Are there any parts of the research triangle that don't usually get hit by tornadoes?

[ucctgg]

Originally Posted by JONOV

Don't worry about them. You are being paranoid. Florida has twice as many tornados as North Carolina. I've lived in places that get way more tornadoes than the Triangle most of my life, and never really been affected by them. Wind is wind.

You are correct ..... Average number of tornadoes and average deaths per year by state

[SFspiderman]

While a tornado could certainly strike anywhere in the Triangle and your chances of getting hit are extremely low wherever you are, here is one map showing relative activity over the past 50 years. Doesn't seem to account for tornado strength at all, and I don't know how statistically significant it is, but maybe it's something. In general, the more northwest you go in the Triangle, the less activity.

[zitsky]

Originally Posted by TheBigKahunaNC

Tornadoes are attracted to mobile homes.

And summer camps. I was a counselor at one 30 years ago up in Pennnsylvania. One day we went outside and saw the beginning of a funnel cloud. Fortunately it didn't touch the ground but it was breathtaking to see that happen. We had several dozen kids with us and our big concern was keeping them safe.

Actually, floods are attracted to mobile homes. That's how our family and neighbors lost everything on 7/20/77 (in Pennsylvania).

[Francois]

Originally Posted by Annie_A

Are there any specific areas in the Research triangle that don't see as much property damage from Tornadoes as others, are there any who just don't get hit by tornadoes at all?

Exactly two tornadoes have had major impact on the Triangle area in my lifetime--in 1988 and 2011.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a "tornado region" where someone can say "beyond this line is safer than on the other side--it doesn't work that way. Anywhere that gets strong thunderstorms (which we do, as does much of the Southeast) is 'fair game' for a tornado to spawn. But, they are VERY rare.

Bottom line, no there is not "one part of the Triangle" that can be said to be more or less safe from tornados than any other. That's just not the way tornados work. However, you will have a hard time finding anywhere in most of the country that has ZERO odds of tornados. Best just not to worry about it. You have way more chance of getting killed in a car accident than by a tornado.