In March 2019, a violent tornado plowed through eastern Alabama, flattening houses and demolishing mobile homes. Twenty-three people were killed including four children, ages 10, 9, 8 and 6. Exactly one year later, on March 3, 2020, a tornado gusting at 170 mph ripped through central Tennessee, killing 19 people. Four of the victims were…
January’s Tornado Threat is Highest in the South and There Have Been Large Outbreaks
January’s reputation for bone-chilling cold usually doesn’t make you think of tornadoes ripping up homes and trees, but they happen most years, and sometimes there can be large outbreaks. The South is the region most likely to experience tornadoes in January, and occasionally tornadoes can spin up farther north. This so-called Dixie Alley is most…
THERE’S A SMALL TORNADO ALLEY RIGHT HERE IN THE CAROLINAS
When you think of tornadoes, you may think of places like Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska over the Carolinas. Sure, the central Plains is one of the most active areas for tornadoes in the entire world. Many refer to that region of the country as “Tornado Alley.” However, research has shown that there is actually more…
Researchers see shift in tornado activity
Joplin’s corner of the country could be in line to be rid of an unsettling image. Ask an average American to describe our national landscape, east to west, and the answer might look something like this. The ocean, small mountains, Tornado Alley, tall mountains, desert, the other ocean. Now tornado researchers argue that the list…
What is Tornado Alley?
Spawned by the raging interactions of powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes are some of the most awe-inspiring and destructive natural forces seen in the United States each year. The most frequent and devastating tornado events tend to occur in the region of the U.S. colloquially referred to as Tornado Alley. “Tornado Alley is an area of the…
Scientists head to Southeast to study tornadoes
Tornadoes in the South tend to stay on the ground longer, and move faster. Many of the storms occur overnight, when most people are sleeping and unaware that a tornado is approaching. Unlike the Plains, where you can see the tornado coming for miles, the South has much more rugged terrain, making it difficult to…