Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for May 1, in any year, each linked to its full record.
Every event with a place, colored by kind. Tap one to open its record.
By deaths, damage and strength together, across every archive.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Kopet-Dagh, Iran. It killed 3,800 people, injured 1,121 and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tornadoes
An F5 tornado touched down in Sedgwick, Harvey counties, Kansas and tracked 21.9 miles, 1,200 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 25. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Sedgwick to NW Newton, KS.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Webster Parish, Louisiana and tracked 5.9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 28 and injuring 400. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Minden, LA.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Kigi, Turkey. It killed 540 people.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Walton, Morgan, Greene counties, Georgia and tracked 40.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 35. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Rutledge/S Maxeys/N Greensboro, GA.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Wheeler County, Texas and tracked 5.3 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 35. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Old Mobeetie, TX.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Bienville Parish, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana and tracked 5.3 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Arcadia, LA.
Billion-dollar disasters
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.4 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 21, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 1, 1989 to May 6, 1989.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Clay County, Alabama and tracked 12.1 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 12.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Ray, Carroll counties, Missouri and tracked 11 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Norborne, MO.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Pratt, Kingman counties, Kansas and tracked 12.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Cunningham, KS.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Burt, Harrison counties, Nebraska and tracked 15.5 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Tekamah NE to IA.
112 on May 1, oldest first.
An F4 tornado touched down in Walton, Morgan, Greene counties, Georgia and tracked 40.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 35. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Rutledge/S Maxeys/N Greensboro, GA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lee, Harris, Talbot counties, Alabama and tracked 70.2 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 22 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Opelika/Goodwater/Oak Bowery, AL/N Talbotton, GA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chambers counties, Alabama and tracked 79.6 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 15 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N West Point/Redbone, GA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Wilkes, Lincoln, McCormick counties, Georgia and tracked 100.7 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Batesburg/Columbia, SC.
An F3 tornado touched down in Clayton, Henry, Rockdale counties, Georgia and tracked 29.1 miles, killing 4 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Jonesboro/S Covington/S Stockbridge, GA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Peach, Houston counties, Georgia and tracked 11.6 miles, killing 1 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Fort Valley, GA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Jefferson, Burke, Aiken counties, Georgia and tracked 39.7 miles, killing 1 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Waynesboro, GA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Beaufort County, North Carolina, killing 1 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Aurora, NC.
An F5 tornado touched down in Sedgwick, Harvey counties, Kansas and tracked 21.9 miles, 1,200 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 25. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Sedgwick to NW Newton, KS.
An F4 tornado touched down in Wheeler County, Texas and tracked 5.3 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 35. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Old Mobeetie, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Cedar County, Missouri and tracked 6.6 miles, 30 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 35. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Jerico Springs, MO.
An F3 tornado touched down in Decatur, Clarke, Lucas counties, Iowa and tracked 18 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Van Wert/Long Creek/Franklin Township to NE Woodburn, IA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Baker, Dougherty counties, Georgia and tracked 29.9 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 25. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Milford/S Albany, GA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Grady, Thomas, Mitchell counties, Georgia and tracked 5.2 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Meigs, GA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Chatham County, Georgia and tracked 0.6 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SW Savannah, GA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Webb County, Texas and tracked 2 miles, killing 1 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Minera, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Garden County, Nebraska and tracked 15.2 miles. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Lewellen, NE.
An F3 tornado touched down in Nance County, Nebraska and tracked 8.3 miles. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Fullerton, NE.
An F3 tornado touched down in Monroe, St. Francis counties, Arkansas and tracked 15.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 9 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Brinkley to NE Wheatley, AR.
An F2 tornado touched down in Burke County, Georgia, killing 2 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Waynesboro, GA.
An F4 tornado touched down in Ray, Carroll counties, Missouri and tracked 11 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Norborne, MO.
An F4 tornado touched down in Burt, Harrison counties, Nebraska and tracked 15.5 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Tekamah NE to IA.
An F4 tornado touched down in Jefferson, Leavenworth, Platte counties, Kansas and tracked 27.2 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Winchester, KS to MO.
An F4 tornado touched down in Wayne, Lucas, Monroe counties, Iowa and tracked 17.2 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: WSW Bethleham, to N Melrose, IA.
An F3 tornado touched down in La Crosse, Monroe counties, Wisconsin and tracked 35 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Holmen/N West Salem/Sparta to Tomah, WI.
An F3 tornado touched down in Wayne County, Iowa and tracked 18.2 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, injuring 7. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Clio to S Allerton/E Corydon, IA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Cuming, Thurston counties, Nebraska and tracked 7.1 miles, 120 yards wide at its widest, injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SW Bancroft to E Bancroft, NE.
An F3 tornado touched down in Andrew, DeKalb counties, Missouri and tracked 17.2 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SW Rosendale to S Union Star, MO.
An F2 tornado touched down in Vernon County, Wisconsin and tracked 7.8 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 11. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Westby, WI.
An F4 tornado touched down in Webster Parish, Louisiana and tracked 5.9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 28 and injuring 400. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Minden, LA.
An F4 tornado touched down in Bienville Parish, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana and tracked 5.3 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Arcadia, LA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Fulton County, Illinois and tracked 12.2 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Lewistown to S Dunfermline, IL.
An F3 tornado touched down in Fulton, Howell, Oregon counties, Arkansas and tracked 34.9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 34. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Salem, AR to NW Alton, MO.
An F2 tornado touched down in Columbia County, Arkansas and tracked 8.4 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Magnolia, AR.
An F3 tornado touched down in Caddo County, Oklahoma and tracked 2.1 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 13. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Albert, OK.
An F2 tornado touched down in Pointe Coupee Parish, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana and tracked 14.4 miles, killing 3 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Torras/Innis, LA.
An F4 tornado touched down in Pratt, Kingman counties, Kansas and tracked 12.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Cunningham, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Reno County, Kansas and tracked 10.2 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Arlington, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Harper, Comanche counties, Oklahoma and tracked 22.3 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Coldwater, KS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Travis, Williamson counties, Texas and tracked 9.8 miles, killing 3 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Kimbro/New Sweden/Hutto, TX.
An F4 tornado touched down in Neosho County, Kansas and tracked 24.5 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Thayer to S Kimball, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Rogers, Craig, Delaware counties, Oklahoma and tracked 35.8 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 175. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Chelsea to S Bernice, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in Craig, Delaware counties, Oklahoma and tracked 15.2 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Ketchum to Grove, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, killing 1 and injuring 12. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Homer, LA.
An F4 tornado touched down in Clay County, Alabama and tracked 12.1 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 12.
An F4 tornado touched down in Choctaw County, Alabama and tracked 0.1 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 3.
An F4 tornado touched down in Pottawatomie, Lincoln, Creek counties, Oklahoma and tracked 59.2 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, injuring 65.
An F4 tornado touched down in Foard, Wilbarger, Tillman counties, Texas and tracked 68.6 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Cotton, Tillman counties, Oklahoma and tracked 12.3 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in Stephens County, Oklahoma and tracked 6.2 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Cotton, Jefferson counties, Oklahoma and tracked 8 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Allen Parish, Louisiana and tracked 5.2 miles, 750 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Clark County, Missouri and tracked 3.6 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 20.
An F3 tornado touched down in Greene County, Illinois and tracked 4 miles, 77 yards wide at its widest, injuring 15.
An F3 tornado touched down in Osage County, Missouri and tracked 9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in City of Saint Louis, Madison counties, Missouri and tracked 16 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
33 tornadoes were recorded on May 1, 1983, in Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana. They killed 2 people.
An F0 tornado touched down in Effingham County, Illinois and tracked 0.2 miles, 30 yards wide at its widest, killing 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Motley County, Texas and tracked 8 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
Brazoria County Deputy Sheriff reported nickel-size hail in Sweeny.
Trees and power lines blown down in center of town.
Trees down.
Touched down in open field. No damage reported.
Measured at Rocky Branch School. Numerous trees down.
The Dade county 911 center reported that some trees were down.
May of 2003 was an unusual year for tornadoes in the central United States, as most outbreaks occurred during the first two weeks of the month. A record-breaking 384 tornadoes occurred in 19 states during these first two weeks, which resulted in 42 fatalities. Included in these record-breaking events were the tornadoes which hit the Oklahoma City metropolitan area on May 8th and 9th.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
A supercell thunderstorm moved southeast across Broken Bow, OK. Two new frame homes under construction had roofs torn off. A total of 30 to 40 wood frame homes had roof and frame damage with windows broken. One home was destroyed. Numerous trees uprooted and snapped.
A split in the upper levels of the atmosphere steered several southern stream impulses into north Texas, producing flash flooding, strong winds, and a few tornadoes. The most impressive of these events was a derecho which moved through North Texas on May 2.
A warm front lifted north into northern Ohio causing widespread showers and thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon hours. Many of these storms became severe.
A dry line over western Oklahoma shifted to central Oklahoma during the afternoon. Warm...moist...and very unstable air was in place over eastern Oklahoma ahead of the boundary.
Thunderstorms developed along a dryline during the late afternoon of May 1st, and sustained as the synoptic cold front dove through the region later that evening. Two tornadoes touched down and caused damage in portions of Osage and Douglas Counties.
Thunderstorms produced 5 confirmed tornadoes over extreme northwest Iowa during the early evening hours of May 1st. One large long track tornado caused considerable damage, while the other 4 tornadoes were short lived and weak.
A cold front dipping into the Tennessee Valley helped spark strong to severe thunderstorms for several days, with large hail, damaging winds, and several tornadoes.
A large area of showers and thunderstorms covered most of Middle Tennessee during the early afternoon through the mid evening hours as a strong cold front moved from the Ohio Valley into Middle Tennessee, resulting in two EF1 Tornadoes, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, large…
A frontal boundary setup across Western and Middle Tennessee late Friday night (April 30), and remained through the weekend. A persistent southerly flow fed moisture into the area and precipitable water values rose to almost 2 inches, based on data from KOHX upper air soundings.
An upper level disturbance slowly approached the Mid-South during the evening of April 30th, 2010 as a cold front became stationary to the west. This pattern remained in place through the evening hours of May 2nd, 2010.
An upper level disturbance slowly approached the Mid-South during the evening of April 30th, 2010 as a cold front became stationary to the west. This pattern remained in place through the evening hours of May 2nd, 2010.
A stalled cold front over the Mississippi Valley spawned thunderstorms producing heavy rain from northern Mississippi through middle Tennessee and central Kentucky into southern Indiana.
Warm and humid conditions prevailed in Arkansas on the 1st. The approach of a cold front triggered the development of thunderstorms. Wind shear, a change in wind speed and direction with height, was not as favorable for the development of tornadoes as it was on April 30th.
An upper level disturbance slowly approached the Mid-South during the evening of April 30th, 2010 as a cold front became stationary to the west. This pattern remained in place through the evening hours of May 2nd, 2010.
A surface cold front extended from the Chicago area southwestward across the eastern fringes of the St. Louis metro area to a weak low pressure center over southeast Missouri.
A nearly stationary front, extending from southwest Arkansas to the east central part of the state, served as a trigger for severe weather on the 1st. The front was also responsible for heavy to excessive rainfall amounts, which began on April 30th and continued through May 2nd.
Thunderstorms developed over far northeast Oklahoma, in the vicinity of a warm front and an outflow boundary from earlier thunderstorms. Large hail, damaging winds, several tornadoes and flash flooding were observed with these thunderstorms.
A cold front crossed Pennsylvania the afternoon/evening of May 1, 2017. A squall line containing several bowing segments and mesovorticies formed in a strong vertical shear environment ahead of the front.
A large low pressure system tracked across the Great Lakes during the late afternoon and early evening, dragging a cold front across the region.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Saline, Ottawa counties, Kansas and tracked 15.78 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest.
Supercell T-storms developed across north central Kansas during the late afternoon on May 1. The supercells produced at least 4 documented tornadoes including a strong tornado in Ottawa county near Tescott Kansas. No injuries occurred with any of the storms.
Outflow boundaries from previous days storms provided focus for thunderstorm development with a variety of severe weather on the 1st.
On May 1, a very unstable airmass, dryline and a residual outflow boundary combined across the Big Country or the region north of Interstate 20 to trigger a few supercell thunderstorms. These ingredients resulted in two tornado reports and a few hail reports.
A strong upper level low pressure system moved across Nevada and Utah. Very moist air was across most of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. High instability and wind shear were also present. An upper level disturbance had moved over the area which provided additional lift.
A favorable weather pattern for widespread severe weather was in place across west central Texas during early May. There was an upper level southwest flow and a sharp dryline in the area.
Multiple days of thunderstorms across Central Alabama resulted in instances of wind damage and hail across the region from May 1-3. During the morning of May 1, a lightning strike in Pell City resulted in an injury.
On May 1, 2026, severe weather developed across South Texas as a shortwave trough moved eastward out of northern Mexico and interacted with a quasi-stationary frontal boundary draped across South Texas and the middle Texas coast.
32 on May 1, oldest first.
Continued abnormally wet weather during the month of May caused huge crop and livestock losses in not only San Joaquin County, but many counties in the Central Valley. However, only San Joaquin County had preliminary estimates available.
The final estimated total damage figures for agriculture by county for the late winter/spring rain and below normal temperatures (Februrary through May) in Central California:Madera $7.1M ... Merced $10.2M ... Fresno $7.2M ... Kern $5.9M ... Kings $73.6M ... Tulare $5.3M.
As reported in the April 2003 time period, abnormally cool and wet weather persisted well into the Spring in the Central San Joaquin Valley.
Water was over roads in town.
The 2008 Saint John River flood was considered the worst flooding of the Saint John River in 35 years. Flood levels reached 27 feet and 4 inches in Fredericton on May 1, almost reaching the previous record of 28 feet and 3 inches, set in 1973.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A weak cold front and an outflow boundary provided the focus for slow moving and training thunderstorms which produced an average of 2 to 5 inches of rain across parts of northern Tulsa, Rogers, Mayes, Delaware, northern Cherokee and northern Adair Counties during the morning of…
Areal flooding was widespread in Arkansas, beginning early in May. The flooding was caused by large amounts of rain on April 30th, and May 1st and 2nd; high water flowing down from Missouri; and backwater flooding from rivers and large creeks and bayous.
Heavy rains continued to occur across the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley during the beginning part of May. In addition, spring snow melt across the Dakotas and Minnesota continued to create higher than normal river levels on the Mississippi River.
Heavy rains continued to occur across the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley during the beginning part of May. In addition, spring snow melt across the Dakotas and Minnesota continued to create higher than normal river levels on the Mississippi River.
Heavy rains continued to occur across the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley during the beginning part of May. In addition, spring snow melt across the Dakotas and Minnesota continued to create higher than normal river levels on the Mississippi River.
Heavy rainfall in March set the stage for major flooding when record-setting rains fell in April and May. At Cape Girardeau, 31.85 inches of rain fell between March and May.
This was part of historic flooding in North Dakota with statewide costs estimated around 1.5 billion dollars. Flooding was the result of significant winter snows and significant spring rains, not only in North Dakota but in Saskatchewan, Canada, as well.
Heavy rainfall in March set the stage for major flooding when record-setting rains fell in April and May. At Paducah, 15.91 inches of rain fell in April, which was 10.96 inches above normal.
Widespread flooding continued from April into May across western Kentucky. Following excessive rain in April, a final dose of heavy rain came between April 30 and May 2.
Heavy rainfall in March set the stage for major flooding when record-setting rains fell in April and May. At Paducah, 15.91 inches of rain fell in April, which was 10.96 inches above normal.
High impact flooding on the Illinois River continued from April into much of May. Excessive rainfall during the middle of April led to widespread flooding across a large part of northern and central Illinois and resulted in record flooding along the Illinois River in central…
Scattered thunderstorms developed along a weak warm front that lifted north across the Ohio Valley. These storms produced locally heavy rainfall, large hail and isolated damaging wind gusts during the late afternoon and early evening hours.
Record or near-record flooding occurred after a succession of thunderstorm complexes dumped heavy rain in late April, bringing three-day rainfall totals up to a foot in isolated locations.
Winter snow melt continued from record winter snowfall and flooding continued throughout much of May in much of southeast Idaho especially in the central mountains and along the Big Wood River.
Heavy rain at the beginning of the month caused flooding, some major, over much of the area, especially northeast.
Very heavy rain fell across the Eleven Point River, Current River and Black River basins in Missouri and Arkansas at the end of April into early. As a result major river flooding occured in Clay, Randolph and Lawrence counties into early May.
A series of heavy rainfall events in April, followed by another heavy rainfall event in early May, kept many rivers above flood stage for all or most of the month. Some of the river flooding was major.
Heavy rain with thunderstorms produced 2 to 4 inches of rain in about a 4 hour window across the I-94 corridor. This amount of rain in a short period caused flash flooding across parts of Wayne County, with the Dearborn Heights area being hardest hit.
Strong storms produced heavy rainfall and flooding as a slow-moving cold front moved across southeastern Kansas and into Missouri from overnight April 30th and continued into May 1st.
A large thunderstorm complex moved east from the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys across southwest Virginia. The system caused dozens of trees to be toppled across the region.
A male and female, both 74 years old, from Arcadia, Oklahoma attempted to pass through a low water crossing on the Cannonball River near 96th Ave. SW and 71st St. SW in Hettinger County at around 1:00 PM MDT on May 1.
Continued increased releases at Pine Flat dam due to heavy snow melt runoff resulted in a continuation of flooding near the Kings River downstream of Pine Flat Dam through most of May.
A broad area of low pressure across the Great Lakes region stalled out well to the west of the region early on Sunday, April 30th.
Spring runoff from the prior winter's record snowpack resulted in elevated flows through area rivers, and in early May, resulted in a fatality as an adult woman fell into the Weber River.
A series of disturbances moved across the area and produced flash flooding and severe thunderstorms.
Unstable and wet weather conditions were anticipated in early May due to a combination of abundant tropical moisture and a series of upper-level troughs moving over the region.
Thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a stationary front, and some of these storms produced large hail and damaging wind gusts.
9 on May 1, oldest first.
Several trees down along Route 138. Power lines down also.
Two construction workers were killed when strong wind from a passing thunderstorm moved overhead, causing a concrete wall that was under construction, to fall on top of them. They were working in a trench when the wall fell.
High winds were blamed in a fatal travel trailer-church bus accident in southwest Chaves County that claimed 7 lives.
During the evening of May 1st, a severe thunderstorm moving southeast dumped a large swath of hail ranging in size from pennies to softballs across a large portion of Laurel County. Numerous homes and vehicles were damaged, especially in the town of London.
All areas of north Texas that were considered to be in severe (D2) or moderate (D1) drought last month are now only counted as abnormally dry (D0), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
A prolonged severe weather event began during the early morning hours of May 1st and lasted into the overnight hours of May 2nd.
Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds across portions of northeast North Carolina.
A strong downslope windstorm began on the afternoon of April 30 and then peaked during the early morning hours of May 1, causing significant damage in Davis and Weber counties. Note that this episode began in April.
The month of May started with a bang as a low pressure system moved through the Intermountain West, producing thunderstorms with severe winds, dust storms and small hail.
13 on May 1, oldest first.
Drought persisted through May across South Central Texas. Monthly damages are based on an estimated $2.4 billion loss to agriculture across all of Texas through the past 6 months. Property damages do not include business or commercial revenue losses.
Severe drought conditions continued across the Texas Panhandle. Some locally heavy rains did fall in the northeast region, but these rains were accomplanied with excessive runoff.
The drought continued through most of the month of May, causing significant crop damage. Some areas received several inches of rain during the severe weather of the 25th and 26th, but this was not nearly enough to break this long term drought.
A devastating drought continued across West Central Texas through the month of May. Information from the USDA indicate that crop losses total in excess of 85 million dollars for this spring alone, not including losses to the cattle and sheep ranching industries.
A 13-month period of below normal rainfall ended on May 20 with the beginning of the 2001 rainy season. Rainfall amounts since May 2000 over interior and southwest portions of south Florida and over all of Palm Beach County averaged about 30% below normal.
Continued below normal rainfall caused portions of north Texas to be upgraded from moderate drought (D1) to severe drought (D2), as classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
During the month of May, the drought worsened and expanded a little as only a spattering of rain occurred across the area with the highest totals falling along and west of the Mississippi River. Actually, the area defined by severe drought (D2) only expanded by a few counties.
Abnormally dry conditions that began over west Texas during the fall of 2010 persisted through May further adding to agricultural losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Drought conditions worsened during the month of May despite a few precipitation events during the latter half of the month.
Drought conditions across the Oklahoma Panhandle worsened due to limited precipitation during the month of May. The entire Oklahoma Panhandle now falls with Exceptional (D4) drought.
Drought conditions largely worsened through the month of May with most rainfall eluding the region. Extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4) drought levels expanded across the entire area. Only portions of Hall and Yoakum counties remained in severe (D2) drought.
May of 2018 was the warmest May on record for the state of Oklahoma and the warmest May since 1962. This very warm May followed a stretch of several years when May in Oklahoma had been cooler than average. While there were no extended streaks of very hot or 100-degree temperatures during the month, high and low temperatures were consistently above average and there were no strong cold fronts, which we normally see. For individual locations, it was the warmest May on record at Lawton, the 2nd warmest at Oklahoma City, and the 5th warmest at Wichita Falls, Texas.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
While temperatures were overall fairly close to normal monthly means, precipitation was mainly above normal, and significantly so north of Interstate 90, where from 125 to 200 percent of normal precipitation was observed.
3 on May 1, oldest first.
The coldest May temperature ever recorded in Wichita Falls came on May 1, 1907. On that date the temperature fell to 36 degrees. The May record of 36 degrees was later tied on May 3, 1954, and on May 12, 1979.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Cold weather through the entire month resulted in problems with the seasons crops. The cold ground caused slow to poor germanation of the seed resulting in the replanting of about 4% of the states 12.7 million corn acres.
The combination of an unseasonably cold air mass, clear skies and light winds led to widespread freezing temperatures, along with frost across the mid Hudson Valley, Capital District, the Lake George and Saratoga region, and Mohawk Valley of eastern New York during the early…
46 on May 1, oldest first.
The Unnamed Fire started on May 1, 1988, in Minnesota, and burned 4,074 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on May 1, 1988, in Minnesota, and burned 1,593 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on May 1, 1992, in California, and burned 1,106 acres.
The Hwy 41 Fire started on May 1, 1996, in California, and burned 9,539 acres.
The Hwy 41 Fire was discovered on May 1, 1996, in California, and burned 3,100 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Boundary Fire started on May 1, 1996, in South Dakota, and burned 2,778 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on May 1, 1998, in Florida, and burned 2,274 acres.
The Greerlk Fire was discovered on May 1, 1999, in Minnesota, and burned 1,050 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Huron Complex was discovered on May 1, 1999, in Oscoda County, Michigan, and burned 1,035 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Fmz Fire started on May 1, 2001, in Arizona, and burned 1,311 acres.
The T24D Fire started on May 1, 2002, in Florida, and burned 1,222 acres.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 1, 2003, in Okaloosa County, Florida, and burned 4,900 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Junkyard Fire was discovered on May 1, 2004, in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and burned 800 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Kimball Bottoms Fire was discovered on May 1, 2005, in North Dakota, and burned 1,280 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Davies Fire was discovered on May 1, 2006, in Lincoln County, Nevada, and burned 871 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Georgia Bay Wildfire Complex (The Sweat Farm Road Fire and Big Turnaround Fire) continued from April through the entire month of May.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 1, 2007, in Flagler County, Florida, and burned 6,575 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Qual Range Fire was discovered on May 1, 2007, in Alaska, and burned 2,053 acres; the cause was recorded as firearms and explosives use.
A series of muck fires burned along the dry lakebed of southwestern Lake Okeechobee near the Glades and Hendry county shoreline for almost the entire month of May.
The South Tularosa Fire was discovered on May 1, 2008, in New Mexico, and burned 3,856 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
The Sierra Grande Fire started on May 1, 2008, in New Mexico, and burned 2,921 acres.
The Grassy Island Fire was discovered on May 1, 2008, in Glades County, Florida, and burned 2,756 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Price Fire was discovered on May 1, 2008, in Midland County, Texas, and burned 2,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Oklahoma 2 Fire was discovered on May 1, 2009, in Alaska, and burned 38,398 acres; the cause was recorded as firearms and explosives use.
The Stud Duck Ranch Fire was discovered on May 1, 2009, in Lynn County, Texas, and burned 1,600 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
Antecedent dry conditions combined with strong winds and low humidities fueled this human caused fire in the Gila Wilderness.
The Persimmons Fire was discovered on May 1, 2011, in Glades County, Florida, and burned 952 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Panther Fire was discovered on May 1, 2013, in Tehama County, California, and burned 6,965 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Summit Fire was discovered on May 1, 2013, in Riverside County, California, and burned 5,912 acres.
The May Day Fire was discovered on May 1, 2013, in Brevard County, Florida, and burned 900 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
On May 1, 2016, a wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. On May 3, it swept through the community, forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta's history, with upwards of 88,000 people forced from their homes.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Kerr Fire was reported on May 1, 2017, in Catron County, New Mexico, and burned 11,886 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Triple Ranch Fire was reported on May 1, 2017, in Osceola County, Florida, and burned 1,354 acres.
The Avian Complex was reported on May 1, 2018, in Collier County, Florida, and burned 82,461 acres.
The Moore Fire was reported on May 1, 2020, in Mora County, New Mexico, and burned 3,800 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Little Swallow Fire was reported on May 1, 2021, in Dunn County, North Dakota, and burned 10,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Rl 203 Goods Fire was reported on May 1, 2021, in Clearwater County, Minnesota, and burned 5,530 acres.
The Southern Fire was reported on May 1, 2021, in San Diego County, California, and burned 5,366 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Owens Fire was reported on May 1, 2021, in Kern County, California, and burned 1,512 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire, which were originally two separate wildfires that combined during the month of April 2022, continued to devastate the area during the month of May.
The Cooks Peak Fire started north of Ocate on April 17, 2022. The wildfire continued to burn during the month of May, but fortunately, firefighters were able to fully contain the Cooks Peak Fire on May 13, 2022.
The Bear Trap Fire was reported on May 1, 2022, in Socorro County, New Mexico, and burned 38,225 acres.
Northwest winds gusting from 35-40 mph lofted dust from newly plowed farm fields resulting in near zero visibility across portions of northern Montgomery County, southern Sangamon County, and southwestern Christian County in Illinois.
The Sandy Fire was reported on May 1, 2023, in Collier County, Florida, and burned 19,814 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Sawlog Fire was reported on May 1, 2025, in Beaverhead County, Montana, and burned 2,030 acres.
Extreme to exceptional drought, dry fuels, and breezy days triggered numerous wildfires in southeast Georgia and northeast Florida in April that continued through the month of May.
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An earthquake struck Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Yatsushiro, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Baghdad, Iraq. It destroyed 2,000 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Penang Island, Indonesia, Malaysia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 4 earthquake struck Caucasus, Russia.
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Kuril Islands, Russia.
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Kermadec Islands. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Kopet-Dagh, Iran. It killed 3,800 people, injured 1,121 and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Kigi, Turkey. It killed 540 people.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck NW, Honshu, Japan. It killed 27 people, injured 52 and destroyed 479 houses. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Greece. It killed 9 people, injured 56, destroyed 896 houses and did $5 million in damage.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Tashiak, Termiz, Hindu Kush, Afghanistan. It killed 160 people and injured 330.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Bingol, Turkey. It killed 177 people, injured 521, destroyed 718 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Taroko Gorge National Park, Hualien, Taiwan. It killed 2 people and injured 1.
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck Lorestan, Boroujerd, Iran. It injured 100.
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck Chamoli, India.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Kashmir, India. It killed 3 people, injured 90, destroyed 1,136 houses and did $19.5 million in damage.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck British Columbia, Skagway, Canada, Alaska. It caused a tsunami.
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Sao Jorge, Portugal erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed 10 people.
Asamayama, Japan erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
Sao Jorge, Portugal erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1. It killed 9 people.
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A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Yatsushiro, Japan.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Malacca Strait, Indonesia.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck SE. Hokkaido Island, Japan.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake struck Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, with a maximum water height of 0.3 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck NW. Honshu Island, Japan, with a maximum water height of 1.2 meters. It killed 27 people, injured 52 and destroyed 479 houses.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Skagway, AK, United States, with a maximum water height of 0.06 meters.
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A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began May 1, 1933, reached Kp 8- and lasted 15 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 82; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 47 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began May 1, 1939, reached Kp 7- and lasted 24 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 56; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began May 1, 1951, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 42 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 68; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began May 1, 1978, reached Kp 8+ and lasted 81 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 96; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 43 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began May 1, 1994, reached Kp 7 and lasted 15 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 50; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
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A severe storm disaster that cost $1.4 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 21, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 1, 1989 to May 6, 1989.
A flooding disaster that cost $2.9 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 5, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.8 billion in 2024 dollars, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 1, 2018 to May 4, 2018.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.2 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 1, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 1, 2022 to May 3, 2022.
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An adult male was killed while driving southbound on Hockkockson Road in Tinton Falls when lightning struck a tree and sliced it in half. The tree fell down and crushed the vehicle he was driving.
Early morning thunderstorms moved across portions of northern Indiana. Lightning from the storms was responsible for a death of a young man in New Haven as well as a house fire in Geneva.
Strong southerly onshore winds produce deadly rip currents at the beaches of Alabama over the weekend.
Rip currents developed in the afternoon at several beaches within the onshore flow.
A low pressure system passing over the Mojave Desert brought isolated impacts from rain and thunderstorms to the Las Vegas Valley.
A prolonged strong onshore wind resulted in numerous strong rip current along the beaches of northwest Florida on May 15th, as well as a few days prior. There was one rip current fatality in Escambia County Florida.
Strong southwest winds occurred over southern Lake Michigan during the afternoon of May 1st with gusts as high as 45 mph. An 18 foot long boat with four men onboard capsized around 215 pm near the East Chicago Marina after taking on water.
Two people were caught in a rip current at Daytona Beach. One, a 32 year old woman, unfortunately drowned. The second person was transported to the hospital and treated for exhaustion.
Gathered from this site’s archives: the tornado record (NOAA SPC, and Grazulis before 1950), IBTrACS and the National Hurricane Center, NOAA NCEI’s Storm Events Database, Regional Snowfall Index, billion-dollar disasters list, State Climate Extremes Committee and hazard databases, USGS, NIFC, GFZ Potsdam’s Kp index (CC BY 4.0), the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, and Wikidata (CC0), with article leads from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0, each credited where it appears. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.