Tornado climatology
Tornadoes have been recorded on all continents except Antarctica and are most common in the middle latitudes where conditions are often favorable for convective storm development. The United States has the most tornadoes of any country, as well as the strongest and most violent tornadoes. A large portion of these tornadoes form in an area of the central United States popularly known as Tornado Alley. Other areas of the world that have frequent tornadoes include significant portions of Europe, South Africa, Philippines, Bangladesh, parts of Argentina, Uruguay, and southern and southeast Brazil, northern Mexico, New Zealand, and far eastern Asia.
Tornadoes of 2018
There were 1,169 preliminary reports of tornadoes in the United States in 2018, of which at least 987 have been confirmed. Fifteen tornado-related deaths were confirmed worldwide; ten in the United States, four in Brazil, and one in Canada. The United States saw below-average numbers of tornadoes in 2018, with near record low tornado amounts in the typical peak month of May. Elsewhere in North America, the only officially-rated violent (EF4-EF5) tornado of the year occurred near the town of Alonsa, Manitoba on August 3; therefore, making 2018 the first year that the United States has not had a violent tornado touchdown through the entire year. With only 10 fatalities in the United States, 2018 also had the lowest number of tornado-related fatalities on record in the United States.16 tornadoes were reported in the United States in January, of which 15 were confirmed.