Tornado Formation: Do They Favor Mountains or Valleys?

Neither. Tornadoes do not hit mountains or valleys first, they form in the atmosphere. Tornadoes are powerful rotating columns of air that extend from the base of a thunderstorm cloud to the ground. They can cause significant damage and injuries if they hit populated areas. However, tornadoes are not usually affected by the topography of the land, and can occur in both mountainous and valley regions.