Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Tornado Alley

Tornado Alley is a term most often used in reference to the area of the United States in which tornadoes are most frequent. It covers lowland areas of the Mississippi, the Ohio and lower Missouri River Valleys, as well as the Southeast.

Although no state is entirely free of tornadoes, the land in the Great Plains sees tornadoes frequently throughout the season. The relatively flat ground, allows cold dry polar air from Canada to meet warm moist tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico. It's along the front between the two air masses that most tornadoes form. US States which are most effected are Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, and Missouri are at the heart of Tornado Alley, as well as parts of Texas, Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, and South Dakota, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana, and parts of Nebraska.

In certain areas of Tornado Alley, building codes are stricter than in other parts of the United States. Restrictions such as strengthening roofs and more secure connections between the building and its foundation are just part of building codes in these areas. Other common measures include the construction of storm cellars, and the fitting of tornado sirens. News coverage is high in Tornado Alley, letting the residents know of any incoming tornadoes and where they are expected to hit.

Although this is the main area for tornadoes, they have at some point or another occurred in all the States of America, many of the tornadoes in the southern states such as Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia are caused by hurricanes.

Find out more about Tornado Alley in America


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