WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Is there a shift in the traditional “Tornado Alley”?

Tornadoes are becoming more common in the southeastern part of the country. In recent decades, we have observed changes in where the greatest number of tornadoes occur.

As we approach spring, the threat of tornadoes ramps up. The United States experiences the greatest number of twisters in the world.

Destructive tornadoes have hit Kansas, causing loss of life and property.

Chris Darden, the meteorologist-in-charge at the Birmingham National Weather Service, has seen an increase in tornadoes over the southeast part of the country.

“Starting with the Super Tuesday Outbreak in 2008, we’ve kind of been in a decade and a half period of increased activity and actually looking at the, the ten and 20-year averages, they’ve been going up steadily in the last couple of decades,” said Darden.

Through the middle 1980s, the classic Tornado Alley ran through the central part of the country from Texas to the Dakotas. Since then, the greatest concentration has made a notable shift into parts of the lower Mississippi Valley and also the Tennessee River valleys.

In addition, we have two more tornado alleys: Hoosier Alley, which is up in parts of Indiana and Ohio, and Carolina Alley.

“Our 10-year average now is up to 64. The 30-year average is kind of lower than 50. So, you see, you know, the numbers are certainly increasing in the last 10 years and actually the last 3 to 4 years,” said Darden.

Why is this happening? Persistent drought over portions of the plains is to blame. This shifted the path of warm, moist air farther east.

Following three La Niña winters, the pattern flipped to a strong El Niño. One effect was the drought moving east into the lower Mississippi Valley.

With the drought improving in Texas, the drought is getting worse over the lower Mississippi Valley. This could mean a westward shift in tornadoes closer to Kansas this spring.

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