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The Winter 2010 issue of The Earth Scientist includes a variety of educational resources, ranging from astronomy to glaciers. Check out the other publications and classroom materials in our online store.
This map shows where most tornadoes form in the United States. The red area is known as "Tornado Alley". Most of the tornadoes in the southern U.S. near the Gulf of Mexico are formed by hurricanes
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Where else in the world do tornadoes frequently occur?

When Nature Strikes: Tornadoes

When Nature Strikes: What Could You See as a Tornado Approaches Classroom Activity

What is "Tornado Alley"?

A section of the Great Plains in the central part of the United States is called "Tornado Alley". This is because more tornadoes form here than any other part of the country. The plains are flat which allows cold polar air from Canada to meet warm tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico. Storm chasers go Tornado Alley looking for tornadoes because there are so many that form there.

Last modified April 29, 2016 by Jennifer Bergman.

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The Fall 2009 issue of The Earth Scientist, which includes articles on student research into building design for earthquakes and a classroom lab on the composition of the Earth’s ancient atmosphere, is available in our online store.

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