Texas has been the No. 1 state impacted by extreme weather in recent years, according to a new analysis.
Ricardo B Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman
After several weeks of warm, dry weather, Austin is at risk of severe weather this weekend as multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms move through Texas. The likelihood of excessive rainfall could prompt flash flooding in some areas.
Whether it’s thunderstorms, flooding, tornadoes, heat waves, hurricanes, or — in recent years — winter storms, the Lone Star State is no stranger to severe weather. With all this in mind, it’s like not shocking that Texas has been named the top state hit hardest by extreme weather.
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A recent analysis by Instant Roofer gathered data from Mental Floss and the National Centers for Environmental Information Storm Events Database to determine which U.S. states experience the greatest and least impacts of extreme weather. Key measures included tornado frequency, thunderstorm days, wind events and property damage. Each state was then given a score out of 100, based on storm frequency and severity.
“Understanding your state’s weather patterns is the first step in protecting your property,” Instant Roofer CEO Jeff Berzolla said. “Homeowners often do not realize how vulnerable their roofs are until it’s too late.”
What makes Texas the state most impacted by extreme weather, and how does it compare to other states? Here’s what the analysis found.
Texas severe storms threaten Austin:Â Here’s how much rain to expect and when it’s coming
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Texas tops list for tornadoes, thunderstorms and total storm events
A house on Sandy Meadow Circle on the banks of Big Sandy Creek near Leander, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, was heavily damaged in the Fourth of July weekend flood.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
While some states only need to worry about one or two types of severe weather, Texas has seen just about every weather event. From ice storms to heat waves, tornadoes to hurricanes, every season generally brings new risks to residents. This variety of severe weather contributed to Texas claiming the top spot on Instant Roof’s extreme weather ranking.
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The Lone Star State led the states in several categories: annual average tornadoes (103.2), number of thunderstorm days (111) and total storm events (3,680). Each storm event left an average of $48,839 in property damage, which is just a fraction of its total damage bill of $179.7 million. Only two other top-ranking states recorded more property damage: Florida ($797,330) and Nebraska ($82,750).
“Texas homeowners face constant threats to their property,” Berzolla said. “From hail damage to wind destruction, your home needs to be ready for anything nature throws at it.”
The family weekend home of Texas Monthly Senior Editor Aaron Parsley was lifted by floodwaters on Fourth of July weekend. He said the home was plunged into the Guadalupe River, killing his 2-year-old nephew.
Jordan Vonderhaar/Texas Monthly
Illinois (No. 2) and Kansas (No. 3) followed behind Texas in the ranking. Although both states racked up relatively much smaller costs in property damage, they had around three times as many strong wind events.
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“High wind events are particularly damaging to homes,” Berzolla said. “Even seemingly minor storms can [cost] thousands in repairs when they happen repeatedly throughout the year.”
10 US states hit hardest by extreme weather
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Annual average tornadoes (2020-2024): 103.2
No. of thunderstorm days (2024): 111
No. of strong wind events (2024): 62
Total storm events (2024): 3,680
Average property damage per event (2024): $48,839.43
Score: 87.40
Annual average tornadoes (2020-2024):Â 98.2
No. of thunderstorm days (2024):Â 54
No. of strong wind events (2024):Â 181
Total storm events (2024):Â 2,391
Average property damage per event (2024):Â $6,401.74
Score:Â 85.67
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Annual average tornadoes (2020-2024):Â 45.8
No. of thunderstorm days (2024):Â 82
No. of strong wind events (2024):Â 191
Total storm events (2024):Â 3,017
Average property damage per event (2024):Â $1,247.27
Score:Â 83.30
Annual average tornadoes (2020-2024):Â 45
No. of thunderstorm days (2024):Â 59
No. of strong wind events (2024):Â 150
Total storm events (2024):Â 2,085
Average property damage per event (2024):Â $28,275.66
Score:Â 82.60
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Annual average tornadoes (2020-2024):Â 92.4
No. of thunderstorm days (2024):Â 47
No. of strong wind events (2024):Â 179
Total storm events (2024):Â 1,950
Average property damage per event (2024):Â $25,476.51Â
Score:Â 81.90
Annual average tornadoes (2020-2024):Â 51.2
No. of thunderstorm days (2024):Â 66
No. of strong wind events (2024):Â 96
Total storm events (2024):Â 1,741
Average property damage per event (2024):Â $82,750.43
Score:Â 80.55
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Annual average tornadoes (2020-2024):Â 44.2
No. of thunderstorm days (2024):Â 50
No. of strong wind events (2024):Â 181
Total storm events (2024):Â 1,917
Average property damage per event (2024):Â $7,217.40
Score:Â 78.18
Annual average tornadoes (2020-2024):Â 61.8
No. of thunderstorm days (2024):Â 66
No. of strong wind events (2024):Â 40
Total storm events (2024):Â 1,120
Average property damage per event (2024):Â $797,330.22
Score:Â 75.47
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Annual average tornadoes (2020-2024):Â 78.8
No. of thunderstorm days (2024):Â 57
No. of strong wind events (2024):Â 85
Total storm events (2024): 1,366
Average property damage per event (2024):Â $12,618.30
Score:Â 75.47
Annual average tornadoes (2020-2024):Â 55.6
No. of thunderstorm days (2024):Â 56
No. of strong wind events (2024):Â 55
Total storm events (2024):Â 1,765
Average property damage per event (2024):Â $6,891.27
Score:Â 74.10
10 US states that experience the least extreme weather
Instant Roofer’s analysis found the following states to be “America’s weather safe havens”:
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Hawaii
Alaska
Nevada
Oregon
Rhode Island
Washington
Maine
Delaware
Vermont
New Hampshire