Summary

  • Tornado Alley, which includes states like Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and part of Texas, experiences high numbers of tornadoes, but tornadoes can occur in other areas like Colorado, the Dakotas, and Florida.
  • Tennessee is the state hardest hit by tornadoes, experiencing up to 72 in one day during peak season, followed closely by Oklahoma with 70 tornadoes in one day.
  • Cities like Kansas City, Omaha, Wichita, and Oklahoma City, among others, are prone to tornadoes and have experienced severe storms in the past. These cities are located in Tornado Alley and should be taken seriously by amateur storm chasers.

You can probably guess that most tonardo activity in America occurs in states along the tornado valley The majority of the land in the American Midwest is prone to tornadoes, especially in the flat land of the Great Plains. Though there is no definitive border to Tornado Alley, its core dominates the states of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and part of northern Texas, but high numbers of tornadoes can occur even in areas like Colorado, the Dakotas, and Florida.

According to U.S. Tornadoes, Tennessee is the state hardest hit by tornadoes, and can experience up to 72 in one day during peak season, even though most of the state is not in the centre of Tornado Alley. Oklahoma is in a close second, with 70 tornadoes touching down in one day. To be defined as a tornado, it must touch the ground and be a convective cloud at the same time, and the U.S. Tornadoes list doesn’t account for tornado-like weather and strong winds in the states.

The Midwest and Plains regions have the highest concentration of tornadoes on earth, and despite tornadoes occurring on other continents, amateur storm chasers should check out these locations to find their next tornado (though you should probably leave that to the pros).

UPDATE: 2023/08/31 16:01 EST BY NICHOLAS MAYAMBA

American Cities Most Prone To Tornadoes

Having the unenviable distinction of being the country with the most violent and most tornado occurrences, America's history with this devastating natural catastrophe goes way back in time. This updated list features more cities that are susceptible to tornadoes in the U.S.

Related: 25 Things We Forgot About Tornadoes In The U.S.

28 Kansas City, Missouri

Sunset over Kansas City
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Beautiful Kansas City at sunset, Missouri

Although it shares a name with a state, Kansas City is actually a major city in western Missouri. With a population of over two million, the city’s infrastructure would be devastated in the event of a severe tornado.

Nevertheless, the city and the surrounding area see hundreds of less apocalyptic tornadoes a year. Straddling the border between Kansas and Missouri, it’s near the epicentre of Tornado Alley and has a high chance of experiencing storms. But the Missourians seem to be proud of it—they've named their professional basketball team the Kansas City Tornadoes.

27 Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha, Nebraska at sunset
Photo by Jesse Duering on Unsplash
Omaha, Nebraska at sunset

When people think of Nebraska, what comes to mind is probably cornfields, cows, tractors, and tornadoes. Despite Omaha being a bustling city with a strong cultural background, most tend to think Nebraska is one huge field with only dirt roads crossing it.

As the northern part of the centre of Tornado Alley, Nebraska is frequently hit with tornadoes, and they plow through everything in their paths, including cities. In 1975, a violent storm hit the Omaha area, costing three people their lives and injuring over one hundred over a two-day period. If a storm this bad hit the area once, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it happen again.

26 Wichita, Kansas

Old Town Wichita
Via: Shutterstock
Old Town Wichita, Kansas

Kansas is so famous for its tornadoes, the early film industry even simulated one in the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz. Though Wichita is no longer cattle-grazing farmland, it still sees tornadoes like the one that whisked Dorothy away to Oz (okay, maybe they don’t carry houses off to other dimensions).

A former pioneering town during America’s expansion west, Wichita became a major checkpoint for those traveling to Colorado in the 1800s. It has since transformed from village of farms to a bustling, industrial centre, but that doesn’t mean tornadoes are careful to avoid it.

25 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The Gold Dome Along Route 66 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Photo by Alizadastudios on Depositphotos
The Gold Dome Along Route 66 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

Oklahoma is generally known as the heart of Tornado Alley, as it lays at the centre of storm activity in the Great Plains. Oklahoma City, the state’s largest metropolitan area, is familiar with violent storms that usually begin in the countryside and travel close to developed land.

The National Weather Service published a paper detailing the tornadoes that have struck the city in recent years, and concluded that thirteen tornadoes have touched down there, the most recent only in May 2013. Twice, in 2013 and 1978, the city saw five tornadoes in just one day.

24 Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines, IA, USA
Via: Unsplash
Des Moines, IA, USA

The capital of Iowa, Des Moines, isn’t a large city by any means, nor is it noted as a particularly attractive holiday destination for most, but it deserves credit for enduring severe Midwestern weather.

In 2018, Des Moines and surrounding Polk County suffered a rough tornado season, battered by storms. A tornado warning was last issued in the city in October, even though tornado season is usually at its worst in late spring. Des Moines sits at the centre of Iowa, and sees more tornadoes than other parts of the state. Two of the most powerful storms in years hit in 2018, at Pella and Marshalltown, towns not far outside Des Moines.

23 Dallas, Texas

1410 Jackson St, Dallas, United States
Via: Unsplash
1410 Jackson St, Dallas, United States

Kansas City isn’t the only city to name a sports team after the local weather—the Dallas Tornado was a soccer team that played in the Texas city from the 1960s to 1980s. A huge city, Dallas is well equipped to face harsh weather. Texans are blessed with sunny, hot weather in the summer, but are forced to compensate in the spring during tornado season.

However, tornadoes here might not be so severe. Dallas News reported in June that North Texas had only seen five tornadoes in 2018, a surprisingly low number compared to other years.

22 Topeka, Kansas

Lake Shawnee in Topeka
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Lake Shawnee in Topeka KS. Lovely paved walking trails through gardens and parks, around the shore of the lake. 

The second major city in Kansas on this list, and the state’s capital, Topeka isn’t any less susceptible to tornadoes than Wichita, or the smaller farm towns in the state. The city is home to neoclassical architecture and some of Kansas’s most unique attractions, including historical gems narrating the state’s past during the Old West.

A series of tornadoes in 1966 was a huge event, shaping the local history. The F5-rated tornado sequence that struck Topeka between June 2 and 12 devastated the city, when 57 tornadoes caused 18 casualties and over 500 injuries.

21 Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Bets time to go to Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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Bets time to go to Sioux Falls, South Dakota - summers

Tornado activity begins to calm down a bit traveling north into South Dakota, but it’s still hit hard with harsh weather. Sioux Falls is a quiet, charming city on the eastern side of South Dakota, sitting on the banks of the Big Sioux River. Travelers can see the low waterfalls that give the city its name at Falls Park, a calm reserve during summer in the city.

Sioux Falls isn’t always so calm, though. There have been 41 reported tornadoes touching down in the county since 1956, the largest being an F4 in 1993 that struck north of Sioux Falls.

20 Tulsa, Oklahoma

View of Tulsa Along Route 66 in Oklahoma
Photo by 4kclips on Depositphotos
View of Tulsa Along Route 66 in Oklahoma 

A former oil town, Tulsa, Oklahoma is now known for its art deco architecture and seat in the Green Country near the Ozark Mountains and the Osage Hills. The second largest city in the state, Tulsa was founded in the early part of the 19th century, but despite its oil business dwindling, the city is expected to grow and expand in the near future.

That is, assuming a massive tornado doesn’t wipe it out first. Its location in a hilly area helps to discourage extreme storms, but in August 2017, an EF5 tornado still managed to cause lasting damage to the community.

19 Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska skyline
Photograph by Hanyou23, distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0.
A view of the Lincoln skyline in Nebraska.

Lincoln, otherwise known as Star City, is the state capital of Nebraska and a sprawling metropolitan area built on salt marshes. The city is a major economic and cultural center for the state, not only because it’s the capital but because it’s part of the Silicon Prairie—the Midwest’s Silicon Valley.

Tornado activity in the area doesn’t seem to affect the industry too adversely. There have been numerous tornadoes in Lancaster County, and most of the deadliest have been within 10 miles of downtown Lincoln. Only four tornadoes since 1950 have caused casualties in the city.

Related: These Two Caribbean Islands Have The Best Weather In December

18 Springfield, Illinois

Illinois State Capitol dome in Springfield, Illinois
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Illinois State Capitol dome in Springfield, Illinois

Tornadoes seem to like capital cities, because Illinois’ capital, Springfield, is another that’s plagued by them. Located in the central part of the state, Springfield is a quaint city, almost like a time capsule. Visitors will easily come across museums and historical sites connected to Abraham Lincoln, who lived in the city.

One of the city’s most famous storms, however, struck the area in 2006 and raged for four days, causing over $1 billion in damage across a number of states. Springfield itself saw two tornadoes touch down during the period, though they were weak at a rating of F2.

17 Rochester, Minnesota

Photo of Rochester's Minnesota's cityscape

Photo 20702216 © Image191 | Dreamstime.com
A quiet morning view of Rochester, Minnesota ( a beautiful Midwest City )

Minnesota isn’t an obvious state for tornado activity, but it still lies within the northern bounds of Tornado Alley. Tornadoes are more common in the southern half of the state, where the land is flatter and home to more farms than in the forested north.

Rochester is a city in southern Minnesota, and is the biggest in the state that would likely be struck by tornadoes. It is home to the famous health organisation, the Mayo Clinic, and without a tornado, the clinic would not exist. After a bad bout of weather in 1883, the Mayo family established a hospital to treat the injured, which has since grown to become world-renowned.

16 Fayetteville, Arkansas

Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Photo by Brandonrush distributed under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas

While Fayetteville, Arkansas is by no means a large city, it’s more prone to tornadoes than other parts of the state. Due to its close proximity with Oklahoma (and therefore, the heart of Tornado Alley) in the northwest corner of Arkansas, Fayetteville hasn’t got strong defenses against storms.

Western Arkansas gets a lot more storms than the eastern part of the state, but they’re still usually not as strong as those in nearby Oklahoma or Kansas. Unlike the daytime tornadoes in Oklahoma, Arkansas storms usually occur in late afternoon and into the night.

15 Orlando, Florida

Magic Kingdom Park, Orlando, Florida
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Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando Florida

Florida is no doubt more famous for the massive tropical hurricanes that berate the state during summer and autumn, but the tornado activity in America’s panhandle shouldn’t be overlooked, either.

The most common area in Florida to produce tornadoes is in the inland part of the panhandle, roughly around the city of Orlando. Known as the capital of theme parks, Orlando is home to the world-famous Walt Disney World, but don’t worry, Cinderella’s Castle probably isn’t going to blow away any time soon. Florida storms tend to be quite tame, but could still produce a waterspout if close enough to the ocean.

14 Indianapolis, Indiana

Indiana Veterans Memorial Plaza
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Indiana Veterans Memorial Plaza in downtown Indianapolis

Indianapolis, affectionately known as Indy by locals, is the capital and largest city in Indiana. It’s one of the major cities farthest east for extreme tornado activity. Though Indiana’s tornadoes aren't as frequent as other states’, it does have the ideal climate and landscape for brewing storms.

The National Weather Service has recorded 45 tornadoes in Marion County between 1952 and 2017. The last tornado to touch down in the Indianapolis metro area was in 2012, though it was a weak tornado that probably resembled more of a strong thunderstorm.

Related: Not Everyone Enjoys The Summer, And These U.S. Destinations Always Feel Like Fall

13 Springfield, Missouri

The Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri
Photo by Robert Linder on Unsplash
The Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque is a Route 66 historic site in Springfield, Missouri.

The second city on this list called Springfield, and the second Springfield where tornadoes are common, this city in Missouri isn’t far from its namesake in Illinois. Located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Springfield is surrounded by natural wonders, both above and below ground. It’s also got some pretty amazing meteorological features.

Just in early December 2018, six tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service to have touched down in the Ozarks, long away from the usual tornado season. It proves that no matter what time of year or where tourists go, a tornado may just appear.

12 Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The old Cedar Rapids (Iowa) City Hall
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The old Cedar Rapids (Iowa) City Hall sits on an island in the Cedar River.

Traveling back to Iowa, Cedar Rapids is smaller than Des Moines, though no less modern. Split by the Cedar River, severe storms could easily flood the city, which has happened in the past. Remnants of Hurricane Paine flooded the city for a week in 2016.

Cedar Rapids still gets regular tornadoes, but the worst was back in April 1954, when an F4 category storm tore through Linn County, picking up farmhouses and barns and carrying them off. Other houses were damaged by lightning and rain, causing power outages and flooding.

11 Austin, Texas

Aerial view of Austin, Texas
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Aerial view of Austin, Texas

Austin is located just south of the hardest hit tornado area in Texas, but that doesn’t mean it’s immune to storms. It is the fourth-largest city in Texas, its capital, and offers diverse awesome things to do. It’s among the fastest growing cities in the U.S., with people flocking to work at its Fortune 500 companies and enjoy its quality of life.

The city is just outside Tornado Alley, meaning the area sees the odd twister here and there, but they’re usually low-rated storms. However, in 1922, Austin experienced twin tornadoes, an F2 and F4, causing $400,000 in damage.

10 St. Louis, Missouri

Gateway Arch In St. Louis, Missouri
Photo by Robert Linder on Unsplash
Gateway Arch In St. Louis, Missouri

With its iconic Gateway Arch, the massive landmark that honours explorers Lewis and Clark, St. Louis is a darling of the South. Seeped in southern hospitality and made contemporary with industry and its huge university, St. Louis University, the city embodies the American spirit.

But just like any other city, it has its drawbacks, and unless visiting to chase storms, travlers will have to sit quietly through a few twisters. The third deadliest in U.S. tornado history occurred in the St. Louis area in 1896, and more recently, a 2011 storm caused $30 million in damage to the city.

9 Fargo, North Dakota

Aerial view of Fargo
Via: Shutterstock
Aerial view of Fargo, North Dakota

Fargo is often called The Gateway to the West, and once settlers crossed into North Dakota from the east, the land rapidly changed from forests to plateaus. It’s a charismatic city in the northern U.S., but is often overlooked and is sometimes known only for the movie and television series of the same name.

Despite a bad tornado outbreak in 1957 that destroyed the northern part of the city, Fargo grew quickly and redeveloped the ruined neighborhoods, expanding farther and faster than before. Ted Fujita, who developed the modern Fujita scale of rating tornadoes, studied the Fargo tornado to help develop storm categories.