When you think of tornadoes, you may think of places like Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska over the Carolinas. Sure, the Central Plains is one of the most active areas for tornadoes in the entire world. Many refer to that region of the country as "Tornado Alley."

However, research has shown that there is more than one "Tornado Alley" in the United States, and one of them is located right here in North Carolina.

What You Need To Know

  • A study has found an area that includes Mississippi and Alabama has a higher frequency of strong tornadoes than the region of the country typically known as "Tornado Alley"

  • The same study found the fourth-most active area for tornadoes in the country is in the Carolinas

  • A more recent study has shown the number of days favorable for tornadoes has been increasing over the last four decades in the southeastern U.S.

Several years ago, researchers at the University of Akron analyzed tornado data across the country.

They found an area from northern Louisiana to parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee that has a higher frequency of strong tornadoes (EF-3 to EF-5 tornadoes) than Tornado Alley.

The research found that the third-most active area of the country for tornadoes is "Hoosier Alley," a region around Indiana that also includes parts of Illinois and Kentucky.

The fourth-most active area in the United States for tornadoes is here in "Carolina Alley," which runs from northeastern South Carolina through areas around the I-95 corridor in North Carolina.

The largest tornado outbreak in North Carolina history occurred more than ten years ago on April 16, 2011 across much of "Carolina Alley." Thirty tornadoes were reported that day in the state, leading to 24 deaths and around 300 injuries.

Prior to 2011, the largest tornado outbreak in the state occurred in a similar area. The Carolinas Outbreak of March 28, 1984 spanned South and North Carolina. Twenty-two tornadoes were reported across both states that day.

Unfortunately, that resulted in 57 deaths and over 1,200 injuries.

These Tornado Alleys are changing

More recent research shows the number of days favorable for tornadoes has decreased over the last several decades for some parts of the central United States in and near the area traditionally known as "Tornado Alley."

During that same time that severe weather ramps up, the number of days favorable for tornadoes has increased in portions of the southeastern United States. 

An uptick in the number of these favorable tornado days has also occurred in eastern North Carolina over the last four decades.

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