re: Tenth Anniversary of the 2011 Super Tornado Outbreak

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Alabama is the epicenter for deadly tornados in the US, not Oklahoma or Kansas, though admittedly they're pretty close behind.

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We had this discussion in a thread a few weeks ago. Population density plays a huge roll in the deadly tornado statistics.

The best way I have to describe it is to take the Hackleburg/Phil Campbell tornado/supercell. It was on the ground (for the majority of the time) for more 100 miles, was nearly a mile wide at times, and had a duration of 2 hours and 35 minutes. Take that 100+ mile by 3/4 mile path and pick a spot in Western Oklahoma, Texas, or Kansas. Then, pick a spot in Alabama to place the same path. Look at the number towns and cities that would be in the two paths. In Alabama, you just have more people in the way of a long-track violent tornado. Oklahoma's population is much more concentrated than Alabama. Here, you can drive 130 miles and come across many small to medium towns and a few mid to large cities. Out there, not so much.