Scientists scurry to Southeast to study storms, chase tornadoes

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(CNN)Tornado Alley isn't the only area prone to violent tornado outbreaks. The Southeast, known as Dixie Alley, is home to some of the most violent storms in the country. In fact, a study conducted by Mississippi State University found that more residents are hit by tornadoes in Dixie Alley than in Tornado Alley, which spans the Midwest and the South.

Tornadoes in the South tend to stay on the ground longer and move faster. Many of the storms occur overnight, when most people are sleeping and unaware that a tornado is approaching. Unlike the Plains, where a tornado can be seen coming from miles away, the South has much more rugged terrain, making it difficult to spot a tornado. Because of this, this region has been difficult to study, until now.

Despite the dangers that come with chasing storms in the Southeast, scientists are spending this spring hunting for severe storms in the VORTEX-SE storm-chasing field campaign, trying to learn what makes these tornadoes unique and why "the number of killer tornadoes in this region is disproportionately large," compared with the rest of the country. CNN Weather joined the chase to learn more about these monster storms.