Tornado Alley vs. Dixie Alley: The Counties Where Tornadoes Hit Most Often

By Evan Comen • June 19, 2025

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So far this year, tornadoes have killed at least 63 people in the United States, already outpacing 2024 in number of deaths due to tornadoes. Tornadoes are a uniquely American threat, with the U.S. experiencing more twisters each year than any other country on Earth. As climate change continues, tornado season is extending later into the year and into new regions, putting more and more Americans at risk of severe weather.

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While the Great Plains have long been known as "Tornado Alley," in recent years the epicenter of tornado activity has shifted. In recent years, large swaths of the Southeast – now known as “Dixie Alley” – have consistently ranked among the worst-hit parts of the country. Due to a high concentration of mobile homes and an overall lack of preparedness, tornadoes in the Southeast can be particularly deadly.

And while some parts of the country remain relatively insulated from tornado threats, dozens of counties have experienced more than 100 significant storms in the last 75 years. The places with the most tornado activity since 1950 are now a mix of traditional Tornado Alley hotspots and the new Dixie Alley counties. A closer look at the data reveals the counties where tornadoes hit the most often.

To determine the counties where tornadoes are most common, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on historical tornado events from the NOAA. Counties were ranked based on the number of recorded tornado events within their borders from 1950 to 2024.

25. Hinds County, MS

Photo by Dominik Gryzbon on Pexels

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 110 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: March 3, 1966 storm (EF5 magnitude storm)
Total population: 222,494
County seat: Jackson

24. Lincoln County, CO

Photo by Ellen Phillips on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 110 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: June 6, 1990 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 5,561
County seat: Hugo

23. McLean County, IL

Photo by Edgar Colomba on Pexels

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 111 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: April 3, 1974 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 170,882
County seat: Bloomington

22. Tarrant County, TX

Photo by Dan Formsma on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 111 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: March 28, 2000 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 2,135,743
County seat: Fort Worth

21. Baldwin County, AL

Photo by Greg Johnson on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 113 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: October 13, 2001 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 239,945
County seat: Bay Minette

20. Mobile County, AL

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 119 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: November 3, 1968 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 413,162
County seat: Mobile

19. Galveston County, TX

Photo by Chris on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 122 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: September 12, 1961 storm (EF4 magnitude storm)
Total population: 354,721
County seat: Galveston

18. Caddo County, OK

Photo by Greg Johnson on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 122 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: April 17, 1976 storm (EF4 magnitude storm)
Total population: 26,626
County seat: Anadarko

17. Oklahoma County, OK

Photo by Gerson Repreza on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 122 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: May 1, 1954 storm (EF4 magnitude storm)
Total population: 800,487
County seat: Oklahoma City

16. Hale County, TX

Photo by Steve Gribble on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 124 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: April 17, 1970 storm (EF4 magnitude storm)
Total population: 32,247
County seat: Plainview

15. Laramie County, WY

Photo by Keely Klenke on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 128 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: July 16, 1979 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 100,661
County seat: Cheyenne

14. Lee County, FL

Photo by Josh Sorenson on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 131 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: August 9, 1986 storm (EF2 magnitude storm)
Total population: 792,692
County seat: Fort Myers

13. Kit Carson County, CO

Photo by Matthew Baxter on Pexels

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 132 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: July 7, 1993 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 7,015
County seat: Burlington

12. Brevard County, FL

Photo by Phyllis Lilienthal on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 135 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: June 19, 1972 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 620,533
County seat: Titusville

11. Broward County, FL

Photo by Lance Asper on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 140 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: March 1, 1980 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 1,946,127
County seat: Fort Lauderdale

10. Elbert County, CO

Photo by Greg Johnson on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 140 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: June 6, 1990 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 27,152
County seat: Kiowa

9. Hillsborough County, FL

Photo by Edgar Cotto on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 142 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: January 9, 1953 storm (EF2 magnitude storm)
Total population: 1,489,634
County seat: Tampa

8. Pinellas County, FL

Photo by Jonah Hochstadt on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 150 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: April 4, 1966 storm (EF4 magnitude storm)
Total population: 960,565
County seat: Clearwater

7. Miami-Dade County, FL

Photo by Ryan Parker on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 150 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: June 17, 1959 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 2,685,296
County seat: Miami

6. Polk County, FL

Photo by Kristen Sturdivant on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 167 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: May 8, 1979 storm (EF2 magnitude storm)
Total population: 760,961
County seat: Bartow

5. Adams County, CO

Photo by Intricate Explorer on Pexels

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 177 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: June 12, 1982 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 524,408
County seat: Brighton

4. Palm Beach County, FL

Photo by Richard Sagredo on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 195 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: October 19, 1958 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 1,507,453
County seat: West Palm Beach

3. Washington County, CO

Photo by Joetography on Pexels

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 227 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: July 21, 1993 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 4,839
County seat: Akron

2. Harris County, TX

Photo by CY on Unsplash

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 244 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: November 21, 1992 storm (EF4 magnitude storm)
Total population: 4,758,579
County seat: Houston

1. Weld County, CO

Photo by MKMKennedy on Pixabay

No. tornado events, 1950-2024: 291 storms
Worst tornado event, 1950-2024: May 22, 2008 storm (EF3 magnitude storm)
Total population: 340,711
County seat: Greeley

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