Tornado Season

March 12, 2001

Wea00206

Provided by: NOAA
Summary author: Martin Ruzek

Every year about 70 Americans are killed by tornadoes and 1,500 people are injured. An average of 1,200 tornadoes cause more than $400 million in damage to homes and businesses, schools and churches annually. Considered nature's most violent storms, peak tornado activity occurs during the months of March through early July. Above is the oldest known photo of a tornado. It was taken on August 28, 1884 near Howard, South Dakota. The name of the photographer is not known.

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