Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for May 13, 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.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish, Louisiana and tracked 24.5 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 49 and injuring 135. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Gilliam, LA.
Volcanoes
Asamayama, Japan erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed 800 people.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Arequipa,camana,moquegua,tambo, Peru. It killed 383 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake struck S. Peru. It killed 383 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Billion-dollar disasters
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.7 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 5, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 13, 2018 to May 15, 2018.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Margarition-Filiates (Thesprotia), Greece. It killed 80 people, destroyed 150 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Kalamazoo County, Michigan and tracked 10.6 miles, 450 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 79.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Erzurum, Turkey. It killed 50 people.
Floods
Between 13 and 18 May 2014 a low-pressure cyclone designated Tamara and Yvette affected a large area of Southeastern and Central Europe, causing floods and landslides. Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered the greatest damage, as the rain was the heaviest in 120 years of recorded weather measurements.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Fulton County, Illinois and tracked 7 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, injuring 45.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Dilhi, Gera, Timor Island, Indonesia. It killed 36 people. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Bali Sea, Indonesia, with a maximum water height of 3.4 meters. It killed 36 people.
114 on May 13, oldest first.
An F3 tornado touched down in Macon County, Missouri and tracked 12.8 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Kaseyville to Bevier MO.
An F3 tornado touched down in Andrew County, Missouri and tracked 7.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Whitesville, MO.
An F3 tornado touched down in Johnson, Wyandotte, Platte counties, Kansas and tracked 22.1 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Olathe/Kansas City, KS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Wyandotte, Jackson counties, Kansas and tracked 8.5 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Kansas City, KS/Kansas City, MO.
An F2 tornado touched down in Jasper County, Missouri and tracked 20.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 33. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Webb City/Carterville/Nw Carthage, MO.
An F3 tornado touched down in Sedgwick, Butler counties, Kansas and tracked 23.8 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Haysville/N Derby/Augusta, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Jackson, Jefferson, Atchison counties, Kansas and tracked 34.3 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Denison/NW Valley Falls/NW Atchison to Donipan, KS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Titus, Morris counties, Texas and tracked 6.6 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Cookville, TX.
An F4 tornado touched down in Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish, Louisiana and tracked 24.5 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 49 and injuring 135. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Gilliam, LA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Cass County, Texas and tracked 10.2 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Linden, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Evangeline Parish, Saint Landry Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana and tracked 69.1 miles, killing 1 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Chataignier/N Opelousas/S St. Francisville/SE Ethel, LA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Sampson County, North Carolina and tracked 25.4 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Roseboro/E Salemburg/W Newton Grove, NC.
An F1 tornado touched down in Horry County, South Carolina and 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Galivants Ferry, SC.
An F3 tornado touched down in Randolph County, Arkansas and tracked 3 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 14. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Pocahontas, AR.
An F3 tornado touched down in Ripley County, Missouri and tracked 8.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Currentview to Naylor/Oxly, MO.
An F2 tornado touched down in Izard County, Arkansas and tracked 4.8 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 12. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Franklin, AR.
An F2 tornado touched down in Greene County, Ohio and tracked 2.5 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 25. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Frogtown/Xenia, OH.
An F3 tornado touched down in Jackson, Clark counties, Wisconsin and tracked 39.7 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Black River Falls to Loyal, WI.
An F3 tornado touched down in Brown, Redwood, Renville counties, Minnesota and tracked 27.3 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 19. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Springfield to N Morton, MN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hennepin, Anoka counties, Minnesota and tracked 5.5 miles, 70 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Anoka to Dayton, MN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Saint Croix, Polk counties, Wisconsin and tracked 11.8 miles, 30 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Star Prairie to NE Deronda, WI.
An F3 tornado touched down in Boone County, Missouri and tracked 4.8 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: ENE Columbia, MO.
An F3 tornado touched down in Carson County, Texas and tracked 6 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Amarillo, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Carson County, Texas and tracked 10.5 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Panhandle, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Faulkner County, Arkansas and tracked 17.5 miles, 63 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 18.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hot Spring County, Arkansas and tracked 14.7 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Sumner, Sedgwick, Harvey counties, Kansas and tracked 62.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 10.
An F3 tornado touched down in Wichita, Scott, Gove counties, Kansas and tracked 140.4 miles, 320 yards wide at its widest, injuring 5.
An F3 tornado touched down in Pottawatomie, Seminole counties, Oklahoma and tracked 11.6 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Montgomery, Cass counties, Iowa and tracked 10.9 miles, 20 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Scott County, Iowa and tracked 3.6 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Coleman County, Texas and tracked 0.1 miles, 27 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 5.
An F3 tornado touched down in Tishomingo, Hardin counties, Mississippi and tracked 10.1 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Kalamazoo County, Michigan and tracked 10.6 miles, 450 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 79.
The 1980 Kalamazoo tornado was an intense tornado that struck downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Tuesday, May 13, 1980. The tornado, which touched down at 4:09 pm, was rated F3 on the Fujita scale.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Van Buren County, Michigan and tracked 21 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, injuring 15.
An F4 tornado touched down in Lamar County, Texas and tracked 8.8 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, injuring 30.
An F3 tornado touched down in Jasper County, Texas and tracked 8.5 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma and tracked 8.8 miles, 250 yards wide at its widest.
29 tornadoes were recorded on May 13, 1983, in Texas, Oklahoma.
Widespread severe weather occurred for two days across the state of Oklahoma on May 12th and 13th, back in 1985. The city of Moore reported baseball-size hail and winds of 70 to 80 mph. Even larger hail fell in south Oklahoma City, with some stones as large as grapefruits. Hail larger than baseballs fell as far southwest as Sterling, in Comanche County. Two weak tornadoes also occurred, but caused little damage.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Several cars and residential roofing were damaged in the city of Warm Springs from quarter-sized hail.
An F3 tornado touched down in Burnet County, Texas and tracked 3.5 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
Roofs were damaged and trees were blown down from thunderstorm winds.
29 tornadoes were recorded on May 13, 1994, in Texas.
An F4 tornado touched down in Fulton County, Illinois and tracked 7 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, injuring 45.
An F4 tornado touched down in Hancock, Henderson, Warren counties, Illinois and tracked 50 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, injuring 7.
26 tornadoes were recorded on May 13, 1995, in California, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, 2 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 3 people.
An F2 tornado touched down in Montgomery, Boone counties, Indiana and tracked 14 miles, 250 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 10.
An F3 tornado touched down in Mason, Tazewell counties, Illinois and tracked 25 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, injuring 25.
A number of large trees were blown down at La Fontaine.
Golf ball-size hail was reported by the fire department at Saunemin and nickel-size hail was reported by a cooperative observer just south of the Kankakee-Iroquois County line near Chebanse.
Reported by local law enforcement.
Water was reported over these roads. Rain fell in the amount of 1.25 inches over Campbellsvile in one hour.
The 1996 Bangladesh tornado was a deadly and destructive tornado that struck 80 - 90 villages in north-central Bangladesh on May 13 1996, leaving more than 600 fatalities with over 37,248 injured, and 36,420 houses were extensively damaged within 20 minutes of its arrival at 125 mi/h. The tornado arrived through Jamalpur, Sirajganj and Tangail districts that affected numerous families across the villages, 100,000 people went homeless and more than 6,787 livestock were killed.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Brief touch down. Location is also 10 northwest of Hebron.
Temperatures in the mid 80s to lower 90s in combination with humid conditions resulted in several rounds of thunderstorms across Northern and Central Virginia from midday through late evening on the 13th.
Temperatures in the mid 80s to lower 90s in combination with humid conditions resulted in several rounds of thunderstorms across Maryland west of the Chesapeake Bay from midday through late evening on the 13th.
Numerous trees down. Mobile home destroyed.
A supercell thunderstorm produced two tornadoes in southern Cecil County and hail as large as golf balls. Damage was estimated at $170,000. No injuries were reported.
Numerous trees down between Hwy 146 and Hwy 190 and in the Indian Hills Subdivision near Lake Livingston where one tree fell on a home.
Penny size hail fell at Chelsea.
An F3 tornado touched down in Knox, Baylor counties, Texas and tracked 16.3 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest.
This tornado was observed by several experienced storm chasers and the mobile radar, Doppler On Wheels (DOW). The tornado became better organized around 1740 CST as observed by the chasers and the DOW information.
A deep slow-moving upper level trough moved from the desert southwest into west Texas during this period. Several shortwaves combined with surface boundaries to produce several rounds of storms. Downbursts as well as large hail were reported in addition to flash flooding.
Thunderstorms formed quickly across Val Verde County in the unstable environment ahead of an upper level trough moving in from the Western U.S. The line of convection moved to the northeast bringing severe weather to much of the hill country.
During the evening of May 13, 2009, a series of powerful supercell storms developed ahead of a cold front, pushing southward out of Iowa and Nebraska.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Adair County, Missouri and tracked 5.8 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 6.
A cold front moved south into Oklahoma during the evening of the 13th and early on the 14th. Widespread thunderstorms developed over much of the eastern two thirds of Oklahoma.
An EF1 tornado touched down in Sullivan County, Missouri and tracked 4.35 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1.
Widespread severe weather tracked across the state on this day in 2009. Thunderstorms quickly developed along and ahead of a cold front during the afternoon and evening hours. Supercells across central Oklahoma produced hail to the size of baseballs, wind gusts over 60 mph, and four tornadoes. The most damaging tornado was rated as an EF2, which touched down southeast of Gracemont and moved south towards Anadarko, in Caddo County. Extensive damage to homes, businesses, trees, and a strip mall occurred. Luckily, no injuries were reported. Damage estimates were close to $50 million.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
An impressive upper-level wave tracking across the Northern Plains helped push a strong cold front toward the Mississippi River by the evening of May 13th.
A line of thunderstorms intensified as it moved into eastern Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 13th. A number of tornadoes developed on the leading edge of the bowing line of storms over northeastern Oklahoma. The storms also produced damaging wind gusts.
Severe thunderstorms associated with a cold pool from an upper level low developed during the early morning hours of May 13th. The storms produced hail, winds up to 60 mph, flooding and three confirmed tornadoes.
A stalled front along with abundant moisture and an upper level disturbance produced heavy rainfall across many areas of the Coastal Bend on May 13th, 2015.
Severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a quasi-stationary front that was draped across the area. One long-lived supercell produced a brief tornado northwest of Ark City before exiting into Oklahoma and becoming stationary.
A southward moving cold front interacted with a rather unstable air mass for mid to late morning into the early afternoon across the area and allowed for the development of an isolated cluster of thunderstorms across the central Piedmont and central Coastal Plain of central…
An EF1 tornado touched down in Cameron County, Texas and tracked 0.45 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 11.
A rapidly-developing mini-supercell formed ahead of an approaching squall line near the Lower Texas coast just before 4 AM Saturday, May 13.
A weakening upper level low pressure area moved into far southeast South Dakota by early evening.
A stationary front was setup along the gulf coast on May 13th. High instability and progressive flow aloft ignited a storm complex over southeastern Texas during the mid afternoon hours.
Severe thunderstorms moved across the state of Mississippi and produced damaging wind gusts, a few brief tornadoes, and heavy rainfall. Several swaths of wind produced significant damage.
Severe storms spread across South Texas from the Hill Country as a mid-level shortwave replaced a northward lifting warm front over the region.
27 on May 13, oldest first.
A potent warm front crossed eastern New York early on Saturday May 13. Thunderstorms erupted along the front. While these were not severe, they produced heavy rainfall and some lightning damage.
A 10-year-old boy was killed and his 5-year-old brother had to be rescued as a burst of heavy rain at Zion National Park caused flash flooding. The boy was hiking with his family when the storm came through.
A strong upper level ridge of high pressure developed over the Rockies during the previous several days. The weather pattern became a pattern more typical of July and early August rather than May as convection became established in the classic "ring of fire" configuration.
Ice Jam flooding due to spring breakup in Aniak.
A freight train derailed at 6:20 AM in Newport Township along the Susquehanna River. Heavy rain that fell the previous two days amounted to over two inches. This rain fell on already saturated ground.
Water over roadway in downtown area of Gause on Highway 79. At 100 PM, flooding continued on Highway 77 from Milano to east of Gause, but the water was receding.
Another round of heavy rainfall occurred during the middle part of the month. The month's most widespread rainfall occurred from late on the 10th until early on the 13th when an average of 2.42 inches of rain fell across the state.
Heavy rainfall, most of it falling over a 100 hour period, caused widespread flooding across much of eastern Massachusetts of small streams and main stem rivers. Major flooding of a number of small streams and main stem rivers occurred in Essex County of Massachusetts.
Low pressure developed south of New England and remained nearly stationary from the 12th to the 15th resulting in over 12 inches of rain in some locations in a 72 hour period. Homes and businesses were damaged extensively. Many roads were washed out and impassable.
Low pressure developed south of New England and remained nearly stationary from the 12th to the 15th resulting in over 12 inches of rain in some locations in a 72 hour period. Homes and businesses were damaged extensively. Many roads were washed out and impassable.
Heavy rainfall, most of it falling over a 100 hour period, caused widespread flooding across much of southern New Hampshire, where small streams and main stem rivers rose out of their banks.
A cluster of storms moved east from northeast Texas into northwest Louisiana where it met up with a rapidly developing band of showers and thunderstorms. Some of this convection initially produced large hail and damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms with heavy downpours and frequent lightning occurred during the morning hours on the 13th along a frontal boundary.
Showers and thunderstorms developed across eastern Kansas and southern Missouri. Large hail and damaging winds were the primary severe hazards with these storms.
Heavy rains during the second week of May resulted in the Skunk River at Augusta going above the moderate flood stage level of 17 feet on May 13 around 2 am. It crested around 19.4 feet around 1 pm May 13. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 9 pm May 15.
Heavy rains during the second week of May resulted in the La Moine River at Colmar going above the moderate flood stage level of 22 feet on May 13 around 10 pm. It crested around 23.4 feet around 1 am May 15. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 3 pm May 16.
Heavy rains during the second week of May resulted in the Fox River at Wayland going above the moderate flood stage level of 18 feet on May 13 around 330 pm. It crested around 19.3 feet around 1 pm May 14. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 330 am May 15.
Heavy rains during the second week of May resulted in the Iowa River at Marengo going above the moderate flood stage level of 15.5 feet on May 13th around 800 am. It crested around 16.5 feet around 100 am May 19. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 100 am May 22.
Heavy rains during the second week of May resulted in the Skunk River at Sigourney going above the moderate flood stage level of 18 feet on May 13 around 5 am. It crested several times between 19.1 and 19.3 feet from 7pm May 13 to 1 pm May 16.
Low pressure moved across the Great Lakes bringing moist, unstable air to the region. Showers and thunderstorms developed along lake breeze boundaries and persisted through the late afternoon and evening hours across the western southern tier and western Finger Lakes Region.
More river flooding occurred across northern Utah in mid-May. The main rivers that were impacted were the Blacksmith Fork River and the South Fork of the Ogden River.
Between 13 and 18 May 2014 a low-pressure cyclone designated Tamara and Yvette affected a large area of Southeastern and Central Europe, causing floods and landslides. Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered the greatest damage, as the rain was the heaviest in 120 years of recorded weather measurements.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Several clusters of thunderstorms repeatedly moved along a warm front in the vicinity of the Finger Lakes region. Radar rainfall estimates indicated a narrow band of 4 to 5 inches of rain occurred over the central portion of Yates and Seneca counties.
A stalled warm front was the focus for heavy showers and embedded thunderstorms which trained across the western Southern tier. Rainfall amounts of one to three inches in just a few hours resulted in flash flooding across the region. Roads and culverts were washed out.
Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front on the afternoon of May 13, 2014. Storms raced east across most of Southeast Lower Michigan, causing a broad area of damage.
For much of the state, May 13th was the end of the heatwave as a cold front moved into the area and showers and thunderstorms developed. Thunderstorms were most widespread on the 15th with several reports of hail as large as golf balls and numerous wind damage reports.
A slow moving closed upper level low originating from the Gulf of America brought anomalous moisture into the area. A long duration period of rain ensued, with rain rates exceeding two inches an hour during the afternoon and evening of May 13th.
18 on May 13, oldest first.
Coffee County EMA provided a summary of damages: seven residential houses sustained slight to major wind damage, four barns and other neighboring sheds suffered minor to major damage including roof losses, three chicken houses received moderate wind damage, and numerous trees…
A couple of trees were blown down. One tree fell on a trailer, killing someone inside.
A severe thunderstorm hammered the southern half of Northampton County with wind gusts that were estimate to reach 100 mph.
A severe thunderstorm knocked down numerous trees and power lines in Warren County. Hardest hit were Harmony Township and Washington Township and Borough. In Harmony Township, the description was given that every road had some debris on it.
A severe thunderstorm left a swath of wind damage across southern Lehigh County from Upper Macungie Township east through Allentown. A wind gust of 69 mph was measured at the Lehigh Valley international Airport.
This thunderstorm produced very large hail from around the Florence area toward Eppley Airfield then into the Council Bluffs, Iowa area.
Thunderstorms during the morning and afternoon of the 13th produced damaging winds.Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Northern Halifax County, Charlotte Court House, Sugar Grove, Danville, Graysontown, Indian Valley, Christiansburg, 3 miles west of Ferum, Gladys, 6 miles…
Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down in the Tega Cay area. An 86-year-old woman was killed on the morning of the 14th, when a tree, apparently weakened by the strong winds, fell on her.
Tree down on Route 605, damaged bridge.
A strong surge of moisture, albeit narrow, pushed into Iowa during the afternoon hours of the 13th. A weak frontal system advanced across the plains into the state.
Overnight thunderstorms produced large damaging hail across central portions of Oklahoma. There were many reports of golfball size hail or greater with a report of hail greater than softballs. This large hail caused widespread damage across portions of Oklahoma.
Cost estimated due to wind damage to many structures and flooding of roadways.
A few large limbs were reported down.
Severe thunderstorms dropped hail up to golfball size at locations in Northeast and East Central Missouri from early morning to mid morning on May 13.
Several lines of strong to locally severe thunderstorms affected portions of Illinois during the evening hours of May 13th and moved east into western Indiana into the early morning hours of the 14th.
Showers and thunderstorms developed along a frontal boundary draped across the Upper Ohio Valley. Many of the stronger thunderstorm became severe and a lot of hail reports were received. Some of the hail was as large as golf balls.
A line of very powerful storms moved southeast across the southern sections of Kansas producing large hail and damaging winds.
Had extreme high wind verification from a thunderstorm outbreak as a system raced through Idaho. Several power outages occurred with many recorded over 60 mph thunderstorm outflow wind gusts.
4 on May 13, oldest first.
A ridge of high pressure and southwest flow brought unusually warm temperatures to the Mojave Desert in the middle of the month. High temperatures in Las Vegas rose above 95 degrees on the 9th, and remained there through the 20th.
Hot temperatures were experienced on May 13 with high temperatures in the upper 90s on the Tohono O'odham Nation. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one male found in the desert west of Sells.
An upper level ridge over the western United States resulted in high temperatures climbing to around 5-10 degrees above normal in Phoenix during the middle part of May. High temperatures recorded at Phoenix Sky Harbor ranged between 100-105 degrees between the 13th through 16th.
Temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 1 to 3 degrees above normal, causing Low HeatRisk. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that the cause of death for 2 individuals in Tucson and Marana to be heat caused.
1 on May 13, oldest first.
A large area of Canadian high pressure settled over the central U.S. bringing with it unseasonably cold weather. Frost or freezing temperatures covered all of Iowa during the early morning hours of the 13th. Readings as low as -5 degrees C.
45 on May 13, oldest first.
The Thirteen Fire started on May 13, 1988, in Colorado, and burned 1,337 acres.
The Big Fire started on May 13, 1990, in New Mexico, and burned 24,753 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on May 13, 1993, in California, and burned 3,078 acres.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 13, 1994, in Palm Beach County, Florida, and burned 8,720 acres; the cause was recorded as railroad operations and maintenance.
The Aeroplane Fire was discovered on May 13, 1994, in New Mexico, and burned 1,700 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The OGEMAW10 Fire started on May 13, 1995, in Michigan, and burned 1,212 acres.
The Canal Fire was discovered on May 13, 1996, in California, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Pony Fire was discovered on May 13, 1996, in California, and burned 1,067 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The South Fork Fire was discovered on May 13, 1998, in Montana, and burned 1,033 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Telephone Fire was discovered on May 13, 1999, in New Mexico, and burned 2,208 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 13, 2001, in Kittson County, Minnesota, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Hurst Hammock Fire was discovered on May 13, 2001, in Escambia County, Florida, and burned 1,159 acres; the cause was recorded as railroad operations and maintenance.
A wildfire, pushed by strong gusty winds, consumed 3 acres, one house, and two outbuildings. Two injuries occurred, a 38 year old male was overcome by smoke inhalation, and a 13 year old male burned his hands.
The Antonio Fire was discovered on May 13, 2002, in Orange County, California, and burned 1,472 acres.
The Growler Peak Fire was discovered on May 13, 2005, in Arizona, and burned 7,500 acres.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 13, 2005, in Maricopa County, Arizona, and burned 1,934 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The St. Clair Fire was discovered on May 13, 2005, in Maricopa County, Arizona, and burned 1,920 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Almazan Fire was discovered on May 13, 2006, in Fresno County, California, and burned 1,964 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Ok Kpsp 757 Fire was discovered on May 13, 2006, in Okeechobee County, Florida, and burned 1,100 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Promontory Fire was discovered on May 13, 2007, in Gila County, Arizona, and burned 4,044 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
The Pasture Fire was discovered on May 13, 2008, in Franklin County, Florida, and burned 2,100 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Musgrave Canyon Fire was discovered on May 13, 2009, in Presidio County, Texas, and burned 1,550 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Gladiator Fire was discovered on May 13, 2012, in Yavapai County, Arizona, and burned 16,240 acres; the cause was recorded as other causes.
The Stag Fire was discovered on May 13, 2012, in Powder River County, Montana, and burned 1,231 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Holey Land 1 Fire was discovered on May 13, 2013, in Palm Beach County, Florida, and burned 9,200 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Buffalo Ranch Fire was discovered on May 13, 2013, in Minnesota, and burned 4,900 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The River Road Fire was discovered on May 13, 2013, in Minnesota, and burned 1,664 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 13, 2013, in Marshall County, Minnesota, and burned 1,570 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
Mid-May was marked by a period of very hot, dry and windy conditions. This included an unusually strong Santa Ana wind event with a 1036 mb surface high over the northern Great Basin.
The May 2014 San Diego County wildfires were a swarm of 20 wildfires that erupted during May 2014, in San Diego County, California, during severe Santa Ana Wind conditions, historic drought conditions, and a heat wave. The main event during mid-May was preceded by a precursor fire that ignited on May 5.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Mile Creek Fire was reported on May 13, 2014, in Southeast Fairbanks County, Alaska, and burned 23,270 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Crane Island Fire was reported on May 13, 2017, in Highlands County, Florida, and burned 4,408 acres.
The Raintree Blvd Fire was reported on May 13, 2017, in Sarasota County, Florida, and burned 3,128 acres.
The 36th Ave Se Fire was reported on May 13, 2020, in Collier County, Florida, and burned 8,250 acres.
The Black Fire was a massive wildfire that burned in the northern Black Range in Sierra County, Catron County, and Grant County, Northeast of Silver City, in the state of New Mexico in the United States as part of the 2022 New Mexico wildfire season.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Black Fire was reported on May 13, 2022, in Catron County, New Mexico, and burned 325,136 acres.
The Blue Lakes Fire was reported on May 13, 2022, in Montmorency County, Michigan, and burned 2,516 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Greer Fire was reported on May 13, 2025, in Apache County, Arizona, and burned 20,308 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
A grazing shortwave trough north of Utah sent a cold front into the region. Ahead of and along this boundary there was enough moisture to result in isolated to scattered convective development, with much of this activity higher based in nature.
The Wild Horse Fire was reported on May 13, 2026, in Millard County, Utah, and burned 7,025 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Jericho Creek Fire was reported on May 13, 2026, in Powell County, Montana, and burned 2,068 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Pasadena Valley Fire was reported on May 13, 2026, in Elmore County, Idaho, and burned 1,722 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Rochelle 2 Fire was reported on May 13, 2026, in Converse County, Wyoming, and burned 1,317 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Neuralia Fire was reported on May 13, 2026, in Kern County, California, and burned 1,196 acres.
The Ash Pole Fire was reported on May 13, 2026, in Dawes County, Nebraska, and burned 1,028 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
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An earthquake struck Al-Mawsil (Mosul), Iraq. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Hanamaki, Japan.
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Arequipa,camana,moquegua,tambo, Peru. It killed 383 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
The 1834 Jerusalem earthquake occurred on 13 May during the first few days of the Peasants' revolt in Palestine against Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt. The earthquake's epicenter was in the Jerusalem area.
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A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Miyaneh, Garmrud, Esfahan, Iran. It killed very many people (over 1,000) and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Dilhi, Gera, Timor Island, Indonesia. It killed 36 people. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Turkey.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Margarition-Filiates (Thesprotia), Greece. It killed 80 people, destroyed 150 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Himara, Albania. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
An earthquake struck Calapan, N Mindoro, Philippines.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Masbate Island, Philippines. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Vanuatu Islands.
An earthquake struck Palermo, Italy. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Erzurum, Turkey. It killed 50 people.
9. The earthquake had an epicenter near the coast of Manabí Province, Ecuador.
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A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Costa Rica-Panama. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Dubrovnik, Ljubinje, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It killed 1 person.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Akhalkalaki, Susuz, Georgia. It killed 2 people, destroyed 1,500 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Dannevirke, Wellington, New Zealand.
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Grevena-Kozani, Thessaloniki, Yugoslavia, Greece. It injured 25, destroyed 12,000 houses and did $450 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
The 1995 Kozani–Grevena earthquake was a large earthquake that occurred on May 13, 1995, in the region of Western Macedonia, Greece. 6 on the moment magnitude scale, this earthquake caused locally significant damage to villages and towns in the regions of Kozani and Grevena.
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A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Hindu-Kush, Malakand-Peshawar, Afghanistan. It killed 1 person and injured 11.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Khorasan, Iran. It killed 3 people, injured 417 and did $2 million in damage.
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Asamayama, Japan erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed 800 people.
Dieng Volcanic Complex, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed 40 people.
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A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake struck S. Peru. It killed 383 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami struck Ryukyu Islands, Japan, with a maximum water height of 11 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Bali Sea, Indonesia, with a maximum water height of 3.4 meters. It killed 36 people.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Samar Sea, Philippines.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Calabrian Arc, Italy.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Costa Rica-Panama, with a maximum water height of 0.07 meters.
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A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began May 13, 1956, reached Kp 7- and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 35; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began May 13, 1973, reached Kp 8- and lasted 24 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 81; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 47 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
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A severe storm disaster that cost $1.7 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 5, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 13, 2018 to May 15, 2018.
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A group of students from out of state were swimming in rough surf along an unguarded section of Pensacola Beach. Red flags, warning of dangerous rip currents, were flying at the time. The group were out in the water holding hands when a large wave broke the group apart.
A 64-year-old Oakland Park man drowned in a rip current at an unguarded section of beach. Two other people were rescued and treated at the hospital.
A man drowned in a rip current at an unguarded section of Miami Beach.
A strong east wind produced dangerous rip currents at the beaches along the Atlantic Coast.
Thunderstorms quickly developed across southwest Florida during the afternoon hours. Numerous lightning strikes were observed with these storms, one of which produced a lightning strike which killed one roof worker while injuring another.
A man tried to save a woman and toddler from drowning offshore of Massengale Park in St. Simons Island during the evening. The woman and child were pulled back to shore, the man never returned. The woman later died in the hospital, the child survived.
Onshore winds of 10-15 mph and surf of 1-2 feet with a south to north long-shore current were observed during the afternoon of the rip current fatality. St. Johns County Ocean Rescue reported that two others were caught in rip currents that day as well.
Two teenagers were playing in the water at Ocean Beach, and got pulled out by a rip current. The father of one of the boys went in after them, but could not swim. The father and one of the boys were rescued. The other boy was not found.
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.