Shifting Tornado Alley Sees Surge in Activity This Year

Quick Summary

• Tornado spike in 2025: The U.S. experienced 552 tornadoes as of April, significantly higher than the average of 337 for this time frame (1991-2020).
• eastward shift of Tornado Alley: Historically centered in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, large tornado outbreaks have shifted east toward Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama as the late 1980s.
• Fatalities from recent outbreak: A Saturday night outbreak in Texas and Oklahoma killed at least three people.
• Impact of climate change: Warmer air from climate change enhances instability and increases Gulf moisture travel farther east. The boundary between dry western air and moist eastern air has moved about 140 miles eastward.
• Southeast vulnerabilities: Southeastern states have higher population density but fewer tornado shelters. Mobile homes are common there and fare poorly against windstorms. Nighttime storms add risk due to reduced visibility.

!EF2 Tornado Lofting Debris
Image Credit: Jason Weingart/Getty Images

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