the eastern Plains, mid-Mississippi Valley, and Ohio Valley.
The states facing the greatest risk are Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Nebraska.
Meteorologists caution that even a season with below-average activity could be devastating if a single intense tornado impacts a densely populated area.
