In which country do the vast majority of all tornadoes occur?

A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, the circulation of the strongest tornadoes can reach speeds of over 250 mph. Therefore, tornadoes can be among the most violent phenomena of all atmospheric storms we experience and can cause tremendous destruction that can lead to devastating consequences.

The USA has the most tornadoes in the world and some of the most destructive and deadliest.

The US has more tornadoes than anywhere else in the world, on average, around 1,200 tornadoes a year. The Great Plains in the centre of the country, on average, seeing most tornadoes, hence the area nick-named ‘Tornado Alley’. Warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, dry air from Deserts of the southwest and cold air off the Rocky Mountains and Canada come together to create the perfect conditions for making severe thunderstorms in the middle of America that become powerful enough to produce so many tornadoes, sometimes destructive tornadoes.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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34 Comments

MRogers

A non-destructive tornado is almost non-existent. My latest close encounter passed within 200 yards of my home in October of 2019. Thankfully, my peripheral damage was limited to totaling my pickup and bringing down several large trees. Many of my neighbors did not fare so well. Overall the storm left a mile wide 10-15 mile long path of almost total destruction. (category EF3) There were as many as 10 other tornadoes that day within the near North Texas area.

MRogers

The significant problem with a tornado Christine, James’s wife, is that it does not distinguish the righteous from the wicked. There were three churches at the south end of my four block long street. The emphasis is on the word “were”.

George Oliver Prince

Not surprising, we get more than our share in Tennessee

Jim Mascair

Tornadoes on water are called waterspouts. I have looked across the water and have seen as many as 9 of them with boats racing to get away from them. They are destructive also.

Lisa G

We get our share in Kansas!

Kathy Cahill

It really does sound like a train coming and it took me a few moments laying in bed to realize that there aren’t any trains in our small Illinois town anymore!

Glynis Rix

I've only seen one in South Africa one Christmas Day. The destruction was unbelievable!

brandonscott

MRogers, Cold air funnels rarely do any damage as they hop around. They look like a tornado, but rarely touch down and their winds are usually under 40mph. I’ve seen one once, followed it almost a mile. Fascinating to say the least.

Carl Belken

The noise is something you don't forget. People compare it to trains and trucks. To me they sound like a huge waterfall only with menace in that sound.

Gordon MacKrith

Been a few in Manitoba

Virginia Mistli Quintanilla

Edie Koller, Just fair. You already have your share of earthquakes

Barbara Hauck

Howard Groopman, add Kansas to that. Ugh.

Irene Townsend

Never seen a Tornado and don't really want too. I think we've had only a handful in NZ since I've been out here the last 50 odd years, that I can recall.

Albeck1994

MRogers, tornados on water are generally called water spouts, they are very common off shore UK

MRogers

Mic Fenst, you are absolutely correct. However, the high straight winds, heavy rainfall and often occurring hail storms that accompany that circumstance serve adequately to makeup for those tornadoes “short-comings”.