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Does the Tonganoxie Split protect Kansas City from tornadoes?

Kansas City has seen a lot of storms this year, but the metro has avoided a devastating tornado. Some locals say there’s a reason for that: the Tonganoxie Split. But is there any scientific evidence backing up this long-standing legend?

Urban legend holds that storms break up or swerve before they bring a tornado to the Kansas City metro. Locals call it the Tonganoxie Split, named for the small town west of Kansas City. KCUR’s Maya Cederlund went looking for the answers.

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Gabe Rosenberg. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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As KCUR’s Audience Editor, I‘m always asking: What do our communities need to know, and how can KCUR best deliver that? I help figure out how our journalism lives online, so we can serve more people, build trust with our communities, and amplify joy. Contact me at gabe@kcur.org
As an on-demand producer, I am focused on using my skills and experiences across multiple digital applications, platforms and media fields to create community focused audio, video and on-demand products for KCUR Studios. The media that I produce aims to inform, entertain and connect with the Kansas City metro area as we continue to learn from each other. Email me at byronlove@kcur.org.
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