Tornadoes are one of the most destructive and unpredictable natural disasters known to man. They can cause massive destruction within minutes, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. While tornadoes can occur in many parts of the world, certain regions are more prone to this type of severe weather phenomenon.
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Key Takeaways:
Tornado Alley: This region in the U.S. includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and more, where tornado activity is most frequent due to the collision of warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico with cool dry air from Canada and the Rockies.
Dixie Alley: Another high-risk area for tornadoes, covering parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana, with peak activity in fall and winter.
Texas: The state with the highest average number of tornadoes per year, due to its geographical and atmospheric conditions.
Real Estate Impact: Tornadoes can decrease property values, reduce demand, increase insurance rates, and shift demand to unaffected areas.
Risk Assessment: Tools like FEMA's tornado risk map and CoreLogic's storm risk information help assess tornado risk for better preparedness and real estate planning.
Tornado Alley
The term "tornado alley" is often used to describe the area in the United States where tornado activity is most frequent and intense. This region typically includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, and Minnesota. The warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cool dry air from Canada and the Rocky Mountains in this region, creating ideal conditions for tornado formation.
Dixie Alley
Dixie Alley is another region in the United States that experiences a high frequency of tornadoes. It includes parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Unlike Tornado Alley, which sees most of its tornado activity during the spring and early summer months, Dixie Alley experiences peak activity in the fall and winter.
Which state has the most tornadoes?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Texas has averaged 135 tornadoes per year since 1997, making it the state in which tornadoes are most common. Tornadoes are common in Texas due to the combination of the dry, flat terrain, and atmospheric instability. Warm air from the Gulf of Mexico battles with cool air from the Rocky Mountains, creating a supercell. When the two clashing air masses meet, a funnel cloud is formed. When the funnel cloud hits the ground, it is classified as a tornado.
A majority of tornadoes are concentrated in the Midwest and Southeast parts of the country. For example, states such as Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska also see high occurrences of tornadoes. Many other states see an average of over 50 tornadoes per year, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
How do tornadoes affect real estate?
The impact of tornadoes on the real estate market and on property can be significant. With wind speeds that can reach up to 300 miles per hour, not only can tornadoes destroy property, they can also impact the local real estate market.
1) Decreased Property Values: Tornadoes can cause significant damage to buildings, leading to decreased property values. The force of the wind alone has the potential to cause structural damage to buildings as well.
2) Reduced Demand: The displacement of residents and damage to buildings can lead to a decline in rental and occupancy rates. This can result in a decline in demand for properties in these areas.
3) Increased Insurance Rates: Following a tornado, insurance companies often raise insurance rates in the impacted regions. As a result, property owners may face higher costs when insuring their properties, which consequently leads to a decline in property demand within those areas.
4) Increased Demand in Unaffected Areas: Natural disasters can also result in a surge of interest in properties within unaffected regions. For instance, in the event of a wildfire ravaging homes in a specific area, individuals may opt to relocate to nearby regions, consequently driving up the demand for properties in those particular areas.
How can I assess tornado risk?
Like any other natural disaster, tornadoes have the potential to cause severe damage to property. In fact, in 2022, each tornado caused an average of $684,492 of property damage. Understanding where tornado risk is the highest can help property owners to better prepare in the case of a tornado, and this knowledge can also help with construction planning and real estate investment due diligence. For example, material choices play an important role in constructing resilient structures to minimize the risk of damage from tornadoes.
Thankfully, there are many tools available to help assess tornado risk. For example, FEMA's tornado risk map provides information about a community's relative tornado risk compared to the rest of the United States. CoreLogic also provides information about local severe storm risks.
Interested in evaluating property risks for tornadoes and other natural disasters? Environmental risk reports are available in LandApp for any U.S. property. Subscribe to LandApp for just $10 per month below:
