NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Strong storms are possible next week—it’s a reminder that we are entering the peak months for severe weather in Middle Tennessee and South Kentucky.

Recently, a new study was conducted regarding tornado statistics, particularly for strong tornadoes, EF-2 or higher. Although they make up only 17% of all tornadoes, they account for the most damage, injuries, and deaths.

The study was conducted by Captain Experiences using the NOAA Storm Event Database and compared the previous 20-year period of 1984-2003 to the most recent 20-year period of 2004-2023.

We all know about the traditional Tornado Alley from Texas through the Great Plains into South Dakota, Iowa, and Missouri.

But over the last 20 years or so, you may have also heard talk of the newly named “Dixie Alley” that includes most of the southeastern United States, and of course, Tennessee and Kentucky.

When you compare the number of strong tornadoes from 1984 to 2003 to the 20-year period of 2004 to 2023, southeastern states account for six of the top 10 that had increases in strong tornadoes over that period (Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee).

Kentucky is #5, with an increase of 67, and Tennessee is #6, with 30 more strong tornadoes than the previous 20-year period.

This is further borne out on the map below that shows most southeastern states increasing during the most recent 20-year period.

Ironically, the same study for those two 20-year periods for the Nashville Metro area comprised of Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin communities, found the number of strong tornadoes dropped from 31 to 24.

But overall, the region has seen a dramatic increase, and hence more proof of “Dixie Alley.”