Tornado season has ramped up to be the most active in history.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, there have been 781 preliminary tornado reports nationwide as of last Wednesday, far more than the historical average of 549 through May 8.
May will have the highest risk for tornadoes in Iowa due to a change in weather patterns from the western and central Gulf of Mexico causing higher dewpoints and humidity.
AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno stated “when it comes to severe weather in May, the atmosphere doesn’t hold anything back."
AccuWeather predicts anywhere from 1,250 to 1,375 tornadoes across the country in 2024. That's a downturn from the 1,423 reported in 2023.
More:Another round of severe weather pummels the Southeast. See where tornadoes may hit.
States with the most tornado reports
The top five states that have been struck the most by tornadoes (as of May 14):
◾ Texas - 69
◾ Ohio - 65
◾ Iowa - 64
◾ Missouri - 61
◾ Kansas - 58
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"With the expectation for a volatile atmospheric setup favoring severe thunderstorms and tornadoes yet again, AccuWeather meteorologists are increasingly concerned that the tornado outbreak can even include some particularly intense or long-track tornadoes,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter stated in a recent news release.
“Long-track tornadoes can be especially dangerous and result in significant property damage, especially if a populated area is struck, as we’ve sadly seen in recent weeks.”
More:Tallahassee, Florida braces for more severe weather following destructive tornadoes
More:Golfers flee tornado on Tiger Woods-designed course in Missouri
Where tornadoes have been reported
"Tornado Alley" has sprung back to life, with the majority of tornadoes erupting in central U.S. states which include: Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Tornado activity is still extremely active this month. At least 237 tornadoes have been reported nationwide in May, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. The majority of them have been concentrated in and around Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Missouri. But there have also been reports of twisters as far south in Florida's panhandle.
Structures have been damaged by the recent storms, with power outages and trees toppled. Thousands of residents are still without power as of Tuesday.
A shift in the weather pattern over the past few weeks has made it easier for thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes to form more often over the central United States.
SOURCE AccuWeather, NOAA Storm Prediction Center and USA TODAY research
CONTRIBUTING Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register
