You know that place everyone talks about where tornadoes just love to hang out? Yeah, Tornado Alley. Well, it's actually moved! Crazy, right? Experts are saying that it's heading towards the Midwest and Southeast now, and we might see even more of these twisters in the future.
So What's Tornado Alley Anyway?
Tornado Alley is like the VIP section for tornadoes. It's the part of the US and Canada where these storms crash the party the most. People started calling it that back in 1952, and usually, it's been all about Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas having the most fun (or the most chaos, depending on how you look at it).
The Big Change in Tornado Hangouts
But get this, a new study in some fancy-pants journal called Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology says that tornadoes are now moving to the Midwest and Southeast to hang out. So now, places like Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Virginia, West Virginia, and even Pennsylvania are in on the action.
The Past vs. The Present
Back in the day, from 1951 to 1985, tornadoes were mostly throwing their parties in the central plains. But from 1986 to 2020, they started moving to the cooler spots in the Midwest and Southeast.
Check out this pic of a tornado aftermath in Thornbury Township, Pennsylvania. It's like Mother Nature had a wild party and forgot to clean up.
What This Means for the New Tornado Hotspots
So now that the tornado party has moved, these new areas have to get ready for the stormy fun. That means changing the rules for buildings, making sure everyone knows what's up with warnings, and basically teaching everyone how not to get squished by a tornado.
The Bottom Line
This big change in where tornadoes like to party just goes to show that Mother Nature is always mixing things up. The important thing is that we keep studying these crazy storms and make sure we're ready for them. And for the folks in the Midwest and Southeast, it's time to get your tornado game plan on!