Not just funnel clouds over fields: Tornadoes cut paths of devastation across U.S. cities

In addition to New Orleans, Atlanta, Raleigh, Dallas and Nashville are among cities hit hard by tornadoes in recent years

A home damaged by the tornado that touched down in eastern New Orleans on Tuesday. (Emily Kask for The Washington Post)

With the highest tornado risk of anywhere in the world, the United States sees more than its share of twisters. Yet despite their frequency, there’s a stubborn misconception that cities are safer from tornadoes than rural areas and the expanse of farmland typically associated with Tornado Alley.

In reality, some of the most destructive tornadoes of the past 15 years have hit cities, from small urban areas such as Moore, Okla., in 2013, to major metropolitan hubs such as Dallas in 2015. And a number of other cities — including greater Boston; New York; St. Louis; Miami; Fort Lauderdale; Orlando; Mobile, Ala.; Huntsville, Ala.; Salt Lake City, etc. — have been struck by tornadoes.

Cities are vulnerable to tornadoes, too. Here’s what to do if one is headed your way.

The large, deadly tornado that devastated communities in eastern New Orleans on Tuesday night, which rated “at least” EF3 on the 0 to 5 scale for twister intensity, is the most recent case.

“No matter where you live, be aware of the weather risk on a particular day. Don’t assume based on the calendar — or where you live — there won’t be severe weather,” says AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter.

Atlanta, 2008

A rotating thunderstorm entered downtown Atlanta during the evening of March 14, 2008. The storm spawned a deadly EF2 tornado that damaged numerous high-rises downtown and struck an SEC basketball tournament game at the Georgia Dome.

Raleigh, 2011

An EF3 tornado hit downtown Raleigh, N.C., on April 16, 2011, and a tornado emergency was issued. Six people died in the tornado, which was on the ground for roughly 67 miles.

Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, 2011

An EF4 tornado damaged much of Tuscaloosa, Ala., during the Super Outbreak of April 27, 2011. Sixty-four people perished. The same tornado, which was on the ground for more than 80 miles, also devastated northern areas of Birmingham.

Joplin, 2011

Joplin, Mo., was hit by a devastating EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011. A staggering 158 people died in the tornado, which proved the deadliest to strike the United States since 1947.

Springfield, Mass., 2011

An EF3 tornado touched down in Springfield, Mass., on June 1, 2011. It tracked 39 miles to the east and killed four people amid a Great Plains-style outbreak of severe weather in New England. Many were reminded of the June 9, 1953, F5 tornado that hit Worcester, Mass., killing 94 people.

Moore, Okla., 2013

Moore, Okla. — a suburb south of Oklahoma City — is no stranger to tornadoes. It was hit by an F5 in 1999 and an F4 in 2003. Another top-tier tornado, rated EF5, killed two-dozen people there on May 20, 2013.

Dallas, 2015

A tornado that touched down in eastern Dallas during the evening of Dec. 26 went on to cause 10 fatalities in the metro area, half of which occurred on Interstate 30 and Highway 90. The tornado was an EF4 that became the deadliest on record for Dallas County in December.

New Orleans, 2017

An EF3 tornado tracked from New Orleans East to Lake Borgne on Feb. 7, 2017. A “debris ball” was evident on radar where the twister lofted pieces of torn-apart buildings. Thirty-three people were injured, six seriously.

Dayton, Ohio, 2019

On May 27, 2019, an EF4 tornado hit the suburbs of Dayton. One person died and a half-billion dollars in damage resulted.

Nashville, 2020

A devastating EF3 tornado carved a path through downtown Nashville on the night of March 2, 2020. Five people died. Another 18 were killed by an EF4 that touched down in Cookeville, about 70 miles to the east.

Matthew Cappucci, Ian Livingston, Kim Bellware and Karly Domb Sadof contributed to this report.

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