Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for May 16, 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 EF4 tornado touched down in Russell, Pulaski, Laurel counties, Kentucky and tracked 60.08 miles, 1,700 yards wide at its widest, killing 18.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 52 people, injured 330, destroyed 1,218 houses and did $131 million in damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan, with a maximum water height of 6 meters. It killed 52 people, injured 330, destroyed 1,218 houses and did $131 million in damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Delaware, Clayton counties, Iowa and tracked 10.8 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 14. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Colesburg, IA.
Billion-dollar disasters
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.6 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 8, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 16, 2024 to May 17, 2024.
Tornadoes
During the afternoon of May 16th, numerous supercells developed ahead of a cold front and within a favorable environment for high-end severe weather. These produced widespread severe weather including 2 to 2.5 inch hail, wind damage, and two tornadoes.
Volcanoes
Agung, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed 120 people. The eruption was accompanied by an earthquake.
Tornadoes
27 tornadoes were recorded on May 16, 2025, in Arkansas, New Jersey, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Maryland, Indiana, Delaware and more, 2 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 25 people.
Tornadoes
An EF4 tornado touched down in Williamson County, Illinois and tracked 16.28 miles, 900 yards wide at its widest, injuring 7.
Tornadoes
On the evening of May 16, a derecho moved into SE TX. This resulted in extensive wind damage across much of the Greater Houston area, including much of Downtown Houston. Maximum wind gusts were estimated to have reached over 100 mph.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Nida reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 898 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Dolphin reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 918 mb, a category 5 storm.
128 on May 16, oldest first.
An F2 tornado touched down in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, killing 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: New Market Junction, NH.
An F4 tornado touched down in Delaware, Clayton counties, Iowa and tracked 10.8 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 14. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Colesburg, IA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, killing 1 and injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Norman, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in Seneca, Huron, Lorain counties, Ohio and tracked 39.6 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Attica/S Norwalk to S Oberlin, OH.
An F3 tornado touched down in Greer County, Oklahoma and 800 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Reed, OK.
An F2 tornado touched down in Creek County, Oklahoma and tracked 10.5 miles, killing 1 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Drumright/E Oilton/Silver City, OK.
An F2 tornado touched down in Love, Cooke counties, Oklahoma and tracked 5 miles, killing 1 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Thackerville, OK/Walnut Bend, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Houston County, Texas and tracked 5.2 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 8.
An F3 tornado touched down in Marshall County, Kansas and tracked 13.3 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Charles Mix County, South Dakota and tracked 0.1 miles, 33 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Wabash, Huntington, Allen counties, Indiana and tracked 50.3 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 15.
An F3 tornado touched down in Wilbarger County, Texas and tracked 2 miles, 23 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in San Patricio County, Texas and tracked 0.5 miles, 20 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lamb County, Texas and tracked 0.6 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Collingsworth County, Texas and tracked 16.7 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Collingsworth, Wheeler counties, Texas and tracked 12.1 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Beckham County, Oklahoma and tracked 6.5 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Beckham, Roger Mills counties, Oklahoma and tracked 18.2 miles, 1,320 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Adams, Hall, Hamilton counties, Nebraska and tracked 47.3 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Harrison County, Mississippi and tracked 11.5 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest.
An F1 tornado touched down in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana and tracked 1 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Wilbarger County, Texas and tracked 15 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Coffee County, Alabama and tracked 1.5 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
32 tornadoes were recorded on May 16, 1986, in Kansas, Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma.
An F4 tornado touched down in Kinney County, Texas and tracked 17 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest.
An F2 tornado touched down in Clay County, Arkansas and tracked 15 miles, 77 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hodgeman County, Kansas and tracked 22 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Sedgwick County, Kansas and tracked 20 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest.
48 tornadoes were recorded on May 16, 1991, in Florida, Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Montana.
On this date back in 1991, at least 6 tornadoes were produced across the northeast parts of Oklahoma. The strongest was rated as an F2, which struck Catoosa, causing an estimated $130,000 in damage, but no injuries.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
An F3 tornado touched down in Finney County, Kansas and tracked 10 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hodgeman, Pawnee counties, Kansas and tracked 7 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest.
A 7 mile path of wind damage associated with strong straight line winds, or a downburst moved across the southeast portion of the county.
A lunchtime hailstorm pounded parts of the Omaha metropolitan area, resulting in at least 12,000 damage claims. One to three inch hail produced damage estimates to homes and cars close to $20 million.
Tornado took off portion of roof, blew lumber pile apart, and turned over gas tank.
An F3 tornado touched down in Harrison County, Iowa and tracked 7.5 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 16.
An F3 tornado touched down in Harrison County, Iowa and tracked 6.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest.
The stronger of the 2 tornadoes that ripped through Harrison county the afternoon of 5/16/99 killed 2 people and destroyed 6 homes and a bridge before it dissipated a couple of miles east of Logan.
25 tornadoes were recorded on May 16, 1999, in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Illinois. They killed 2 people.
As was mentioned above, the weather pattern was very active over the central U.S. A cold front had become stationary to the west of Iowa during the afternoon of the 16th. This set the stage for a serious weather situation. During the afternoon, 70 degree F.
Brief touchdwon in open country.
Destroyed mostly farm buildings and equipment, did damage a few homes.
The smaller of 2 strong tornadoes that hit Harrison county the afternoon of 5/16/99. This one destroyed a home west of Logan before it weakened, it then made a loop back to the northwest before dissipating.
Extensive damage to homes and cars in Wallace.
42 tornadoes were recorded on May 16, 2003, in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down trees. One tree damaged the roof of a home.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour damaged three houses. One house had parts of its roof taken off.
A very large oak tree was blown down along with several powerlines.
Severe thunderstorms rumbled across south-central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours. These storms produced hail, strong winds and a few tornadoes. The storms started out in Gosper county and moved northeast.
A cold front moved east across New York state during the evening. Ahead of the front, showers and thunderstorms developed. Two of the thunderstorms produced tornadoes, with other scattered severe thunderstorms producing reports of wind damage and large hail.
An upper level low pressure system was moving slowly through Eastern Oklahoma into Western Arkansas during the afternoon hours of May 16th. A lone supercell thunderstorm across North Central Texas developed during the late morning hours of May 16th.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Hardeman, Jackson, Wilbarger counties, Texas and tracked 40.41 miles, 1,600 yards wide at its widest.
48 tornadoes were recorded on May 16, 2015, in Texas, Wyoming, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri.
A strong upper level disturbance translated from the Southern Rockies into the Southern Plains on the 16th. Very moist and unstable air was in place across the Southern Plains as this system approached.
The morning of Saturday, May 16th, a warm front surged northward from the Minnesota, Iowa border to west central and east central Minnesota. Surface winds backed from the northeast, to the east-southeast once the front went through the area.
With an upper low traversing the region, a cold front stationed over the panhandles, and a developing dryline, storms developed out in the panhandles early on the 16th and made their way eastward across Oklahoma through the day.
A quasi-linear convective system moved through east central Kansas and west central Missouri producing multiple QLCS tornadoes and significant damage associated with numerous mesovortices. Interestingly, there was a supercell ahead of the line that also produced a tornado.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Barron, Polk, Rusk counties, Wisconsin and tracked 82.53 miles, 1,320 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 25.
Storms formed along the dryline in the Texas panhandle on the afternoon of the 16th before moving eastward. As a cold front caught up to the storms, convection increased and storms began to form into a line. This line continued eastward across the state overnight into the 17th.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Pawnee, Barton counties, Kansas and tracked 26.64 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
Severe thunderstorms developed along a warm-front in Southern Minnesota during the afternoon. During the late-afternoon and evening, storms continued to progress eastward and develop over Northwestern Wisconsin.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Beckham, Washita counties, Oklahoma and tracked 18 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 10.
On this date in 2017, a strong tornado struck southern parts of Elk City, Oklahoma, killing one person and injuring at least 10 others. The tornado developed 3 miles northwest of Carter, or just east of Sayre, and primarily damaged trees and power poles for the first few miles as it moved northeast approaching State Highway 34. The one fatality occurred on State Highway 34 south of State Highway 152 when a man was impacted by the tornado while in his pickup truck. About two miles southwest of Elk City Reservoir, damage intensity increased to EF2 strength as the tornado continued northeast over Elk City Reservoir and through a neighborhood on the south side of Elk City. Damage assessments found 66 homes destroyed , 62 in Elk City, and 140 homes damaged, 126 of which were in Elk City. In addition, 3 businesses were destroyed and 5 businesses were damaged by the tornado.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
A cyclic supercell thunderstorm produced a long track tornado across portions of Barton county, Kansas.
An active day of severe weather across central and eastern TX and OK Panhandles. An upper low analyzed near Las Vegas, NV in the morning opened as it bottoms out over srn NM in the afternoon before lifting and deepening again as it ejected over the Panhandles later that evening.
A strong upper level trough of low pressure lifted across the central Rockies during the late afternoon of May 17th.
Isolated dryline thunderstorms developed on the evening of May 16, well in advance of an approaching upper level low. These storms produced an EF-0 tornado on the north side of Anson, and large hail and damaging winds in Fisher and Haskell Counties.
The most widespread severe thunderstorm activity in many months broke out across eastern Kentucky on Tuesday, May 16th. A warm front lifted to near the Mountain Parkway during the morning hours, ushering in a muggy airmass for those locations to the south of the Parkway.
On the evening of May 16, a derecho moved into SE TX. This resulted in extensive wind damage across much of the Greater Houston area, including much of Downtown Houston. Maximum wind gusts were estimated to have reached over 100 mph.
An EF4 tornado touched down in Russell, Pulaski, Laurel counties, Kentucky and tracked 60.08 miles, 1,700 yards wide at its widest, killing 18.
During the afternoon of May 16th, numerous supercells developed ahead of a cold front and within a favorable environment for high-end severe weather. These produced widespread severe weather including 2 to 2.5 inch hail, wind damage, and two tornadoes.
27 tornadoes were recorded on May 16, 2025, in Arkansas, New Jersey, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Maryland, Indiana, Delaware and more, 2 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 25 people.
An EF4 tornado touched down in Williamson County, Illinois and tracked 16.28 miles, 900 yards wide at its widest, injuring 7.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Stoddard, Scott counties, Missouri and tracked 16.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 10.
Eastern Kentucky experienced multiple rounds of severe weather from May 16th into the early morning hours of May 17th.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Saint Louis, City of Saint Louis, Madison counties, Missouri and tracked 23.22 miles, 1,750 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 38.
A 500mb shortwave trough moved across the Upper Midwest with height falls across the Quad State during the afternoon and evening of the 16th. The exit region of a strong (125kt) upper level jet was positioned across the area as well.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Union County, Kentucky and tracked 9.88 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, injuring 4.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Greene County, Indiana and tracked 14.04 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 3.
A 500mb shortwave trough moved across the Upper Midwest with height falls across the Quad State during the afternoon and evening of the 16th. The exit region of a strong (125kt) upper level jet was positioned across the area as well.
A 500mb shortwave trough moved across the Upper Midwest with height falls across the Quad State during the afternoon and evening of the 16th. The exit region of a strong (125kt) upper level jet was positioned across the area as well.
A persistently humid and unseasonably warm air mass provided ample instability late on the 16th. Meanwhile, mid-level forcing streamed into central Indiana from west to east, around the southeastern periphery of a strong mid-latitude cyclone positioned over the Upper Midwest.
On the afternoon of May 16, 2025, an intense, extremely large, and destructive tornado tracked for more than 12 miles (19 km) through urban areas of Greater St. S.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
On the afternoon of May 16, 2025, a large, destructive EF4 tornado struck the southern portion of Williamson County, Illinois, just south of Marion, amid a tornado outbreak across the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. 20 km) across the area, inflicting high-end damage and resulting in seven injuries.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A line of thunderstorms developed over western Maryland and eastern West Virginia, then significantly gathered strength as it moved east into the I-95 corridor. Destructive winds, very large hail, and a tornado were observed with some of the most intense storms.
A strong storm system moved across the central and eastern United States from May 16th into May 17th, producing a significant severe weather event across the Mississippi and Ohio Valley.
A cold front pushing through a highly sheared and unstable atmosphere led to supercells developing during the late morning and early afternoon along the frontal boundary generally along and east of Highway 65.
3 on May 16, oldest first.
Hurricane Nida reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 898 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Dolphin reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 918 mb, a category 5 storm.
Tropical Storm Arthur was a strong off-season tropical cyclone that impacted the East Coast of the United States in May 2020. The first of thirty-one depressions and thirty named storms of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Arthur marked the record sixth consecutive year in the Atlantic basin with a tropical cyclone forming before June.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
17 on May 16, oldest first.
On May 16, 1986, the Northern Ontario community of Winisk was flooded during an ice jam. The ice jam on the Winisk River caused large chunks of ice and flood waters to overwhelm the village.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An 18-month year old boy drowned in Antrim Creek near Florence, when playing along the swollen creek. He slipped into the creek and was swept away.
Warm rain on top of snow brought large amounts of water off the mountains in Yosemite National Park (YNP). The resulting water surge put the Merced River above flood stage at the Sentinel Bridge in the Park.
Summary of events of May 16-17, 1999:Two lines of thunderstorms developed over Iowa: one north to south across western Iowa and moved east, and the other repeatedly developed east to west from Butler to Clayton counties in northeast Iowa and moved east.
May of 1999 saw several significant flooding episodes across the Des Moines CWA. For the most part, central Iowa was spared the extremely heavy rainfall that caused major, and at several locations record, flooding along rivers in the northeast and east parts of the state.
Late afternoon thunderstorms rumbled across southern Wisconsin producing classic severe weather damage in many locations. There were numerous reports of wind damage to trees and power lines, large hail, and lightning.
Summary of events for May 16-17 1999:A cluster of thunderstorms formed on the evening of May 16 over western Oklahoma. This cluster of storms started moving quickly east and formed into a large bow echo, a radar signature indicative of damaging winds.
Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches caused major flash flooding. Hardest hit were areas along the Turkey and Volga River where many roads and bridges were washed out.
Several rounds of heavy rainfall in west central Illinois resulted in major flooding on the Spoon River in eastern Knox County and Fulton County. One man died when he drove his vehicle around a barricade and drowned in the Spoon River.
During the afternoon and early evening of the 16th. Severe storms crossed portions of Central Mississippi and Northeast Louisiana. There was 1 fatality and two injuries from a lightning strike southwest of Yazoo City.
The 2009 Alaska floods were a series of natural disasters taking place in the United States state of Alaska during April and May 2009. The floods were a result of heavier-than-normal winter snowfall and above-average spring temperatures that resulted in rapid melting of the winter snowfall.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Showers and thunderstorms pushed south across northern and central Ohio during the overnight hours ahead of a slow moving cold front.
A stalled low pressure system and frontal boundary across the southern Great Lakes region brought record rainfall to southeast Michigan beginning the morning of May 17, 2020 and continuing into the afternoon hours of May 19, 2020.
On May 16th, a shortwave trough moved eastward across Texas providing an opportunity for thunderstorms to develop in a very unstable and moist environment.
A series of disturbances moving across South Texas produced a line of showers and thunderstorms that moved across the Coastal Bend and towards the Middle Texas Coast throughout the day on the 16th.
Spring rains across the area resulted in additional high elevation snowmelt which led to elevated water levels along many creeks and streams. Belt Creek flooded for a second time this month. Water levels crested at 6.78 feet at the river gauge along Belt Creek near Monarch.
18 on May 16, oldest first.
Hail and strong winds damaged approximately 2000 acres of apples. Damage is estimated to be $8 million.
As the storm moved into the Bismarck area...the NWS at the airport received a gust to 79 mph. A small plane was tipped over at the airport, with part of the airport terminal roof blown off. There was at least 1 mobile home that was destroyed.
Strong and gusty winds caused a 38 foot fishing boat to capsize south of Amagansett. It resulted in the death of a 76 year old fisherman.
Reported by a pilot on the ground.
Hail broke out windows in house.
Severe thunderstorms formed over portions of western Oklahoma during the evening of the 16th, and moved into portions of central Oklahoma during the early morning of the 17th.
High winds in Ladd Canyon contributed to the death of a motorist. The vehicle was pulling a trailer, which began to fishtail and later overturned. Ladd Canyon was earlier closed to mobile homes and oversized loads due to the high wind threat.
A significant hail storm struck the Oklahoma City metro area on this date in 2010. This hail storm, which developed near Fairview and tracked just west of Kingfisher down through northern and eastern parts of the Oklahoma City metro area, will go down in history has one of the most damaging and costly hail storms in Oklahoma. Widespread hail ranging between the size of golf balls and baseballs, produced significant damage to automobiles, roofs, and vegetation. The hail was accompanied by winds in excess of 50 mph. Hail drifts several feet deep were reported, and some locations had hail still covering the ground 12 hours after it fell. Damage estimates exceeded $500 million.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Thunderstorms developed by mid afternoon in northwest Oklahoma near a warm front. A long-lived supercell became organized over Major County and moved southeast, leaving a swath of large damaging hail in its wake.
A complex of thunderstorms that developed over northern Illinois dropped southeastward into north-central Indiana during the afternoon of May 16th. Due to a very unstable airmass feeding into the complex, several supercell thunderstorms developed along its southwestern flank.
An upper level trough was over Southern California and Nevada. A dryline was across West Texas which increased atmospheric lift. There was high moisture and instability east of the dryline. Wind shear was also sufficient across the area.
In the wake of a warm front passing through the coalfields of southwestern Virginia on May 16th, warm temperatures and ample sunshine led to strong thunderstorms through the course of the afternoon and evening.
From the evening of May 16, 2024, to midday May 17, 2024, a derecho struck the Gulf Coast of the United States from Southeast Texas to Florida, causing widespread damage, particularly in the city of Houston and surrounding metropolitan area. At least seven people were killed by the storms, dubbed the Houston derecho by the National Weather Service, which brought winds up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) along with four tornadoes.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A line of thunderstorms developed over western Maryland and eastern West Virginia, then significantly gathered strength as it moved east into the I-95 corridor. Destructive winds, very large hail, and a tornado were observed with some of the most intense storms.
A Northern Plains low pressure system, a northeast-to-southwest oriented stationary front across North Texas, and shortwave trough traversing the Texas Panhandle were all contributing factors to the development of widespread severe weather May 16 and 17.
An inside slider pattern developed over May 15 to May 18 as a low pressure system over the Great Basin and high pressure in the eastern Pacific combined to create a strong pressure gradient, resulting in strong gusts and turbulent wind-driven seas.
4 on May 16, oldest first.
A 7 month old baby girl died of heat exhaustion after being accidentally left in a car at the Eagle Pass High School. The father is a teacher at the high school and forgot to drop the baby off at day care. High temperatures in Eagle Pass that day were near 100 degrees.
Hot temperatures in the mid to upper 90s were experienced in parts of southeast Arizona on May 16th through the 18th. One heat-related fatality occurred east of Sierra Vista.
One person died in Death Valley of heat-related causes.
A ridge of high pressure over the region resulted in above normal temperatures across the region. According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, two heat-associated fatalities occurred during this time. One fatality also occurred in La Paz County.
35 on May 16, oldest first.
The May Fire started on May 16, 1988, in Arizona, and burned 1,309 acres.
The City Hall Fire started on May 16, 1991, in Arizona, and burned 5,585 acres.
The Great Lake Fire was discovered on May 16, 1992, in North Carolina, and burned 3,400 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The 25MILEFIRE Fire was discovered on May 16, 1993, in Texas, and burned 1,250 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Canyon Fire was discovered on May 16, 1994, in Pima County, Arizona, and burned 1,500 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 16, 1998, in Broward County, Florida, and burned 7,000 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Unnamed Fire started on May 16, 1998, in Texas, and burned 4,588 acres.
The Bearisland Fire was discovered on May 16, 2001, in Florida, and burned 24,315 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 16, 2002, in Okeechobee County, Florida, and burned 4,835 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Kupukupu Fire was discovered on May 16, 2002, in Hawaii, and burned 3,407 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Sher Fire was discovered on May 16, 2004, in Florida, and burned 1,300 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Diamond Fire was discovered on May 16, 2004, in Maricopa County, Arizona, and burned 1,150 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire started on May 16, 2005, in Louisiana, and burned 4,384 acres.
The Cherry Swamp Fire started on May 16, 2005, in Arizona, and burned 1,541 acres.
The Getting Fire was discovered on May 16, 2005, in Yuma County, Arizona, and burned 1,309 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Encinal Fire was discovered on May 16, 2006, in Webb County, Texas, and burned 10,919 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 16, 2008, in Minnesota, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Farmington (O5) Fire was discovered on May 16, 2009, in Brevard County, Florida, and burned 1,500 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Toklat 2 Fire was discovered on May 16, 2010, in Alaska, and burned 171,727 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Tison Fire was discovered on May 16, 2011, in Louisiana, and burned 5,968 acres.
The Whitewater-Baldy Fire was discovered on May 16, 2012, in Catron County, New Mexico, and burned 297,845 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Wall Fire was discovered on May 16, 2012, in Churchill County, Nevada, and burned 17,200 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Hickey Fire was discovered on May 16, 2012, in Lake County, Oregon, and burned 411 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 16, 2013, in Los Angeles County, California, and burned 4,358 acres.
The Combat Fire was reported on May 16, 2014, in San Diego County, California, and burned 1,457 acres.
The La Sierra Fire was reported on May 16, 2016, in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, and burned 5,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The San Luis Fire was reported on May 16, 2018, in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, and burned 20,586 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Caldwell Fire was reported on May 16, 2018, in Jeff Davis County, Texas, and burned 2,450 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Maroon Fire was reported on May 16, 2019, in Coconino County, Arizona, and burned 8,602 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The PCMS Complex was reported on May 16, 2020, in Las Animas County, Colorado, and burned 2,175 acres.
The 74.5 Fire was reported on May 16, 2020, in Las Animas County, Colorado, and burned 2,174 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Pope 2 Fire was reported on May 16, 2022, in Schleicher County, Texas, and burned 2,530 acres.
The Mt Carmel Fire was reported on May 16, 2022, in Baca County, Colorado, and burned 1,242 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Blue 2 Fire was reported on May 16, 2024, in Lincoln County, New Mexico, and burned 7,532 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Flanders Fire was reported on May 16, 2026, in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, and burned 1,700 acres.
13 on May 16, oldest first.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Greece. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Pointe-A-Pitre, Guadeloupe.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Guam, US Territories. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Near Coast of Jalisco, Mexico. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Sabtan,batan, Philippines.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China. It killed few people (about 1 to 50).
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Peru.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Peru.
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 52 people, injured 330, destroyed 1,218 houses and did $131 million in damage.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Off Coast of Honshu Island, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Port-Vila, Noumea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Chiang Rai, Chian Saen, Bokeo, Thailand, Laos.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Lares, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, US Territories.
2 on May 16, oldest first.
Kelud, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed 22 people and destroyed 800 houses.
Agung, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed 120 people. The eruption was accompanied by an earthquake.
7 on May 16, oldest first.
A tsunami struck Livorno, Italy.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Guam, Mariana Islands, US Territories.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Mexico. It killed few people (about 1 to 50).
A tsunami struck Lakeba Island, Fiji.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan, with a maximum water height of 6 meters. It killed 52 people, injured 330, destroyed 1,218 houses and did $131 million in damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Off Coast of Honshu Island, Japan, with a maximum water height of 0.58 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, with a maximum water height of 8 meters.
13 on May 16, oldest first.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1932, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 18; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1939, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 20; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1955, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 14; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1960, reached Kp 6+ and lasted 12 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 42; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 53 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1961, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 28; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1965, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 18; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1973, reached Kp 6 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 33; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 55 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1975, reached Kp 6- and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 28; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 57 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1981, reached Kp 6+ and lasted 18 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 59; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 53 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1991, reached Kp 6 and lasted 18 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 35; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 55 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1994, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 29; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 1995, reached Kp 6 and lasted 18 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 45; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 55 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began May 16, 2024, reached Kp 6 and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 27; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 55 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
2 on May 16, oldest first.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.2 billion in 2024 dollars, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 16, 2019 to May 18, 2019.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.6 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 8, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 16, 2024 to May 17, 2024.
8 on May 16, oldest first.
A 22 year old student from Switzerland who went out in rough surf, got caught in a rip current off Sunset Cliffs Park near the end of Guizot Street and drowned.
Dense fog led to a fatality in rural western Wisconsin.
In addition to the flash flooding, the lightning from the thunderstorm ignited a chemical plant fire in Bristol in Bucks County.
A strong east wind and a incoming swell brought an elevated risk of rip currents to Atlantic coast beaches. A man drowned caught in a rip current at Palm Beach. Two others were injured and taken to the hospital trying to help.
Abundant tropical moisture across the region associated with an upper level low pressure system allowed for widespread showers and thunderstorms to develop. One of these storms produced deadly lightning at a farm in Broward County.
A swimmer was caught within a rip current and drown.
A man attempted to rescue his grandson who began to struggle in the surf. The grandson survived, but the man succumbed to drowning due to a strong rip current and rough surf.
A man died after being swept out into the ocean on the 16th along with two children. They were in front of the River Mouth at Santa Cruz Beach when they were swept out to sea. The children were rescued, but the man did not survive.
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.