May Tornado Count Nearly Double Average

news image
Special Stories
1 Jun 2019 4:57 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkgXWnKI6us&feature=youtu.be Tornado after tornado struck the U.S. this May, creating a wild month of extreme weather. In total, over five hundred twisters were reported - nearly double the climatological average. An active jet stream combined with plentiful moisture in the Plains and Midwest created a volatile atmosphere, fueling the increased storms. Activity peaked in the last two weeks of May where over 400 tornadoes were reported. https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1134248125130952704 It wasn’t just the frequency of tornadoes that took the country by storm but also the intensity of these powerful twisters. Two rare, EF-4 tornadoes, packing winds of over 170 miles per hour, wreaked havoc in the Midwest. Dayton, Ohio took a direct hit from one of these violent, tornadic storms, triggering the National Weather Service to issue a tornado emergency for over half a million people. Remarkably, no one was killed. The second EF-4 tornado spun up south of Lawrence, Kansas, decimating the town of Linwood. Storm Prediction Center Severe Storm Reports By Type Tornadic supercells also packed large hail and powerful winds, ravaging communities from the Great Plains to the Northeast. The month of May brought more than 1300 reports of large hail and 2200 reports of damaging winds. For the year as a whole, wind gust reports are nearly a thousand above average. However, hail reports are about 800 below the trend. With June getting off to an active start, be sure to stay with us at WeatherNation for a detailed forecast.
All Weather News
More
Tropical Update: Eastern Pacific Stays Active; Another area to watch in the Atlantic

Tropical Update: Eastern Pacific Stays Active; Another area to watch in the Atlantic

The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active

28 Sep 2026 1:20 AM
Another Round of Flooding Possible for the Southwest

Another Round of Flooding Possible for the Southwest

In the last month, the southwestern states of

28 Sep 2026 1:20 AM
Powerful Nor’easter Slams East Coast, Bringing Coastal Flooding, Heavy Rain and Strong Winds

Powerful Nor’easter Slams East Coast, Bringing Coastal Flooding, Heavy Rain and Strong Winds

A Nor'easter...in September? While most peopl

28 Sep 2026 1:10 AM
Nolo Moving West; The Big Island Seeing Impacts

Nolo Moving West; The Big Island Seeing Impacts

Weather Nation Correspondent Jonathan Petrama

28 Sep 2026 1:10 AM
Major Flooding Possible in the Desert Southwest This Week

Major Flooding Possible in the Desert Southwest This Week

FLASH FLOODINGIt has been a very active week

24 Sep 2026 12:10 PM
More Flooding Concerns Out East

More Flooding Concerns Out East

WHAT TO EXPECTRecord rainfall fell this weeke

22 Sep 2026 1:45 PM
Severe Threat Continues In The Southeast

Severe Threat Continues In The Southeast

WHAT TO EXPECTSevere storms developed Monday

22 Sep 2026 1:20 PM