Teri Mooney
EF0
If you had a choice where to live in Kansas wich area would be best for having the most tornadic thunderstorms or possibly southern Nebraska? Thanks.
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Best Place to Live for Tornadoes
- Thread starter Teri Mooney
- Start date
MatthewCarman
I would guess southern Kansas would be a good spot just because your closer to what is or was the tornado epicenter. (central Oklahoma) Central Kansas is also a good area for tornadoes. Does Kansas now see more tornadoes in a year than OK? If not you may want to consider just living in OK.
Where are you wanting to move to?
Where are you wanting to move to?
Shane Adams
(really laughing)
After reading just the title to this thread, I was going to say "in 2009 everyone's going to say 'Kansas' because Kansas has been the hot state lately."
Looks like you beat me to the punch
In 2003 the answer would've been South Dakota.
Ten years ago it would've been Oklahoma.
In 1995 it would've been the Texas panhandle.
Tornado Alley is huge, and the "spot" rotates around over the years. Right now Kansas is the hot spot. In a few years, who knows which state will be "the tornado capital"...but keep checking back with ST, the "which state is the best?" authority
Tom Dulong
EF2
Stockton, KS
Based on tornado climatology, I'd pick northwest Kansas. Perhaps, you should look at the town of Stockton. Housing is cheap. According to the chamber of commerce,
"Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $77,614; Detached houses: $77,229; Townhouses or other attached units: $131,939; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $65,227; Mobile homes: $25,259." Furthermore, "2008 cost of living index in Stockton: 71.8 (low, U.S. average is 100)." Or, you could go for the free land.
For chasing logistics, it is a great location at the intersection of two highways and has easy access to the west to reach the highest frequency area for tornadoes in northeast Colorado. You would only have to drive 8 hours or less to reach almost any part Kansas, Nebraska, western Oklahoma, or the Texas panhandle. With a population of 1,400, Stockton is large enough to have most of the conveniences yet small enough to avoid congestion on the roads (no, I was not paid to do this commercial).
Based on tornado climatology, I'd pick northwest Kansas. Perhaps, you should look at the town of Stockton. Housing is cheap. According to the chamber of commerce,
"Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $77,614; Detached houses: $77,229; Townhouses or other attached units: $131,939; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $65,227; Mobile homes: $25,259." Furthermore, "2008 cost of living index in Stockton: 71.8 (low, U.S. average is 100)." Or, you could go for the free land.
For chasing logistics, it is a great location at the intersection of two highways and has easy access to the west to reach the highest frequency area for tornadoes in northeast Colorado. You would only have to drive 8 hours or less to reach almost any part Kansas, Nebraska, western Oklahoma, or the Texas panhandle. With a population of 1,400, Stockton is large enough to have most of the conveniences yet small enough to avoid congestion on the roads (no, I was not paid to do this commercial
).
Josh Richardson
EF4
I would choose Wichita, KS, can pretty much chase from NE to TX with much more ease than I can where Im at now
Andrea Griffa
EF5
Based on tornado climatology, I'd pick northwest Kansas. Perhaps, you should look at the town of Stockton. Housing is cheap. According to the chamber of commerce,
"Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $77,614; Detached houses: $77,229; Townhouses or other attached units: $131,939; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $65,227; Mobile homes: $25,259." Furthermore, "2008 cost of living index in Stockton: 71.8 (low, U.S. average is 100)." Or, you could go for the free land.
For chasing logistics, it is a great location at the intersection of two highways and has easy access to the west to reach the highest frequency area for tornadoes in northeast Colorado. You would only have to drive 8 hours or less to reach almost any part Kansas, Nebraska, western Oklahoma, or the Texas panhandle. With a population of 1,400, Stockton is large enough to have most of the conveniences yet small enough to avoid congestion on the roads (no, I was not paid to do this commercial
Agreed with Tom! It is sufficient to put Stockton in every search engine to understand the reason.
Jason Foster
I would choose someplace near a University and have a decent population (+/- 50,000). It would have to have high speed internet access that is cable or fiber based, and be reliable.
Like others said...good road access, good cost of living and job opportunities, diverse job opportunities, good schools and have a decent amount of things to do when I'm not chasing. I would like to be near a river or lake, have someplace to ride my bicycle, kayak, etc.
I have looked at Lubbock, TX or Amarillo because they have large enough populations that could support my career field (architecture). However I'm wouldn't be staying there for more than a few years....more of an escape from the east coast for a few years....then back to the big city.
Like others said...good road access, good cost of living and job opportunities, diverse job opportunities, good schools and have a decent amount of things to do when I'm not chasing. I would like to be near a river or lake, have someplace to ride my bicycle, kayak, etc.
I have looked at Lubbock, TX or Amarillo because they have large enough populations that could support my career field (architecture). However I'm wouldn't be staying there for more than a few years....more of an escape from the east coast for a few years....then back to the big city.
Jonathan Behle
EF0
Well, unless you have alot of money stored away or can work from home, Don't expect to find a job if you live in Northwestern Kansas, as the area has had a declining population for the last 60 years and unless you are involved in agriculture, its very difficult to find anything in the employment category. Hays Kansas might be a good fit for someone looking to live in an area that seems to often times have tornados not far, and it has a pretty good sized college and has some infamous celebrations with alcohol every October. I think its population is roughly 25,000?? And you have to love its proximity to Interstate 70 for chasing and just for getaway reasons.
And like Shane said, I remember some years where it seemed like Kansas would be in betweem outbreaks and not be that active while Texas and Oklahoma were active in April and early May, then big outbreaks would just miss to the North in late May and June which would make one think we were in some sort of slump, but its all cyclical and just based with odds and lately its done well.
I'll pick sort of a darkhorse option too, what about Amarillo? Its west and is larger, isn't far from Kansas or Oklahom at all, and shouldn't have too many HP supercells around comparatively to areas further east.
And like Shane said, I remember some years where it seemed like Kansas would be in betweem outbreaks and not be that active while Texas and Oklahoma were active in April and early May, then big outbreaks would just miss to the North in late May and June which would make one think we were in some sort of slump, but its all cyclical and just based with odds and lately its done well.
I'll pick sort of a darkhorse option too, what about Amarillo? Its west and is larger, isn't far from Kansas or Oklahom at all, and shouldn't have too many HP supercells around comparatively to areas further east.
Dustin Wilcox
EF5
IMO Salina KS is the Ideal place to live for a chaser. It puts you in position to be within a days trip from almost any chasing hotspot, Northern or Southern Plains. Really any KS town near I-135 across KS is ideal. Your not to far West to make the E NE, E KS/MO and IA chases a hassle, your in good position to chase high plains events in the direction of home.
Greg McLaughlin
EF5
Harper county Kansas.
Rob Wadsworth
EF5
Best place to live?
If the reason that Stockton is giving away land, it is because people don't have opportunity for business - I'd agree with that.
If you are looking for a place to be strategic - as in storm chasing - the I 'd agree with Dustin and a few others as to their choices.
But remember this: the people in these areas (Stockton, Hays, and others) do so living under the gun - so to speak. The prospects for severe weather and the possible damage and destruction to their homes due to hail, lightning, and tornadoes means they have to live with it - and pay insurance for it. They aren't thrilled about storms, they are potential victims. Sure, we all know that storms are beautiful, amazing, and exciting. But people living in the center of 'the Alley' see it as living in a weather 'war zone' and are anything but thrilled at this time of year. They live there because of the economic situation they have. My niece lives ~60 mi east of Stockton, and each storm season to her is a bit foreboding - and sometimes very frightning.
Additionally, last year Kansas and Iowa reigned as far as the numbers of tornadoes/severe storms. But in other years, it was Oklahoma and Texas. The centers to activity is as fickle as the weather is. Maybe this year will be a big year for Texas. Or maybe Nebraska or Oklahoma will. Pick a point between southeast Nebraska and northeast Texas, and between western Kansas and eastern Missouri - and then be willing to drive for 5-6 hours more or less in any given direction - and you can't be wrong. Either you will find the tornado/severe storm; or it will find you!
lol!
If the reason that Stockton is giving away land, it is because people don't have opportunity for business - I'd agree with that.
If you are looking for a place to be strategic - as in storm chasing - the I 'd agree with Dustin and a few others as to their choices.
But remember this: the people in these areas (Stockton, Hays, and others) do so living under the gun - so to speak. The prospects for severe weather and the possible damage and destruction to their homes due to hail, lightning, and tornadoes means they have to live with it - and pay insurance for it. They aren't thrilled about storms, they are potential victims. Sure, we all know that storms are beautiful, amazing, and exciting. But people living in the center of 'the Alley' see it as living in a weather 'war zone' and are anything but thrilled at this time of year. They live there because of the economic situation they have. My niece lives ~60 mi east of Stockton, and each storm season to her is a bit foreboding - and sometimes very frightning.
Additionally, last year Kansas and Iowa reigned as far as the numbers of tornadoes/severe storms. But in other years, it was Oklahoma and Texas. The centers to activity is as fickle as the weather is. Maybe this year will be a big year for Texas. Or maybe Nebraska or Oklahoma will. Pick a point between southeast Nebraska and northeast Texas, and between western Kansas and eastern Missouri - and then be willing to drive for 5-6 hours more or less in any given direction - and you can't be wrong. Either you will find the tornado/severe storm; or it will find you!
lol!
Last edited by a moderator:
mikegeukes
EF5
If you move here is some information about different cities in Kansas
Kansas Biggest Cities over 6000 people
http://www.city-data.com/city/Kansas.html
Between 1000 to 6000 people
http://www.city-data.com/city/Kansas2.html
Fewer than 1000 people
http://www.city-data.com/city/Kansas3.html
Kansas Biggest Cities over 6000 people
http://www.city-data.com/city/Kansas.html
Between 1000 to 6000 people
http://www.city-data.com/city/Kansas2.html
Fewer than 1000 people
http://www.city-data.com/city/Kansas3.html
Dan Robinson
I am considering buying a house (and maybe moving) to western Kansas or Oklahoma in the next 5 to 10 years. Real estate is extremely cheap - you can find houses in decent shape in small towns for $30K or less. Add property taxes and insurance to a mortgage payment and you're looking at, in many cases, only a $250/month or less expense (plus utilities) to own a home out there.
Southwest Kansas/northwest OK are my favored areas (I want a 360 degree sky view within walking distance), but I also like the Tulsa-Joplin-NE OK-SE KS areas for strategic reasons (going home with east-moving systems at the end of a day instead of a 3-hour drive back west).
Southwest Kansas/northwest OK are my favored areas (I want a 360 degree sky view within walking distance), but I also like the Tulsa-Joplin-NE OK-SE KS areas for strategic reasons (going home with east-moving systems at the end of a day instead of a 3-hour drive back west).
Dustin Wilcox
EF5
That’s huge IMO, I hate nothing more than a long drive back West at the end of the day; and on top of that, I don't know why, as it doesn't make much sense, but if my chase ends in North Platte NE, and I have to drive 300 miles back East at the end of the day, it bothers me so much less than a 300 mile drive in the direction of West from Davenport IA to get home. And more importantly, chasing East of home sucks as you start out thinking your not that far from home, only then does the chase end and you realize you might as well visit the Atlantic as opposed to returning home. I truly feel sorry for the Denver/Colorado chasers...
Dan Robinson
Yeah - I also figure if I'm moving out there, I'm going to chase as much as I can, otherwise it would be pointless. Being east would make the midwestern/MS valley setups easier to jump on.
Then again, the mileage for Plains days is going to be the same either way. Being west means the long drive is after the chase, but being east means it's in the morning before the chase (earlier wake-up/departure times). I do think the morning drives are easier.
Then again, the mileage for Plains days is going to be the same either way. Being west means the long drive is after the chase, but being east means it's in the morning before the chase (earlier wake-up/departure times). I do think the morning drives are easier.
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