Is North America, USA midwest to be exact, the only place in the world where big destructive tornadoes occur?

Answer 1

No, but...

Large, destructive tornados occur *far* more often in the great plains of the US and Canada than anywhere else.

Why? The plains have an excellent source of moisture to the south (Gulf of Mexico), a source of dry air to the west and dynamics favoring strong vertical sheer, a capping inversion and rising motion.

These conditions coincide less often elsewhere.

Answer 2

Tornados can occur anywhere but are relatively rare. They tend to come from Supercell thunderstorms, which are less than 1% of total thunderstorms (IIRC), and only 1 in 6 supercells produce tornados. Of tornados, very few are the large F4 (1.1%) or F5 (0.1%) variety. The central plains of the US tend to have the conditions most favorable to develop these phenomena more often than anywhere else, but the Canadian central plains can also get them later in the season as the Jet Stream moves north.

Below is a list of tornadoes. The earliest recorded european tornado was in 1054 in Ireland. There is another link about supercell thunderstorms.

Answer 3

No, though the large, powerful tornadoes are more common in the U.S. than in any other country.

Tornadoes occur in other parts of the globe: south-central Canada, northwestern Europe, south Africa, east-central South America, and south-central Asia. Again, tornadoes in these parts of the world are less likely to be major destructive storms.

Answer 4

I may be wrong but the term tornadoes is western, try googling(can i say googling on here) in cyclones, or typhoons.......

Answer 5

not the only, but by far the most active

Answer 6

nope

Answer 7

No,china also have

Answer 8

No, they happen everywhere.