New ‘Tornado Alley’ may be emerging, shifting east, research shows

Research is showing that the original Tornado Alley might be shifting east.

PHOTOS: Tornado outbreak in Miami Valley

Trends are showing the number of tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast are increasing, and 40 years of research, looked at and analyzed by Northern Illinois University and the National Severe Storms Laboratory, is showing that a new tornado alley is emerging that includes states east of the original Tornado Alley including Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and even Ohio.

The study also showed there are more tornadoes occurring on any given day as well as a shift in the timing of tornado season. It is important to note that Tornado Alley, which includes the Great Plain states, Texas and Oklahoma, is still the No. 1 location but the number of tornadoes occurring east of the alley is starting to catch up.

>> Tornado recovery: Lost property or issues with housing? Get free legal advice

Researchers also have seen that tornadoes in the southeast are even more dangerous because there are higher populations, more mobile homes and even more nighttime tornadoes that occur there.

The study, which was published in the Nature Partner Journal: Climate and Atmospheric Science series stated that meteorologists can’t pinpoint why this shift east is happening. It could be a natural shift or possibly from human influences in climate.