In mid- to late May, the mid-level pattern across the United States was characterized by an expansive area of high pressure across the Southeast and an abnormally strong trough across the West.
With warm, moist air propagating northward from the Gulf of Mexico, and several mid-level impulses intersecting this unstable airmass, conditions became ideal for sustained and significant severe weather beginning on May 17.
In the 13 following days, more than 500 reports of tornadoes were received by the Storm Prediction Center, an occurrence only seen four previous times in 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2011.
On May 17, multiple strong tornadoes touched down across parts of Nebraska and Kansas, though they remained in mostly rural areas.
Numerous EF2 and EF3 tornadoes impacted Texas on May 18, including two EF2 tornadoes that caused significant damage in the cities of Abilene and San Angelo, and an EF3 which caused major damage in Ballinger as well.
In the early morning hours of May 22, an EF2 tornado severely damaged a house near Adair, Iowa, killing one person and injuring another.
Later that evening, an EF3 caused severe damage in Carl Junction, Missouri, while another EF3 destroyed homes near Golden City, killing three people and injuring one.
Just before midnight, an EF3 tornado damaged or destroyed many homes and businesses in Jefferson City, killing one person and injuring 32 others.
On the night of May 25, an EF3 tornado ripped through a mobile home park and a hotel in the southern part of El Reno, Oklahoma, killing two and injuring 29 others.
A large outbreak of strong to violent tornadoes impacted the Ohio Valley region on the evening of May 27, including an EF3 tornado that caused severe damage in Celina, Ohio, killing one person there and injuring eight others.
Dayton, Ohio and its surrounding suburbs were hit by an EF4, an EF3, and an EF2 in quick succession, resulting in widespread major damage throughout the metro area, and at least 166 injuries.
On May 28, a violent, rain-wrapped EF4 wedge tornado impacted the outskirts of Lawrence and Linwood, Kansas, destroying many homes and injuring 18 people.
Cumulatively, a total of 392 tornadoes were confirmed through photo evidence or damage surveys.
Eight tornado-related fatalities and numerous injuries occurred as a result of the outbreak sequence.
In mid- to late May, the mid-level pattern across the United States was characterized by an expansive area of high pressure across the Southeast and an abnormally strong trough across the West. With warm, moist air propagating northward from the Gulf of Mexico, and several mid-level impulses intersecting this unstable airmass, conditions became ideal for sustained and significant severe weather beginning on May 17. In the 13 following days, more than 500 reports of tornadoes were received by the Storm Prediction Center, an occurrence only seen four previous times in 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2011. On May 17, multiple strong tornadoes touched down across parts of Nebraska and Kansas, though they remained in mostly rural areas. Numerous EF2 and EF3 tornadoes impacted Texas on May 18, including two EF2 tornadoes that caused significant damage in the cities of Abilene and San Angelo, and an EF3 which caused major damage in Ballinger as well. In the early morning hours of May 22, an EF2 tornado severely damaged a house near Adair, Iowa, killing one person and injuring another. Later that evening, an EF3 caused severe damage in Carl Junction, Missouri, while another EF3 destroyed homes near Golden City, killing three people and injuring one. Just before midnight, an EF3 tornado damaged or destroyed many homes and businesses in Jefferson City, killing one person and injuring 32 others. On the night of May 25, an EF3 tornado ripped through a mobile home park and a hotel in the southern part of El Reno, Oklahoma, killing two and injuring 29 others. A large outbreak of strong to violent tornadoes impacted the Ohio Valley region on the evening of May 27, including an EF3 tornado that caused severe damage in Celina, Ohio, killing one person there and injuring eight others. Dayton, Ohio and its surrounding suburbs were hit by an EF4, an EF3, and an EF2 in quick succession, resulting in widespread major damage throughout the metro area, and at least 166 injuries. On May 28, a violent, rain-wrapped EF4 wedge tornado impacted the outskirts of Lawrence and Linwood, Kansas, destroying many homes and injuring 18 people. Cumulatively, a total of 392 tornadoes were confirmed through photo evidence or damage surveys. Eight tornado-related fatalities and numerous injuries occurred as a result of the outbreak sequence.
Tornadoes of 2019