Tornado Statistics Articles

EF5 Tornadoes: A Devastating Force

When it comes to tornadoes, the EF5 tornado stands as a colossal force, unparalleled in its power and capacity for destruction. It’s the maximum measurable level for tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. And they are certainly a phenomenon that defies the ordinary. With wind speeds exceeding 200 mph, these massive storms bring devastation and…

Tornado Alley vs. Dixie Alley: A Comparison

People have heard the term “Tornado Alley” often enough to know that it is a region of the United States where tornadoes are the most prevalent. However, there is some disagreement over the area’s borders, and whether or not Tornado Alley is “shifting.” While there is no official boundary, the region typically includes the Great…

2022 in Tornadoes – A Look at the “Worst”

Your past 12 months are likely full of ups and downs. Looking back at 2022, many people will size up the events in their lives and the significant accomplishments or setbacks. The purpose might be to set an intention for the coming year or to figure out what we want to accomplish.At Survive-A-Storm, we’d like…

Measuring Tornado Intensity-F5 or EF5? The Differences

When it comes to measuring the intensity of tornadoes, you may have seen an “F5 tornado” referenced or an “EF5 tornado.” So, what is the difference, or are they essentially the same? Let’s take a closer look.The F and the EF reference the Fujita scale and the Enhanced Fujita scale (EF scale).  Both of these scales…

A Modern View of Tornado Alley

Tornado Alley is a concept that seems simple but is a bit complex. Traditionally, tornado alley has been depicted as a stripe of states north-south through the Great Plains. The illustration from Wikipedia (below) is typical. But we now know that depiction is incomplete. The map below, from Tornado Archive, is a new map of…

Defeating Tornado Myths

Tornadoes are one of nature’s most elusive and almost mystical phenomena. As a result, a large number of myths have developed around them throughout the decades. Unfortunately, those myths can put you and your family in great danger if a tornado approaches. So, we’ll run down some of the most common:Tornadoes will not strike    …

Memories of Tornadoes: Past & Present

Last Updated: July 28, 2016 Memories make stories that people love to share. With tornado season getting a dramatic start as storms blew through Oklahoma and Illinois, people are sharing their tornado memories from long ago and from the recent past.Memories of Forty Years Ago and the Super OutbreakThe Palm Sunday 1965 tornadoes have been in…

New Tornado Research Attempts to Provide Seasonal Forecasts

This week, we shared an NPR report on new tornado research and the National Weather Service’s use of software called SMART. The Social Media Analytics and Reporting Toolkit could allow first responders to target areas that most need the help and give those in the path of the storm a few extra seconds to reach their storm shelters.But weather researchers at…

FEMA 320: A Great Guide

FEMA 320 is a guide to residential storm shelters: it promotes understanding tornadoes and deciding on the best protection for you and your loved ones. Survive-a-Storm Shelters follows the regulations outlined in the FEMA 320 publication, from size and occupancy standards to engineering specifications in the construction of storm shelters.Engineers, Architects, and Storm Shelter Manufacturers…

Is Tornado Alley Moving East?

Tornadoes have traditionally been considered a Midwest phenomenon, appearing in all their twisting terror in the middle of cornfields or spinning across vast prairie land. We have what we call “Tornado Alley,” which includes the states where most of our country’s tornadoes take place: Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, and parts of Colorado…