Is Tornado Alley shifting eastward with time?

 Is Tornado Alley shifting eastward with time? That is a big question that some meteorologists and citizens are asking now with the increase in tornadoes over the past few years in places like the Mid-South and Southeast. On average 1,200 tornadoes hit the United States each year, according from the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. We all know to well that we can have tornadoes in Alabama every month, year-round. 

Where Tornado Alley Originated: The term "Tornado Alley" was first used in 1952 as the title of a research paper project about severe weather in the United States. The project was conducted by U.S. Air Force Meteorologists Maj. Ernest J. Fawbush and Captain Robert C. Miller and covered a region extending from areas of Texas to locations throughout the Mid-Western United States. The image below is where the classic tornado alley lines up. 

Graphic: AccuWeather 


Evidence: One piece of evidence that is over the past few years, the storms in "Tornado Alley" appears to be being held by a "cap". A cap is basically just like what it sounds like, a lid on the thunderstorms where they will not grow strong to severe. If that cap erodes or breaks then the thunderstorms can become severe very quickly and produce damaging winds, hail, and even tornadoes. The storms that are in "Tornado Alley" are being held by that cap, but as the storms march eastward, that cap is starting to break and storms are becoming severe. 

Another piece of evidence is the number of tornado frequencies have increasing as you travel into the Mid-South and Southeast regions. Also as you travel eastward, the population is increasing into metropolitan areas like New Orleans(LA), Jackson & Tupelo(MS), Memphis & Nashville(TN), Birmingham & Montgomery(AL), and Atlanta(GA). The vulnerability is also higher in these areas, more manufactured homes. 

Graphic: AccuWeather

So is Tornado Alley shifting? Well, we see evidence of it shifting eastward, but we will have to wait and see. It definitely looks like somethings are shifting eastward. 

Graphic: AccuWeather






Student Meteorologist Brodie Wesson
Facebook: Student Meteorologist Brodie Wesson
Twitter: BrodieWesson_WX
Instagram: brodiewesson_wx



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