When it comes to the state of Kansas, one often thinks about the 1939 cinematicclassic The Wizard of Oz and the infamoustornado that swept away protagonistDorothy and her dog Toto. However, in addition to Kansas, several neighboringstates also get their fair share oftornadoes each year. This area where tornadoes commonly occur is called “Tornado Alley.”
Tornado Alley is a large expanse of land in the middle of the US, extending from Texas into SouthDakota. Its location has all the ingredients necessary to form tornadoes. Warm, moist wind blows north from the Gulfof Mexico. Meanwhile, cool, dry wind blows east from the Rocky Mountains. The combination of these two weather fronts changes the temperature or pressure, liftingthe warm air that mixes withthe cool air and forming an updraft. Then, a thunderstorm begins. Normally, the falling rain from the clouds would cool the warm air and break the storm. However, in Tornado Alley, there is another type of wind at play.
