From AccuWeather on Facebook.

Tornado reports  Illinois is leading the way with the most tornado reports so far in 2026, with Mississippi a distant second.

Weird, I suppose there are a lot of factors.  I wonder what it is each year over the years?

Some of the factors are whether it's an El Niño, La Niña, or ENSO neutral year. I got this data from the NWS and NOAA.

States with the Highest Average Annual Tornadoes
Texas – ~155 tornadoes per year
Kansas – ~96 tornadoes per year
Oklahoma – ~62 tornadoes per year
Nebraska – ~56 tornadoes per year
Missouri – ~45 tornadoes per year
States with Moderate Tornado Frequency
Illinois – ~38 tornadoes per year
Alabama – ~34 tornadoes per year
Arkansas – ~33 tornadoes per year
Mississippi – ~30 tornadoes per year
Tennessee – ~27 tornadoes per year
States with Lower Tornado Frequency
Kentucky – ~25 tornadoes per year
Indiana – ~25 tornadoes per year
Ohio – ~20 tornadoes per year
Georgia – ~18 tornadoes per year
South Carolina – ~15 tornadoes per year
States with Very Few Tornadoes
California – ~6 tornadoes per year
Alaska – ~0 tornadoes per year (extremely rare)
Hawaii – Tornadoes are practically non-existent.
 

We have switched from La Niña to ENSO neutral this month. 

In Kentucky, tornado activity can vary significantly depending on the phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which includes La Niña, El Niño, and Neutral years. The tornado frequency in Kentucky during these phases generally follows a predictable pattern.

During La Niña years, Kentucky typically experiences 25-35 tornadoes on average. La Niña tends to bring warmer and drier conditions to the Southeast and Midwest, including Kentucky. Tornado activity is generally above average compared to Neutral or El Niño years because the jet stream shifts, causing more storm systems to move across the region, increasing the likelihood of severe weather. Stronger spring storm systems can result in more tornadoes.

In El Niño years, Kentucky sees fewer tornadoes, typically around 15-25 per year. El Niño usually brings wetter and cooler conditions to the southeastern U.S., and the jet stream shifts further north, limiting the number of severe storms that move through the state. This results in fewer tornadoes, particularly in the spring months when tornado activity is most common.

In neutral years (ENSO neutral), Kentucky averages 20-30 tornadoes annually. Weather patterns in neutral years aren't strongly influenced by either La Niña or El Niño, leading to more typical conditions. Tornado frequency is generally consistent with long-term averages, though it can still vary from year to year.