[Strategerist]

Tornados generally go around downtown because of the heat bubble

There's no evidence of this whatsoever. Downtowns don't get hit much because they cover a microscopic portion of the surface areas of the parts of the country prone to tornadoes.

[AnAmericanMother]

Well, I've lived here for years and watched them veer off time and time again. Almost all our bad weather here comes out of the SW or W, and as it crosses the river it spins off N or S of town.

And I don't think Atlanta is particularly virtuous -- in fact two of the ones that veered N passed directly over our house. < g >