¾ÅÉ«

The rural area to the northeast of Denver, Colo., tops the nation when it comes to regions most prone to tornados, according to Boston-based CDS Business Mapping LLC, an online hazard mapping firm.

The top 10 most tornado prone metro-areas include:

1. Denver, Colo.

2. Houston, Texas

3. Miami, Fla.

4. Hollywood, Fla.

5. Tampa, Fla.

6. Lincoln, Ill.

7. Lakeland, Fla.

8. Little Rock, Ark.

9. Cape Coral, Fla.

10. Oklahoma City, Okla

This list is based on the RiskMeter Online’s Tornado Model, which predicts the severity of tornadoes for any location in the continental United States.

According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, in an average year the U.S. experiences 1,200 tornadoes, which kill 55 Americans, injure 1,500 and cause more than $400 million in damage.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Florida Windstorm