Whenever possible, tornadoes tend to climb toward higher elevations rather than going downhill. When a region is surrounded by hills, tornadoes skip or hop over valleys beneath and between these hills, and damage is noticed only on the top of the hills.

Where do tornadoes hit the most?

Most tornadoes in the United States occur east of the Rocky Mountains. The Great Plains, the Midwest, the Mississippi Valley and the southern United States are all areas that are vulnerable to tornadoes.

Are tornadoes less likely in mountains?

Let's dig in and debunk these common myths about tornadoes! Number 5 - Tornadoes Do Not Cross Mountain Ranges or Hills. This is simply not true. ... Though tornadoes are not nearly as common west of the Rocky Mountains other regions of the country get frequent tornadoes in hilly or rolling terrain.