Why do tornadoes mainly occur in the Midwest in the spring?
The U.S. has a very unique set up that produces tornadoes in the Midwest. First is the long north/south chain of the Rocky Mountains. When southerly winds flow northward bringing warmer, more humid air from the latitudes of the Gulf of Mexico, the moisture can not move westward as it hits the “wall” of the Rockies. Then, as weather systems bring cooler air from the polar latitudes it creates a battle front where the warm, moist air is lifted rapidly to create storms. In short, it’s the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico.
