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Tuesday, Jul 7, 2026

Did Oklahoma experience a record number of tornadoes in March 2026?

Matthew Yim, Oklahoma Watch
yes

Oklahoma experienced 22 tornadoes in March – 5.5 times the average number of March tornadoes since 1950 and 1.3 times the previous record of 17 tornadoes set in March of 1991.

Tornado activity in Oklahoma typically increases in March and peaks in May; 69% of all tornadoes in the state have occurred from March to May, and 40% have occurred in May alone.

2024 set a new record of 56 tornadoes in April, which is 4.5 times the April average, as well as an annual record of 152. There have been 59 tornadoes so far in 2026, which is also the annual average.

Though we do not fully understand tornado formation, Great Plains geography, which enables the collision of cold dry air from the north with warm moist air from the south, and the migration of the jetstream are essential factors in their creation and frequency in the region.

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