Tornado Alley: The Counties Where Tornadoes Hit the Most Often

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Tornadoes are a uniquely American threat, with the U.S. experiencing more twisters each year than any other country on Earth. While tornadoes have been reported in every state, they cluster most heavily in the center part of the country. The classic “Tornado Alley” – which includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska – is the worst hotspot historically. These wide-open plains provide the perfect setting for warm, humid air to collide with cooler, drier air, creating the supercell thunderstorms that often spawn tornadoes.

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In recent years, however, the bullseye has started to shift. States in the Southeast – including Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee – now regularly rank among those hardest-hit by tornadoes. This zone, sometimes referred to as “Dixie Alley,” sees many of its twisters strike at night, when people are less likely to receive warnings or take shelter. Due to higher population density, a greater share of mobile homes, and a relative lack of preparedness, storms in the Southeast can be far deadlier than in the Plains states.

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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: Akro

 

2. Harris County, TX

• 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

• 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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