The 8 States Considered to Be in ‘Tornado Alley’

If you’ve ever been to the Central United States , you may have heard the term “Tornado Alley”. Tornado Alley isn’t actually a scientific term or even a specific place on a map — it’s a general zone of the Great Plains known for its serious twisters. This area has the perfect mix of warm, muggy air close to the ground, cool air high up, and a layer of super warm, dry air sandwiched in between — which all combine to create swirling tornados. But which states are considered to be in Tornado Alley?

1. Texas

The undisputed king of twisters in Tornado Alley, Texas averages about 151 of these bad boys each year. According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), there have been over 9,700 tornadoes in Texas since 1950. Although tornadoes can happen anywhere in the state, NOAA reports that Harris County tends to get more than most. Spring is prime tornado season in Texas , especially during those wild May weather storms.

2. Oklahoma

Smack dab in the center of Tornado Alley , Oklahoma averages around 50 tornadoes a year. These twisters aren’t picky about season or location, but from March to May is when they tend to show up most. During this time, cool air comes down from the Arctic regions, while warm, muggy air bubbles up from the Gulf of Mexico. When these opposing forces collide in Oklahoma , they create violent thunderstorms and tornadoes.

3. Kansas

Have you ever wondered why Dorothy got swept away by a tornado in Wizard of Oz ? Because Kansas is an absolute hot spot for twisters, averaging an astounding 91 per year since 1950! But if that wasn’t enough, recently on May 23, 2020, tornadoes went wild, producing an astounding 70 twisters in Kansas in just 24 hours! And while no place in the state is entirely safe, according to the National Weather Service, Sherman County in northwest Kansas seems to be a magnet for these swirling wind storms.

4. Nebraska

Although the state doesn’t see nearly as many twisters in Tornado Alley as Texas or Kansas, Nebraska still averages about 55 tornadoes a year, mostly between March and July . Since 2000, Thayer, Hamilton, and Cass Counties have been hit the hardest. Warm, moist air mixes with hot, dry air along “dry lines”, which are like borders in the sky. When these two types of air masses come together, it creates the perfect storm (literally!) for tornadoes to form in Nebraska .

5. South Dakota

Since 1950, South Dakota has averaged around 25 tornadoes a year, with Lincoln, Turner, and Clay Counties coming in with the highest numbers. Warm, muggy air from the Gulf of Mexico heads north during the summer, making eastern South Dakota rather toasty. However, sometimes that moist air gets pulled west towards the Black Hills, where it mixes with drier air. This clash creates the perfect conditions for tornadoes !

6. Iowa

An average of 44 tornadoes touch down in Iowa each year, usually peaking in late spring and early summer. In the past, they usually showed up alone, or maybe in a group of two. But more recently this state in Tornado Alley has been getting hit with larger groups of tornadoes called “outbreaks”. This is because as the Earth’s climate changes, Iowa is getting hotter and more humid. Intriguingly, Iowa’s overall tornado count is lower than in some states, but when they do show up, they are much stronger.

7. Minnesota

Even though it’s on the edge of Tornado Alley, Minnesota still gets its fair share of twisters, averaging around 30 in the state each year since 1950. They can pop up any time between spring and winter, but June and July are peak tornado season. Minnesota’s tornadoes are unique because they often come in groups, lasting for hours and affecting multiple counties all at once.

8. Missouri

In recent years, Missouri has seen an increase in twisters, solidifying the state’s place in Tornado Alley. Spring is peak tornado season in the state thanks to warm, moist air mixing with cooler air masses. According to NOAA, Missouri averages around 45 tornadoes a year, most commonly between noon and midnight.

Up Next:

• Discover the Most Powerful Tornado to Ever Tear Through Nebraska
• Tornado Season in Oklahoma: Peak Timing and Earliest on Record
• Tornado Season in Alabama: Peak Timing and Earliest on Record

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