# Why do people live in the midwest? (weather) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324 "2009-02-11T03:57:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/21 "2009-02-11T14:44:06Z")
Why do people live in California, every year its the same thing; earth quakes, wildfires, mudslides. And seriously Florida? When it’s not 110 with 100% humidity it’s hurricanes tearing across the state. The Pacific Northwest is rain and depression, the Southwest is chaparral fires and heat stroke. And while we’re on the subject, I hear Nibiru is kinda cold year round. ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/22 "2009-02-11T14:53:30Z")
For me, money. Although my employer could run the business from any city in America, tradition and idiotic local pride keep them here. As others have pointed out, tornados are not that common, and rarley cause much destruction. One was about three miles from my house yesterday and we didn’t even lose power. The most dangerous natural hazard worldwide (including the good old US) is flooding, usually on the coasts from hurricanes or on the floodplains of rivers, although very destructive flash floods can occur anywhere. There are plenty of reasons to want to move away from the midwest/plains/midcontinent, but tornados are near the bottom of the list. ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/23 "2009-02-11T15:21:13Z")
I crack up when people mention tornadoes as the reason they couldn’t live in the Midwest. As others have pointed out, they aren’t big and we usually have enough warning that even if one is headed toward us, we can head to a basement or other place of safety. What about hurricanes? Those suckers are HUGE, you can’t hide from them. I like Boston just fine but I do miss the cost of living from Kansas City–we have double the mortgage for less than half the space . . . ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/24 "2009-02-11T15:22:04Z")
> [@EpicNonsense](#): > > I can’t seem to grasp this. If there is a pretty good chance that sometime throughout each your your house will probably get destroyed by a tornado why not move somewhere where you don’t have to worry? But there isn’t really that good a chance that any individual house will be destroyed by a tornado in any given year. Tornados are small. They’re not like a hurricane or an earthquake, which will damage or destroy all the buildings in a given area. > [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Where, precisely, do you propose people move that they don’t have to worry? How low a risk of building destruction are you going to require before we can build houses on a piece of land? Tornados don’t just happen in Tornado Alley. [They’ve happened in all 50 states and the District of Columbia](http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm). Hurricanes don’t just strike the southeast and Gulf coasts. [They can hit New England, too](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Bob), and hurricane remnants can cause problems far inland. We had high winds from [the remnants of Hurricane Ike](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_Hurricane_Ike_in_inland_North_America) in Pittsburgh this past summer. Lots of branches and trees were blown down, and my neighbors’ garage roof was seriously damaged, just to give you an idea of the damage in my neighborhood alone. Earthquakes aren’t limited to California and Alaska. Big earthquakes have happened in places like the [Pacific Northwest](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1700_Cascadia_earthquake), [Charleston, South Carolina](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston_earthquake), and [Missouri](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Earthquake), as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/25 "2009-02-11T15:31:45Z")
The term “Midwest” is used to refer to an awfully large area - from Ohio and Michigan, down to Oklahoma and Kansas, and up through the Dakotas. My understanding is that you tend to get temperature extremes in the interior of large continents, such as the midwest and Siberia. “Tornado alley” is a relatively small portion of that area. And as folks have said, tornados aren’t all that common even there. Few places are completely risk-free. From what I see on TV, it appears you are pretty safe even in tornado alley provided you don’t live in a double wide . . . 😉 For all those Ohioans crowing about their edenic clime - ISTR that when I travelled to Cincy last fall a substantial part of the whole area was essentially shut down indefinitely due to wind damage. . . ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/26 "2009-02-11T16:06:00Z")
> [@EpicNonsense](#): > > As you can see… I know nothing specific area. I live in Hawaii so forgive my error on my geographical negligence. > > This is what I’m referring to… > > [Tornado Alley - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_Alley) I lived in “Tornado Alley” for the vast majority of my first 25 yeas. I saw a tornado once, from great distance, but it didn’t touch down. The vastly bigger calamities were floods and ice storms. I also find it curious the number of people who won’t live in California because of earthquakes. While we’ve had a handful of destructive earthquakes over the last 100 years, far more people have died and property destroy due to mudslides and fires than earthquakes. Besides, the most extensive and highest stressed seismic zone in the Continental US isn’t even on the West Coast; [it’s smack in the middle of the Mid-West](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Seismic_Zone), and owing to an almost complete lack of seismic performance requirements in building codes a major (M[sub]L[/sub]\>7) will probably result in widespread damage and destruction, especially in urban areas with brick construction. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Caveat\_lector\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@Caveat\_lector\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caveat_lector_1)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/27 "2009-02-13T02:40:38Z")
I just read this and, as the timing is just too good, I had to post it. I’m glad no one was seriously injured though. [Tornado Touches Down In Kapolei Golf Course](http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090212_Tornado_tears_through_golf_course.html) ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/28 "2009-02-13T02:45:43Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > But there isn’t really that good a chance that any individual house will be destroyed by a tornado in any given year. Tornados are small. They’re not like a hurricane or an earthquake, which will damage or destroy all the buildings in a given area. Yeah, the way I see it, tornado weather is like Russian roulette. But in a hurricane, all the chambers are loaded. I’d say winter is a worse reason than tornadoes to live in the Midwest. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/29 "2009-02-13T03:14:07Z")
I moved to the Midwest from California and I admit that I am absolutely terrified of tornadoes. If one ever actually happened nearby me, I would probably have a panic attack. It’s never actually happened in the five years I’ve lived here, but you know, if it DID… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/30 "2009-02-13T03:27:11Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > Well, here in Ohio we don’t get mudslides, or wildfires, or earthquakes…okay, yes, we do, but they aren’t as widespread or intense. Not to mention being big news because of their great rarity. Actually we did have a mini “ice quake” the other morning for a few seconds because of the prolonged cold. Apparently the earth shivers momentarily or something. I slept through it. The weather phenomenon driving me nuts this winter has been the effing freezing rain. There’ve been more episodes of this lousy stuff than I can remember anywhere, and it’s a real bitch watching the forecasters screw up and the branches and power lines droop as the the ice gets thicker, waiting for Third World Power Company to go out of commission and immediately announce it’ll be springtime before everyone gets their power back. I know this stuff happens from Maine down to the southern states, but I’m in the Midwest, so I’m pissed off right here. It’s global warming. Or cooling. Or the revenge of Fred Phelps. I am sick of it. Hawaii - yeah, that’s pretty perfect weather out there, if you don’t live in one of those places that gets 400 inches of rain a year. I vote we all move to Hawaii, build up every square foot of the place and enjoy the unspoiled beauty, plentiful jobs and the adoration of the native population. Hell, I’m leaving tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/31 "2009-02-13T14:16:09Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > For all those Ohioans crowing about their edenic clime - ISTR that when I travelled to Cincy last fall a substantial part of the whole area was essentially shut down indefinitely due to wind damage. . . But this applies to everywhere else that claims an edenic climate, too. Large areas in California are periodically shut down due to fires, and large areas in Florida are periodically shut down due to hurricanes, just to give two examples. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > Hawaii - yeah, that’s pretty perfect weather out there [They can get hurricanes, though.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Iniki) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/32 "2009-02-13T14:24:21Z")
Personally I’m not moving until I get a trip to OZ. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/33 "2009-02-13T15:01:42Z")
Huh. Tornadoes in Hawaii… From [http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090212\_Tornado\_tears\_through\_golf\_course.html](http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090212_Tornado_tears_through_golf_course.html) > [@](#): > > Hawaii Twisters > » Since 1950, the year the National Weather Service began collecting tornado data, no one has ever died in a tornado in Hawaii. > > » In that period, 37 tornados have caused $3.9 million in damage and injured five people. > > » In January 1971 a 100-yard-wide twister hurt four people and caused $2.5 million in damage on the Big Island. > > » Before that, one person was hurt by a tornado on Oahu on March 27, 1963. > > Source: National Weather Service ---
**Author:** ![warmark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/58f4c7/32.png) [@warmark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmark)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/34 "2009-02-13T15:10:42Z")
Live in MO, here. About 5 years ago, a tornado went through and destroyed about 10 or 20 houses in the area and killed 2 people. That’s in an area with a population of roughly 10,000. Those seem like pretty good odds to me, when having to choose a potential natural disaster to have to live with. Last year, a tornado touched down on our property (or possibly just the high winds that come with it, and not the tornado directly) and ripped the the 12’x 26’ barn-style doors off my workshop, plus the storm door and single door for side entry. Cost to replace? $2000 (and the doors really needed replacing, anyway). Still not too worried about tornadoes. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/35 "2009-02-13T16:14:05Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Huh. Tornadoes in Hawaii… Anywhere that gets hurricanes can also get tornadoes, because [hurricanes can produce tornadoes](http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/hu_tornadoes.shtm). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/36 "2009-02-13T16:26:10Z")
Why do people choose to live in big cities? If there is a pretty good chance that sometime throughout each year you will be murdered, why not move somewhere where you don’t have to worry? I keep seeing this stuff in the news but don’t understand it. ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/37 "2009-02-13T16:58:06Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > Yeah, the way I see it, tornado weather is like Russian roulette. But in a hurricane, all the chambers are loaded. I am going to shamelessly steal this analogy. That exactly sums it up for me > [@Scarlett67](#): > > I’d say winter is a worse reason than tornadoes to live in the Midwest. For me it was summer. I don’t tolerate hot, humid weather very well and Kansas City has that in abundance. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/38 "2009-02-13T22:23:53Z")
If you will check out this [map,](http://www.medello.com/images/presentation2.gif) you will see that very few areas of the U.S. are disaster-free. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/39 "2009-02-13T22:30:08Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Eh, if you live up north you get blizzards, if you live on the southeastern coast you get hurricanes, if you live out west you get earthquakes, wildfires, and mudslides. Where, precisely, do you propose people move that they don’t have to worry? Nova Scotia. Weather seems to be pretty mild up there. And there isn’t a restaurant on the South Shore that doesn’t serve good fish. As for an actual answer to the OP–I married a man who was born, raised, and now works in the MidWest. It made much more sense for me to move here than for him to move to be with me. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324/40 "2009-02-13T23:11:49Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > I’d say winter is a worse reason than tornadoes to live in the Midwest. Yes indeed – I opened this thread fully expecting it to be about Midwestern winter weather! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-live-in-the-midwest-weather/485324.md?page=3)