Frequently asked questions:
Why are some areas not surveyed?
My goal was to focus on the heart of tornado alley, the areas that are storm chased the most. I surveyed areas that I have personally storm chased and am most familiar with.
Why did you include Dixie Alley, if it is so hard to storm chase?
As hard as it may be to chase in the forests of Dixie, the area has been the home of many historic tornado outbreaks over the years. Also, the area with the most long-track tornadoes in the United States falls over Alabama and Mississippi. Finally, as hard as it may be to chase tornadoes here, many storm chasers venture into Dixie every year to storm chase.
Why is Canada not included? They’re part of tornado alley.
This is true, as tornado alley extends northwest into parts of Canada during the summer months. Again, since I have not personally chased much in the area, I chose to not include it. I may eventually add it in the future.
Why did you leave out Florida? They get a lot of tornadoes.
The terrain and overall high density of populated areas makes Florida hard to storm chase. Unlike the Plains, where classic supercell thunderstorms are relatively common, the tornadoes in Florida are often more “grungy” in nature and usually rather difficult to see, let alone chase.
I have some suggestions. How can I share them?
Each page has a comment form below it that you can add in your comments. I am always open to expanding this guide and making it more detailed. There is also a contact form on the bottom of this page that you can use to send me your ideas.