Tornado Alley Moves Eastward
Our belief that Tornadoes only happen in a handful of states, now occur just about anywhere east of the Mississippi.
The idea of "Tornado Alley" in the central U.S. is outdated. Studies now show that the highest tornado risk has shifted to the Midwest and Southeast, where tornadoes have become more frequent, especially in cooler months. Recently, severe outbreaks in the South have shown that areas like Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia may now face a higher tornado risk than the traditional Tornado Alley states like Texas and Oklahoma. Since 1951, tornado activity has decreased by 25% in the western U.S. but increased by 12% in the East. Scientists believe the South may be the most tornado-prone area in the country today.
Recent studies show that "Tornado Alley" in the central U.S. is no longer the main hotspot for tornadoes. The highest tornado risk has shifted toward the eastern U.S. By examining data on moderate to severe tornadoes (F/EF1+ ratings) from 1951 to 2020, researchers found that tornado activity has moved from the Great Plains to the Midwest and Southeast. Tornadoes are also now more common in cooler months, rather than just spring and summer. From 1951 to 2020, tornado occurrences in the western U.S. dropped by 25%, while they increased by 12% in the eastern U.S.