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Brandon Goforth/Solent News & Photo Agency (Tornado); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

Wild Weather Alert!

As Earth’s average temperature rises, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense. Explore the data behind some of the world’s wildest weather—from heat records to hurricanes!

By Lauren Flanagan and Jessica McKenna-Ratjen

From the May/June 2026 Issue

Key Focus Area: Measurement and Data,

Standards

The Story
Resources

How Many Hurricanes?

Hurricanes are powerful storms that form over warm ocean water. Here are the number of hurricanes that occurred worldwide from 2015 to 2024.

Which year had the greatest number of hurricanes? The fewest?

U.S. Tornadoes by the Numbers

Most Tornadoes in One Year: 1,817 (2004)

Strongest Winds: 301 MPH (Bridge Creek, OK, May 3, 1999)

Largest Tornado: 2.6 miles (El Reno, OK, May 31, 2013)

Costliest Tornado: $2.8 billion (Joplin, MO, May 22, 2011)

Which number surprised you the most? Why?

Record Hottest Temperatures by Continent

120°F: Syracuse, Italy
August 11, 2021

129°F: Mitribah, Kuwait
July 21, 2016*

123°F: Oodnadatta, Australia
January 2, 1960

68°F: Signy Research Station
January 30, 1982

120°F: Rivadavia, Argentina
December 11, 1905

134°F: Furnace Creek, CA, U.S.
July 10, 1913*

_{*Note: These records are under investigation by the World Meteorological Organization.}

Which continents have had high temperatures between 120°F and 130°F?

Tornado Time

Watch a video about tornadoes.

video (1)

Activities (4)

Answer Key (1)

Text-to-Speech