Every part of the country has some kind of natural hazard. Where each kind strikes depends on the land, the oceans and the air, so geography can predict a lot.
Key idea
Hurricanes strike the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Tornadoes are most common on the central and southern plains and in the Southeast. Earthquakes are most common in Alaska, California and the rest of the West.
Why it works
Each hazard has its own recipe. Hurricanes draw their energy from warm ocean water, so they hit coasts and weaken over land; the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Tornadoes form in strong thunderstorms where warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the West, which often happens over the plains in spring. Earthquakes happen where pieces of Earth's crust grind past each other, as they do along the Pacific edge. (See Hurricanes and Supercells and Tornadoes for the science.)
Worked example: Which hazard?
Kansas is far from any ocean, on flat plains in the middle of the country. Which hazard is it best known for?
- Hurricanes need warm ocean water, so they rarely reach Kansas.
- Earthquakes are rare there too.
- Spring storms on the plains often make tornadoes.
Answer: Tornadoes.
Common mistake
People think tornadoes happen only in one "Tornado Alley." Tornadoes have been reported in every state. "Tornado Alley" is only a nickname, not an exact area, for the central plains where tornadoes are most frequent; the Southeast also gets many, often at night. Similarly, the U.S. Geological Survey calls Alaska the most earthquake-prone state, yet small earthquakes happen in many states.