Tornado alley was the headline of a new york times article published on may 26, 1957, documenting some of the countrys recent. While the typical tornado season is often thought of as the peak months of april through june, most months have featured significant tornado events at one time or another. With a tornado, bigger does not necessarily mean stronger. While a quiet start to peak severe storm season is likely, tornado chances look to pick up by the end of the month. May generally has more tornadoes than any other month, but aprils twisters are usually more violent. May generally has more tornadoes than any other month, but aprils twisters are sometimes more violent.
Tornadoes are more common in the united states than in any other country and state. The deadliest tornado in this tornado season 2011 hit joplin, missouri on may 22, killing 158 people. Tornado season usually takes place between march and june. Moving out of winter, we typically see tornadoes move back north and northwest through the midsouth and southeast during early spring, then into the midwest and plains heading into summer. However, tornadoes are not limited to tornado season, its just a time of higher tornado.
Tennessee, and the northeastern end of the nashville metropolitan area. Severe weather is upon us in the united states with damaging tornadoes hitting the southern states in late january and late february. The tornado year features four months with over 100 tornadoes on average, running april through july. The peak in tornado formation in the united states tends to shift from. The year prior, in 2017, four named storms developed in august and two major hurricanes, harvey and irma, formed at the end of august.
Annual and monthly tornado averages for each state maps. Tornado season may go quiet until mid to late may, shifting to the. Coldseason tornadoes are generally limited, but larger events happen. An ordinary tornado is 250 feet but can extend to 2 miles in diameter. Tornado season begins in the united states may 10, 2010. Moving out of winter, we typically see tornadoes move back north and. In the northern plains and upper midwest north and south dakota, nebraska, iowa, minnesota, tornado season is in june or july. The first use of the term tornado alley can be traced to 1952. Tornado season begins in early spring for the states along the gulf of mexico. Heres when the atlantic hurricane season typically ramps. Peak of tornado season shifting earlier in tornado alley.
Although the period in which most tornadoes strike tornado season is march. Tornado season usually refers to the time of year the u. While the peak time for tornadoes tends to be in the spring, there is no defined tornado season like there is for hurricanes. In southern states, tornado season is typically from march to may. Tornado season may reach its peak in the spring months, but it lasts a lot longer than that and depends on where you live. We are still near peak of tornado season in north alabama and middle tennessee. When does tornado season hit its peak across the us. The phrase took hold in the media and gained traction. While a quiet start to the month is likely in the central u. There is no official beginning or end to tornado season, but it is generally considered to end in june. Noaaspc this year already has been the deadliest for tornadoes since 2011, due to repeated outbreaks in the southeast.
Tornados are sometimes referred to as whirlwinds or twisters and have a wind speed of around 30 miles per hour though in extreme cases a tornado can accelerate to up to 300 miles per hour. One ef4 tornado also tore through alabama and georgia in early march, the worst of the roughly 100 reported tornado total so far in 2019. Two of the highest concentrations of tornadoes outside the u. September 10 is the day youre statistically most likely to find a tropical cyclone somewhere in the atlantic basin. The last deadly tornado this year hit springfield, massachusetts on june 1, killing 3. June and july are easily the most active months for tornadoes in canada.
Tornado season is based on when the ingredients for severe. A monthly guide to peak tornado season in america citylab. Traditionally, severe weather and tornado season peak from april through june. The peak of tornado season is not too far off across canada. The season follows the jet streamas it swings farther north, so does tornado activity. Preliminary tornado reports through the end of april in 2020. And in the northern plains, northern states and upper midwest, peak season is june or july. Despite an active start to the 2020 tornado season in january and. Why april, may and june are most active and dangerous. Strong tornadoes can occur in any month, as we saw in early march when. Why april, may and june are most active and dangerous months of. The shift in the timing of the peak of tornado season in tornado alley defined here as kansas, oklahoma, most of nebraska and northern texas. In the end, having tornado insurance can save you a significant amount of money if you have to rebuild your home.