Is Tennessee part of Tornado Alley? Which states are part of it and is it shifting

Communities in Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma are dealing with the aftermath of tornadoes that carved a destructive and deadly path through them this weekend. It is not an unfamiliar site or tale for many families in Tennessee.

With the right atmospheric conditions any place can experience a tornado, but the Midwest is often where people think of when they think of these destructive weather phenomenon. To the point it is often referenced as “tornado alley.”

But meteorologist have noticed a shift toward the Southeast as the frequency of tornadoes increase in Southern states like Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama over the years.

Here’s a look at where tornado alley is and why some believe is is shifting.

Tornado watch vs. tornado warning: What to know in Tennessee as severe weather hits

Where is tornado alley? Is Tennessee part of it?

Tornado alley has changed and shifted over the years, but as of 2023 Accuweather lists eight states as being part of this area with a unique combination of geographic and meteorological factors that make it more susceptible to tornadoes.

Only three whole states are part of tornado alley: Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. Parts of Louisiana, Iowa, Nebraska, eastern Colorado and the northern part of Texas are considered part of the alley.

‘Tornado Alley’ is expanding: Southern states see more twisters now than ever before

Tennessee is not considered part of tornado alley, but the state has had its fair share of tornadoes over the years.

Comparing annual data from 1980 to 1999 with 2000 to 2019, 20 U.S. states saw an increase in tornado activity, including Tennessee. Scientists can’t pinpoint precisely how much may be due to an increase in reporting due to improved technology.

Is tornado alley shifting?

Commonly there are more tornadoes in tornado alley, but Southern states are baring the brunt of more destructive outbreaks.

Tornadoes in the South tend to be deadlier than those in the Plains because of several factors such as longer, larger tornado paths, expanding population, more mobile homes and more nighttime tornadoes, according to information compiled from the National Weather Service and other weather services.

The Southern states that bare the brunt of this shift are parts of eastern Texas and Arkansas into Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and includes upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina. This area has been referred to as “Dixie Alley” since the 1970s, but weather service institutions — like the Weather Channel — have refrained from using the name in recent years.

When is tornado season in Tennessee?

Tennessee usually sees the highest number of tornadoes during the month of April, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But tornado season runs from March to May in Tennessee.

Tornado risk for Tennessee

One of the biggest factors affecting the weather in the Southern part of the U.S. is the Gulf of Mexico. According to AccuWeather, the water in the gulf may heat up quickly during the middle and latter part of the spring, which could cause troublesome weather in May.