Chasing Tornadoes Trivia Quiz

Answer: United States of America

If you want to find some tornadoes, the best place to start is the USA. Canada, though larger in area than the US, comes in second. England has more tornadoes per square mile, but comes in third in total number per year. Russia, despite its large size, is not even in the top ten.

Answer: Tornado Alley

Tornado alley includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. Dixie alley includes parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. The Carolina alley is mainly in North Carolina, but does dip into northern South Carolina.

The Hoosier alley is mainly in Indiana, but touches its border states of Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Illinois.

Answer: Texas

Texas has the most, averaging 50% more than Kansas, which is second, and nearly three times more than Nebraska, which is fourth. Florida has the third highest average annual total, due to tornadoes spawned by hurricanes. By the way, Kansas is the state with the most tornadoes per square mile in the US.

Answer: Fujita Scale

Tornadoes are rated on the Fujita Scale, named after the person who developed the scale. It goes from F0, which has the lowest wind speeds and damage, to F5, which has the highest wind speeds and damage. Tornadoes rated as F3 have wind speeds from 158-206mph and create severe damage. In our quest we are looking for F3 and greater tornadoes.

Answer: Oklahoma

Oklahoma had the most F3, F4, and F5 tornadoes per square mile in the US during this time period with 264 in total. Kansas was second, while Texas had the most in total, driven by a large number of F3 tornadoes. Nebraska had less than half of the Oklahoma and Kansas totals and per square mile amount.

Answer: Oklahoma County (122)

Oklahoma County includes Oklahoma City. Just to the south of Oklahoma County is Cleveland County. This county includes Moore, which has certainly received more of the larger tornadoes, including an F5 in 1999, an F4 in 2003, another F4 in 2010, and another F5 in 2013. Of course these larger tornadoes were shared with surrounding communities. So now we know where to go to find our tornado - Moore, Oklahoma!

Answer: April and May

Well over half of the Oklahoma, and Cleveland County, Oklahoma, tornadoes occur in April and May. June and July come in a distant second. January and February have very few tornadoes. November and December have just a few more than January and February. Now we know when to go search for our tornado, April and May.

Answer: Meteorology degree

A Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology or atmospheric sciences or a Masters degree is the best fit amongst the choices given. A law degree may help you sue the vehicle manufacturer after you run into a tornado and the accounting degree will help you keep track of the settlement proceeds. The geology degree may help to keep your feet on the ground.

Answer: Bridge Creek-Moore on May 3, 1999

Maximum wind speeds of 318mph were recorded in the Bridge Creek-Moore, Oklahoma tornado of May 3, 1999. The next highest was the El Reno, Oklahoma tornado on May 31, 2013 at 302mph.

Answer: Joplin, Missouri tornado

The Joplin tornado on May 22, 2011 had an estimated $3 billion in property damage, versus $1.5 billion during the Bridge Creek-Moore tornado in 1999. While Hurricane Katrina had an estimated $125 billion in property damage, it is classified as a hurricane and not a tornado and it occurred in 2005.

The El Reno Oklahoma tornado was in 2013 and caused only $40 million in damages, despite its strength. While Kansas City has its share of tornados, none rival the Joplin twister of 2011.