Where Are Tornadoes Most Common Around the World?

The region known as Tornado Alley — including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska — experiences the highest frequency of tornadoes in the U.S.

According to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, these central Plains states collectively experience several hundred tornadoes each year. The Southern Plains provide ideal conditions for tornado formation, especially in late spring and early summer.

Severe weather events in this area can range from small tornadoes to violent tornadoes with wind speeds capable of causing catastrophic damage. The Fujita scale (and the newer Enhanced Fujita scale) measures tornado intensity based on observed damage.

The southeastern United States — including Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia — is increasingly referred to as Dixie Alley. This region has a high number of tornado related deaths, often due to tornadoes striking at night or in areas with many mobile homes.

Dixie Alley experiences tornado outbreaks across multiple states, especially in early spring and late fall. The number of tornadoes in this region is rising, reflecting seasonal shifts and spatial changes in tornado activity.

Florida sees more tornadoes per square mile than any other U.S. state. These tornadoes often form during tropical storms or hurricanes and are generally weaker, but the frequency of tornadoes is significant.

Florida’s active tornado season overlaps with hurricane season, bringing numerous reported tornado events.

States like South Dakota and North Dakota lie on the northern fringe of Tornado Alley and see plenty of tornadoes each summer. Here, cold front interactions with warm air trigger strong storms. Tornadoes can span a broad range of strengths, with some causing significant damage to rural properties.

While not in the U.S., central Bangladesh experiences some of the world’s deadliest tornadoes. Limited infrastructure and high population density contribute to devastating losses.

The 1989 Daulatpur–Saturia tornado in Bangladesh remains one of the deadliest tornadoes ever recorded.

Tornadoes occur when air masses of different temperatures and humidity levels interact. Critical ingredients include dry air from the west, moist air from the Gulf, and strong wind shear. These critical factors produce strong tornadoes with intense wind speeds and large paths of property damage.

Regions like the central U.S. have the right geography to allow cold northern air to meet warm southern air, particularly over flat land where storms can build with minimal disruption. These dynamics rarely occur with the same frequency on continents like South America or Europe, where mountain ranges and ocean currents prevent the consistent formation of powerful supercell storms.

Tornado season varies by region but is most active in the U.S. from March to June. This period sees the greatest contrast in air masses, especially in the Great Plains.

In the southern states, tornado season begins earlier (February to April), while in the northern states, it peaks later (May to July).

Seasonal shifts have shown that tornado activity is starting earlier in the year and moving eastward. Scientists believe climate change may be influencing these changes, with warmer winters leading to earlier storm formation.

Although tornadoes occur worldwide, most tornadoes are in North America. South America, parts of Europe, Australia, and even parts of Asia experience tornadoes, but their frequency, strength, and land area impacted are much smaller.

This is due to differences in landmass shape, mountain placement, and prevailing winds, all of which affect the formation and trajectory of severe storms.

Countries with early warning systems, advanced applied meteorology, and robust government agencies like NOAA have an advantage in forecasting and reducing tornado related deaths.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.