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Which Country Has the Most Tornadoes?

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Quick Answer

The United States has the most tornadoes of any country, averaging about 1,200 a year.

The Full Story

The central United States has ideal conditions for tornadoes, where warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico meets cool, dry air from Canada and the Rocky Mountains. This creates the powerful thunderstorms, called supercells, that produce most strong tornadoes. The region known as Tornado Alley stretches across states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. The deadliest US tornado, the Tri-State Tornado of 18 March 1925, killed 695 people across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. Canada has the second-highest number, with roughly 100 or more a year.

Key Facts

1.The highest wind speed ever measured near Earth's surface, about 486 km/h, came from a 1999 Oklahoma tornado.
2.Tornado strength is rated on the Enhanced Fujita scale from EF0 to EF5.
3.Most US tornadoes occur in spring and early summer.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"Why America gets more tornadoes than anywhere else on Earth."

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