Identifying the U.S. states with the most extreme and unforgiving weather year-round

Nor’easter storms are one of the major atmospheric obstacles in Delaware. They’re a kind of coastal storm that may consist of heavy rain- or snowfall, powerful winds and can even cause flooding. There’s a lot of beaches in the state, and the frequent storms can devastate communities on the shore.

Rhode Island is another state that gets struck with nor’easters, and the southern part of the state is particularly vulnerable to snowstorms coming in from the coast. The snow and ice can cause be so potent they can even lead to school and business closures.

Whereas hurricanes and tornadoes are known to cause the most damage, there have been some examples of severe nor’easters cyclones that caused devastation in Massachusetts, too. In 2018 Massachusetts was hit by one that drastically impacted the state.

Whether they’re full-blown hurricanes or weakened into tropical storms, the strong winds of Connecticut can still cause a lot of damage. Coastal areas of the state are especially prone to flooding.

Maryland experiences temperature extremes in winter and summer, as well as tornadoes. The most threatening weather depends on your location, though. The mountains in the north and west get snow and ice storms; they cause power outages and disrupt daily life.

Since Georgia’s on the coast it gets exposed to significant flooding, which is exacerbated in urban areas by inadequate drainage conditions in some urban areas. The result is flash floods which, in some cases, can even cause landslides.

Between its scorching summers and cold winters, Virginia experiences a lot of weather extremes, and even areas that aren’t directly hit by winter snowfall can be affected by ice storms that cause multiple terrain hazards.

When the mountain air from the Rockies collides with the humidity from the Gulf of Mexico, the resulting atmospheric conditions create storms and tornadoes. The latter are particularly potent ones, that aren’t just powerful but fast, as well as unpredictable. They occur multiple times a year, too!

Located in Dixie Alley, Tennessee might not experience the worst tornadoes of all the states, but it has an awful lot of them! They’re especially common in the summer months; some years, Tennessee gets as many as 30 tornadoes, which are also accompanied by flash flooding and thunderstorms.

South Carolina’s beset with tornadoes – so much, in fact, that South Carolina Independent Agents issued a guide on how to stay safe during them. “Tornadoes certainly aren’t the deadliest of the natural disasters as far as official death tolls are concerned,” it said in 2020, “but the storms still tragically claim lives every single year.”

As with South Carolina, North Carolina also experiences potent storms and tornadoes. However, its other storms can prove to be challenging too – thunderstorms are often accompanied by powerful winds that can take down power lines.

Summer is a time for tornadoes in Indiana, which can be incredibly destructive on their own. When you add in the hailstorms and the flash flooding, though, they’re a real recipe for disaster. Meanwhile, winters are influenced by the Great Lakes, so the state gets a high degree of snowfall.

The mountains of West Virginia expose the state to some extreme weather that turns particularly treacherous in the winter. The frigid temperatures can turn the rain into a freezing downpour that contributes to power outages, and heavy snowfall may bring avalanches crashing down from elevated areas.

Suffering from both extreme heat in the summer and cold in the winter, Arkansas doesn’t typically have the worst winters in the U.S., but its ice storms can be an obstacle. The snowfall has been known to disrupt traffic.

Of all the weather conditions to hit Missouri, its tornadoes and thunderstorms present the largest obstacle. The threat tornadoes represent is evident, but the lesser, sustained windstorms – or derecho – shouldn’t be underestimated.

Ohio is part of Tornado Alley, and while it affects the state to a lesser extent than it could, it still experiences some potent weather conditions associated with it, including – obviously – the titular tornadoes. The winters are also particularly bad, with a combination of snowfall and wind causing whiteouts.

When cold air travels over the Great Lakes, it combines with the comparatively warmer air and moisture, creating heavy snowfall that hits the coasts hard. In fact, some areas can get several feet of snow, which isn’t just dangerous but disrupts travel whether you’re walking or driving.

Minnesota has a central location in the U.S. so it gets humid air from the Gulf of Mexico and freezing winds from Canada, sometimes both at the same time! The result is a cocktail of dangerous weather, from chilling heavy snowfall to raging thunderstorms, and uncomfortably sticky summers.

If you thought the number of tornadoes in Tennessee was bad, Illinois has it beat. The state can see up to 40 tornadoes each year, which destroy man-made structures and nature alike. In addition, some are long track tornadoes, so they stay on the ground longer – and potentially cause more chaos.

Montana gets arctic air masses that are affected by wind chill, delivering a colder gale which puts travellers at risk of hyperthermia, or even frostbite. The temperatures can quickly change though, and summer brings with it its own threat: tornadoes, wildfires and hailstones capable of damaging property or people alike.

Colorado’s elevation can cause unpredictable temperature changes, the most extreme of which are its summer thunderstorms and hail storms – sometimes simultaneously. Some areas are affected worse than others, particularly those on the I-25 corridor, which can get hailstones the size of golf balls or larger.

Wyoming’s extreme summers aren’t just scorching, but dry, too. That’s not any better than humidity. Lightning strikes from the summer storms can cause wildfires, the spring rain contributes to river flooding and winter inherits Canada’s arctic air masses, leading to a cocktail of dangerous conditions.

South Dakota is surrounded by both the Rocky Mountains – which traps weather conditions – and the Great Plains, so it’s at the mercy of the elements. The sweltering humidity in summer becomes an icy wind in winter, and the state is in “Tornado Alley” too, which adds an extra challenge.

Among Nebraska’s many weather challenges, its geographical position near the Rockies places some areas at high risk of flooding. When the mountain snow melts, it fills up the rivers and the summer thunderstorms add to the rising water level to create flash floods. There’s tornados to watch out for, too.

Whether it’s winter or summer, North Dakota has some unpleasant surprises for you in its weather patterns. The summers are sometimes unbearably hot, but you also have the tornadoes and thunderstorms to contend with. Meanwhile, its proximity to Canada brings freezing winds and blizzards for the winter.

Mississippi’s southeastern location means it experiences some extreme weather fluctuations, the worst of which probably its storms. As part of Dixie Alley the state gets a lot of tornadoes and hurricanes, but even if the latter miss Mississippi, it still experiences fallout from the tropical conditions.

The sheer size of New York means it experiences a large amount of different weather conditions, though its winters are famously challenging. Those areas close to lakes get it particularly bad, because the weather is affected by the water and even impacts visibility.

Due to its position on the Gulf Coast, Louisiana’s exposed to a lot of tropical storms, the onset of which causes storm surges. The storm’s onset causes ocean waters to rise and flooding ensues – especially in lower geographical areas such as New Orleans – which can devastate the coast.

California’s beauty comes with some of the nation’s worst weather. The state faces scorching heat waves, prolonged droughts, and raging wildfires that destroy entire communities. In winter, atmospheric rivers bring flash floods and deadly mudslides, while coastal areas battle strong storms and high surf. Add in earthquakes and extreme weather swings, and California proves that paradise isn’t always perfect.

The humid weather of Florida exposes it to regular tropical storms, including hurricanes and thunderstorms, particularly in the summer. It’s been hit by some historically devastating hurricanes, but its storm surges are also potent.

Oklahoma is at the  center of “Tornado Alley,” and it gets the worst of the winds. Some of the worst tornadoes in history have hit the state, causing devastation and loss of life. They form suddenly too, so they can’t always be accurately predicted.

Although Kansas has extreme summer and winter weather, its summers are arguably more infamous. Regularly reaching 90 degrees fahrenheit (and sometimes exceeding 100) the humidity adds an extra air of oppression to make conditions stifling. If there’s no rainfall, this heat turns into a drought and water becomes scarce.

As with any state on the Gulf Coast, Alabama gets its fair share of tornadoes, and has been subject to some of the most destructive. Both 2004’s Hurricane Ivan and 2005’s Hurricane Katrina hit the state, causing devastation to both life and property.

Alaska’s famous for its frigid temperatures, but winters there are even worse; they bring hazardous snowstorms, which can halt travel or even bring your journey grinding to an icy stop. However, the state is also subject to muggy heat fronts in some parts, making Alaska a state of extremes.

Because Iowa is on generally flat ground, it has no natural wind barriers. In the spring, continuous winds can reach speeds of 50 mph – combined with winter blizzards they can reduce visibility and bring risk of frostbite, while they feed summer wildfires and cause them to spread.

Texas gets exposed to a wide variety of hazardous weather, which can vary wildly from county to county. Its heat index (that’s the measure of humidity) can get particularly high though, and it’s even worse if you’re caught outside during a heatwave.