Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for May 31, 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 7.9 earthquake struck Northern, Pisco, Chiclayo, Peru. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 66,794 people, injured 50,000 and did $530 million in damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck N. Peru, with a maximum water height of 0.46 meters. It killed 66,794 people, injured 50,000 and did $530 million in damage.
Other weather
On 31 May 1970, a debris avalanche and mudflow triggered by the Ancash earthquake destroyed the town of Yungay, Peru and 10 nearby villages, leaving up to 30,000 people dead. It is the deadliest avalanche or glacier-related disaster in history, surpassing the death toll from the previous deadliest avalanche disaster, the avalanches of White Friday on the Italian front of World War I and the third or fourth most deadly landslide-related disaster of the 20th century, after the Haiyuan landslides…
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tornadoes
An F5 tornado touched down in Portage, Trumbull, Mercer counties, Ohio and tracked 47 miles, 450 yards wide at its widest, killing 18 and injuring 310.
Floods
The Johnstown Flood, sometimes referred to locally as the Great Flood of 1889, occurred on Friday, May 31, 1889, after the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam, located on the south fork of the Little Conemaugh River, 14 miles (23 km) upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States. 55 million cubic meters of water.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Morelos-Guerrero,mexico City,guadalajara. It killed 2,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Central Mexico, with a maximum water height of 13.9 meters. It killed 2,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tornadoes
An F5 tornado touched down in Roger Mills, Dewey counties, Oklahoma and tracked 18.1 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Leedey, OK.
Billion-dollar disasters
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.8 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 89, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 31, 1985 to May 31, 1985.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes
30 tornadoes were recorded on May 31, 1985, in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, 7 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 76 people.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Ustukran, Turkey. It killed 840 people.
134 on May 31, oldest first.
An unrated tornado touched down in Bedford County, Tennessee and tracked 0.6 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Shelbyville, TN.
An unrated tornado touched down in Warren County, Illinois and tracked 1 miles, killing 19 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Ellison, IL.
An F4 tornado touched down in Bell, Falls counties, Texas and tracked 12.4 miles, 250 yards wide at its widest, killing 10 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Troy/Durango, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Irion, Tom Green counties, Texas and tracked 12.6 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Sherwood to N Knickerbocker, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Bolivar County, Mississippi and 70 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Rosedale, MS.
An F2 tornado touched down in St. Francis County, Arkansas and tracked 10.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Goodwin/W Palestine, AR.
An F2 tornado touched down in Phillips, Lee counties, Arkansas and tracked 20.2 miles, 250 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Poplar Grove/Marvell/La Grange, AR.
An F2 tornado touched down in Panola County, Mississippi and 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Panola County, MS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Andrew, DeKalb, Daviess counties, Missouri and tracked 28.5 miles, killing 4 and injuring 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Cosby/S Helena/Orchid/N Maysville/E Fairport to S Pattonsburg, MO.
An F4 tornado touched down in Love County, Oklahoma and tracked 7.9 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Pittman, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in Washington County, Colorado and tracked 11.8 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Akron, CO.
An F2 tornado touched down in Sheridan County, Wyoming and 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Lariat, WY.
An F2 tornado touched down in Mora County, New Mexico and tracked 6.2 miles, 70 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 13. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Wagon Mound, NM.
An F4 tornado touched down in Red Willow, Frontier counties, Nebraska and tracked 28 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 22. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Culberson to S Curtis, NE.
An F3 tornado touched down in Dawson, Buffalo counties, Nebraska and tracked 15 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Overton to N Miller, NE.
An F3 tornado touched down in Frontier County, Nebraska and tracked 12.7 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 7. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Freedom/NE Stockville to SW Farnam, NE.
An F4 tornado touched down in Ottawa County, Kansas and tracked 7 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: WSW Delphos, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Texas County, Oklahoma and tracked 4.8 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Guymon, OK.
An F5 tornado touched down in Roger Mills, Dewey counties, Oklahoma and tracked 18.1 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Leedey, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in Labette County, Kansas and tracked 0.3 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Callahan County, Texas and tracked 2 miles, 33 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
An F1 tornado touched down in Tipton County, Tennessee and tracked 0.1 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in O'Brien, Osceola, Dickinson counties, Iowa and tracked 46.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Osceola County, Iowa and tracked 8.6 miles, 250 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Dickinson County, Iowa and tracked 8 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Tama County, Iowa and tracked 9.4 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Pottawatomie, Jackson counties, Kansas and tracked 37 miles, 1,300 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 1.
An F5 tornado touched down in Portage, Trumbull, Mercer counties, Ohio and tracked 47 miles, 450 yards wide at its widest, killing 18 and injuring 310.
30 tornadoes were recorded on May 31, 1985, in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, 7 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 76 people.
An F4 tornado touched down in Trumbull, Mercer, Crawford counties, Ohio and tracked 56.2 miles, 350 yards wide at its widest, killing 16 and injuring 125.
An F4 tornado touched down in Ashtabula, Erie counties, Ohio and tracked 14 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 12 and injuring 82.
An F4 tornado touched down in Venango, Forest counties, Pennsylvania and tracked 29 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 30.
An F4 tornado touched down in Warren, Elk, McKean counties, Pennsylvania and tracked 29 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 40.
The 1985 United States–Canada tornado outbreak, referred to as the Barrie tornado outbreak in Canada, was a major tornado outbreak that occurred in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, on May 31, 1985. In all, 43 tornadoes were counted including 14 in Ontario, Canada.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Beaver, Butler counties, Pennsylvania and tracked 39 miles, 243 yards wide at its widest, killing 9 and injuring 120.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lycoming, Union, Northumberland counties, Pennsylvania and tracked 19 miles, 910 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 60.
An F4 tornado touched down in Erie, Warren, Chautauqua counties, Pennsylvania and tracked 28 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest.
An F4 tornado touched down in Clearfield, Centre, Clinton counties, Pennsylvania and tracked 69 miles, 3,330 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Licking, Coshocton counties, Ohio and tracked 29 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 20.
An F3 tornado touched down in Crawford County, Pennsylvania and tracked 23 miles, 277 yards wide at its widest, killing 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Trumbull, Ashtabula counties, Ohio and tracked 15 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, injuring 30.
An F3 tornado touched down in Chautauqua County, New York and tracked 13 miles, 177 yards wide at its widest, injuring 10.
An F3 tornado touched down in Warren County, Pennsylvania and tracked 17 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, injuring 8.
An F3 tornado touched down in Crawford County, Pennsylvania and tracked 8 miles, 427 yards wide at its widest.
An F2 tornado touched down in Crawford County, Pennsylvania and tracked 4 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1.
On the afternoon of May 31, 1985, a violent and long-lived F5 tornado, the easternmost in United States history, struck parts of northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania, including Newton Falls, Niles, and Coalburg in Ohio, and Wheatland in Pennsylvania. The tornado caused 310 injuries, 18 deaths, and $250 million of damages.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
On Friday, May 31, 1985, a short-lived, but devastating and violent F4 tornado affected the City of Barrie, Ontario, Canada. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak that spanned both the preceding and the following day.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Ochiltree County, Texas and tracked 14 miles, 1,407 yards wide at its widest.
Water was over Highway 51 south of Paluxy.
An F3 tornado touched down in Brown, Marshall counties, South Dakota and tracked 32 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
An F1 tornado organized over the parking lot of the Target Shopping Center in Aberdeen and tracked northeast towards Bath. It destroyed a green house (a large tent) and it's contents in the Target parking lot, uprooted and snapped trees as it crossed U.S. Highway 12.
6 inches of water on streets of ephrata
57 mph thunderstorm gust
An F3 tornado touched down in Somerset County, Pennsylvania and tracked 13 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 15.
An F3 tornado touched down in Saratoga, Rensselaer, Bennington counties, New York and tracked 30.5 miles, 970 yards wide at its widest, injuring 68.
An F3 tornado touched down in Tioga, Broome, Delaware counties, New York and tracked 62 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 12.
An F3 tornado touched down in Berks County, Pennsylvania and tracked 8.3 miles, 120 yards wide at its widest, injuring 7.
An F3 tornado touched down in Otsego County, New York and tracked 5 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
During the morning hours of May 31, a strong low pressure system over the upper Great Lakes pushed a warm front across eastern New York and western New England. This set the stage for a major severe weather outbreak in eastern New York.
An F3 tornado touched down in Pike County, Pennsylvania and tracked 20 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
On the evening of the 30th, a strong low pressure system was located over the upper Mississippi Valley. The low moved rapidly east that night, reaching northern lower Michigan by daybreak on the 31st.
An intensifying storm system moved across upstate New York and into southern Quebec early in the morning on the 31st. This system dragged a warm front northeastward across central New York. A southerly flow of warm, moist, and unstable air quickly developed.
46 tornadoes were recorded on May 31, 1998, in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and more. They killed 1 people.
The tornado touched down just east of Mt. Davis and traveled east-southeast into downtown Salisbury. The storm then continued eastward for 8 miles ending east of the town of Pocahontas.
A violent thunderstorm produced a swath of wind damage across the northern half of Berks County and included an eight mile long strong F3 (Fujita Scale) Tornado that devastated the borough of Lyons. Seven persons were injured (five within Lyons).
An intensifying storm system moved across upstate New York and into southern Quebec early in the morning on the 31st. This system dragged a warm front across northeastern Pennsylvania. Behind this front, a southerly flow of warm, moist, and unstable air quickly developed.
A line of severe thunderstorms pounded the southern half of Chester County mainly to the south of U.S. Route 30 (Lincoln Highway) the night of May 31st with wind gusts to near hurricane force and two tornadoes.
Numerous thunderstorms developed near and north of the Ohio River by late afternoon and dropped south and east across central Kentucky producing widespread severe weather.
During the morning hours of May 31, a strong low pressure system over the upper Great Lakes pushed a warm front across eastern New York and western New England. This set the stage for a major severe weather outbreak in southern Vermont.
A short-duration minimal F2 tornado moved along a half-mile long track which averaged 85 yards wide in Antrim in northwest Hillsborough County. A National Weather Service survey team investigated the damaging effects of this tornado and spoke with many eyewitnesses.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lincoln County, Colorado and tracked 7 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest.
Severe thunderstorms affected much of western Oklahoma and portions of central Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of May 31st, and the early morning of June 1st. Although 7 tornadoes were confirmed across western Oklahoma, all on the 31st, only 2 of them caused damage.
Two tornadoes touched down causing extensive damage north of Genoa. The first tornado, an F2, caused minor damage to a home, but substantial damage to trees in the area. The second tornado, an F3, destroyed 2 mobile homes and several grain bins.
Warm, moist air blanketed lower Michigan, as a low pressure system moved slowly north along a nearly stationary cold front in Wisconsin. A number of showers and thunderstorms developed in the warm sector.
An F2 tornado touched down in Cannon County, Tennessee and tracked 6.3 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2.
Most of the destruction was on Bee Branch Road. A mobile home was destroyed. It sat on a ridge located at 10095 Bee Br. Rd. The storm also destroyed an empty trailer. The trailer was used as a work area. 2 barns were destroyed.
The tornado started near Ramer and tracked northeast. The tornado dissipated just after crossing US Highway 45. Two homes had major damage with one house moving off its foundation. Several other homes had minor damage. A recreational vehicle was tipped over.
The tornado first touched down about a mile and a half northeast of the village of Owego, along Carmichael Road. As the tornado passed over a ridge toward Beecher Hill Road, the most extensive damage occurred.
During Friday afternoon and early evening of May 31, a strong cold front clashed with a very unstable air mass across eastern New York State. In addition, there were strong and divergent winds aloft.
A mobile home was demolished at 223 Hart Rd. Several trees were uprooted along the tornado's path. The estimated damage due to the tornado was around $20,000.
For the first time since official weather records began, no tornadoes were reported anywhere in Oklahoma during May 2005. This was unusual because May typically marks the peak of tornado season for the state, with an average of 20 tornadoes in the month of May.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
A severe weather episode broke out across much of west central Texas on the evening of the 31st when a strong upper level disturbance over New Mexico moved out across the south plains of Texas.
Severe thunderstorms blasted through north-central Kansas. These storms produced hail, strong winds, and a brief tornado. Hail up to golf ball and baseball in size was driven by winds of 60 to 70 mph. The worst damage was reported around the Smith Center area.
Severe thunderstorms occurred primarily over northeast Oklahoma during the morning of the 31st.
A very long-lasting, slow moving supercell storm produced large hail and three tornadoes from west central to southeast Baca County.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Canadian County, Oklahoma and tracked 16.2 miles, 4,576 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 26.
A tornado outbreak occurred during the late afternoon and early evening hours of the 31st. A stalled front and deeply mixed dryline served as a focus for thunderstorm development. The front/dryline triple point was where the most intense supercells initiated.
The 2013 El Reno tornado was an extremely large, intense, and erratic tornado that occurred and hit a rural part of Central Oklahoma during the early evening of May 31, 2013. 6 miles across.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
36 tornadoes were recorded on May 31, 2013, in Tennessee, North Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois. They killed 8 people.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Saint Charles, Saint Louis counties, Missouri and tracked 31.71 miles, 1,760 yards wide at its widest, injuring 8.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Madison, Saint Louis counties, Missouri and tracked 10.64 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest.
Storms developed along an outflow boundary that was laid out along the I-70 corridor. The storms produced wind damage, large hail as well as 9 tornadoes. Two of the tornadoes were rated EF3 as they moved through the St. Louis metro area.
Less than two weeks after tornado outbreaks of May 19 and 20, another tornado event occurred over central Oklahoma on this date in 2013. An extremely large and violent tornado hit the outskirts of El Reno during the early evening hours. This tornado was rated as an EF5 and was 2.6 miles wide at one point of its life cycle, making it the widest tornado in recorded history. The tornado began just southwest of El Reno at 6:03 PM and moved just south of town and ended on the east side of El Reno at 6:43 PM. Eight people lost their lives in this tornado, all of them in vehicles on and near Interstate-40 and Highway 81. In addition to this tornado, at least a half dozen other tornadoes occurred across the Oklahoma City metro area, producing damage but causing no fatalities. Severe flash flooding was also seen across the metro area, resulting in the deaths of thirteen people.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
An approaching cold front brought showers and thunderstorms to central Illinois during the evening of May 31st. Many of the storms became severe, producing widespread wind damage across the area. Two tornadoes briefly touched down as well.
Severe thunderstorms developed over central Oklahoma and southern Kansas along a slow-moving cold front during the afternoon hours of the 31st. Very unstable air ahead of the cold front, combined with strong wind shear, resulted in storms quickly evolving into supercells.
Storms developed along an outflow boundary that was laid out along the I-70 corridor. The storms produced wind damage, large hail as well as 9 tornadoes. Two of the tornadoes were rated EF3 as they moved through the St. Louis metro area.
An upper level disturbance moving across South Texas, combined with a very moist and unstable atmosphere, produced strong to severe thunderstorms across South Texas on May 31st.
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms impacted the region on the last day of May. Damaging winds, large hail, flooding, and a couple tornadoes were observed in this outbreak.
A stalled low pressure system remained to the southwest of New Mexico while an anomalously moist air mass also stayed in place on May 31, 2021.
Storms developed along a stationary boundary in northwestern Oklahoma into the Texas panhandle during the afternoon and evening of the 31st. Slow storm motions led to very heavy rainfall and flooding in some locations.
1 on May 31, oldest first.
Tropical Storm Amanda crossed the coast near Guazacapán, Santa Rosa Department, Guatemala as a tropical storm, 35 kt, central pressure 1003 mb. It killed 40 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count.
10 on May 31, oldest first.
The Johnstown Flood, sometimes referred to locally as the Great Flood of 1889, occurred on Friday, May 31, 1889, after the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam, located on the south fork of the Little Conemaugh River, 14 miles (23 km) upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States. 55 million cubic meters of water.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
May of 1982 was a very wet month in Oklahoma City. More than 12 inches of rain fell during the month, making it the third greatest May rainfall in the city, and coming in eighth place for all months. For comparison, the driest May in Oklahoma City was in 1942, when only 0.43 inches of rain was measured.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Torrential rainfall of 4 to 10 inches in about 4 hours caused widespread and severe flash flooding across all of Wabaunsee county, especially the south half of the county.
Very heavy rains of 4 to 10 inches produced widespread flooding over the county. Many roads, especially in rural areas, were underwater, closed and/or damaged.
A warm front lifted north across northern Ohio during the afternoon hours of May 31st. A cold front followed during the evening. Showers and thunderstorms developed in association with both of these fronts.
Showers and thunderstorms, some with very heavy rain affected the municipalities of the north central sections from Arecibo eastward to Toa Baja. More than 400 families in Vega Alta and Dorado municipalities were impacted by the floods.
With a moisture rich and highly unstable environment, an impulse from Missouri |formed a line of severe weather that pushed from west to east across southern |Indiana and central Kentucky.
Abundant moisture, in combination with strong daytime heating, provided the fuel for robust thunderstorm development along a quasi-stationary front located across the southern Texas Panhandle late on the afternoon of the 31st.
Afternoon severe thunderstorms would develop across eastern New Mexico and merge into an MCS that would track through portions of southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin late in the evening.
High water on the Licking River resulted in a fatality.
21 on May 31, oldest first.
Many trees were blown down with the loss of power and telephone.
A large thunderstorm complex developed near the center of an upper level disturbance and moved rapidly from southwest to northeast across northern Utah. The first significant damage occurred in the Sugarville as three trees were blown ito a house.
Damage surveys conducted by the National Weather Service Office in Grand Rapids, MI, in addition to trained spotter reports, local media meteorologist input, emergency management officials, and a review of National Weather Service Doppler Radar, indicate the widespread and…
During the early morning hours of Sunday, May 31st, southcentral and southeast Wisconsin experienced an unprecedented, widespread downburst wind event known as a "derecho." Incredibly powerful, hurricane-force straight-line winds, with peak gusts of 100 to 128 mph tore through…
A severe thunderstorm moving through northern Worcester County resulted in the deaths of two men in their twenties in Winchendon.
Severe thunderstorms moved through central and southern Worcester County and caused intense downbursts between about 10 PM and 1030 PM. Two primary macroburst paths were identified by a National Weather Service survey on June 1st.
A 14 year old boy was killed when struck by an electric wire that was downed when a tree was downed on two utility poles and part of a garage roof.
A second round of storms for the day moved across the region during the evening hours. Again the thunderstorms produced high winds, large hail and torrential rains. Trees and power lines were downed across western New York.
An outbreak of severe storms began across the region during the early morning hours. The storms were particularly dangerous because of the speed that they were moving across the region--sometimes in excess of 60 mph.
Windows broken in house from large hail.
A macroburst roared across eastern Allegheny and extreme western Westmoreland counties during the early evening hours of May 31st. This macroburst produced an approximately 10-mile long path of damage from the straight-line winds, which were estimated as high as 105 MPH.
Lightning struck and killed one man, and injured another, while they were fishing along the shore of Boyd Lake.
Hail fell over much of the eastern half of Comal County, causing damage to some windows of homes and vehicles
A strong upper level disturbance approaching from the northwest spawned a powerful squall during the evening hours of May 31st. The squall line moved east to southeast across portions of central and south-central Kansas, producing large hail and high winds in its path.
Scattered severe thunderstorms developed across eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania as a warm front slowly pushed north across the region. Heavy rainfall with the storms also caused minor flooding.
A mini-supercell and associated downburst core moved across south central Hidalgo County beginning in the Palmview/Mission area and generally tracked along and just north of the Rio Grande before crossing the river southeast of Pharr.
An upper-level disturbance triggered a cluster of severe thunderstorms across south-central Illinois during the morning of May 31st. The storms primarily impacted locations south of the I-70 corridor as they tracked eastward, producing wind gusts of 65-70mph.
A shortwave moved east out of Missouri towards southern Indiana and |central Kentucky.
An approaching cold front combined with a hot and humid air mass triggered scattered severe thunderstorms across southwest Virginia.
A shortwave trough near the Four Corners with an accompanying sub-tropical jet streak helped initiate afternoon thunderstorms across much of southeast New Mexico and far west Texas. Several strong to severe thunderstorms developed across this region.
4 on May 31, oldest first.
A non-U.S. resident, the victim was found outside.
Two women in their mid to late forties were found dead in their home. The medical examiner determined heat to be a major factor in their deaths. Both women were found in homes that had no air conditioning running or windows open.
May 2015 was the wettest month ever in Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls, and many locations across the region. Oklahoma City measured a record 19.48 inches for the month, while Wichita Falls recorded 17.00 inches. As far as the state of Oklahoma is concerned, it was also the wettest month ever for the Sooner State with a state-average 14.40 inches. This extremely wet month put an end to an extensive and prolonged severe drought over Oklahoma and northern portions of northern Texas that persisted since 2011.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 2 degrees above normal with Minor HeatRisk. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was the primary factor in the death for an individual in Douglas.
40 on May 31, oldest first.
The Seamen 1 Fire started on May 31, 1984, in Nevada, and burned 16,681 acres.
The Lost Horse Fire started on May 31, 1984, in California, and burned 4,127 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on May 31, 1985, in Florida, and burned 3,465 acres.
The Dck Sw 47 Fire started on May 31, 1986, in Alaska, and burned 16,892 acres.
The Blacks Ck Fire started on May 31, 1987, in Idaho, and burned 1,988 acres.
The Mayday Fire was discovered on May 31, 1993, in Texas, and burned 3,495 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Anchor Fire was discovered on May 31, 1993, in Alaska, and burned 2,410 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Jumbo Fire was discovered on May 31, 1994, in Nevada, and burned 2,070 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Cisco Mesa Fire was discovered on May 31, 1994, in Utah, and burned 1,300 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Sanford Fire was discovered on May 31, 2002, in Utah, and burned 42,799 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Cheyenne County Fire was discovered on May 31, 2002, in Cheyenne County, Colorado, and burned 15,000 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Lincoln County Complex was discovered on May 31, 2002, in Lincoln County, Colorado, and burned 10,000 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Arrowhead Fire was discovered on May 31, 2002, in San Bernardino County, California, and burned 2,688 acres.
The Capulin Fire was discovered on May 31, 2002, in Colfax County, New Mexico, and burned 1,700 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 31, 2002, in Roseau County, Minnesota, and burned 1,320 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Dry Lake Complex (Dry Lakes) Fire was discovered on May 31, 2003, in New Mexico, and burned 65,000 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Uvgoon Creek Fire was discovered on May 31, 2004, in Alaska, and burned 11,231 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Nageethluk River Fire was discovered on May 31, 2006, in Alaska, and burned 52,540 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Clover Fire was discovered on May 31, 2008, in Tulare County, California, and burned 15,300 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Ward Fire was discovered on May 31, 2009, in De Baca County, New Mexico, and burned 1,920 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Point Fire was discovered on May 31, 2009, in Coconino County, Arizona, and burned 1,295 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Lost River Fire was discovered on May 31, 2010, in Alaska, and burned 15,331 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Brite Ranch Fire was discovered on May 31, 2010, in Presidio County, Texas, and burned 11,590 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Lloyd Fire was discovered on May 31, 2011, in Alaska, and burned 8,818 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Bear Fire was discovered on May 31, 2011, in New Mexico, and burned 6,000 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The A R Fire was discovered on May 31, 2012, in Utah County, Utah, and burned 1,677 acres; the cause was recorded as firearms and explosives use.
The Lime Hills Fire was discovered on May 31, 2013, in Alaska, and burned 201,808 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Moore Creek Fire was discovered on May 31, 2013, in Alaska, and burned 157,747 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Chisana River Fire was discovered on May 31, 2013, in Alaska, and burned 46,638 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Thompson Ridge Fire was discovered on May 31, 2013, in Sandoval County, New Mexico, and burned 23,938 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Bitter Creek Fire was discovered on May 31, 2013, in Alaska, and burned 2,256 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Whitefish Lake 1 Fire was reported on May 31, 2015, in Bethel County, Alaska, and burned 67,778 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Bogus Creek Fire was reported on May 31, 2015, in Bethel County, Alaska, and burned 25,260 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Mule Ridge Fire was reported on May 31, 2016, in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, and burned 8,522 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Carrington Island Fire was reported on May 31, 2017, in Tooele County, Utah, and burned 1,398 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Sunset Fire was reported on May 31, 2020, in Yavapai County, Arizona, and burned 3,964 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Izaviknek River Fire was reported on May 31, 2020, in Bethel County, Alaska, and burned 3,525 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Scorpion Fire was reported on May 31, 2020, in Santa Barbara County, California, and burned 1,395 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The East Fork Fire was reported on May 31, 2022, in Kusilvak County, Alaska, and burned 166,760 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Allen Road Fire was reported on May 31, 2023, in Burlington County, New Jersey, and burned 5,474 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
13 on May 31, oldest first.
An earthquake struck Padova, Italy.
An earthquake struck Gargano, Italy.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Tokaido, Japan. With the tsunami it caused, it killed some people (about 51 to 100).
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Morelos-Guerrero,mexico City,guadalajara. It killed 2,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Oaxaca,guerrero, Mexico.
An earthquake struck Southern, California, United States. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Northern, Chile. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Monte Pullerina, Ecuador.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Alaska Peninsula, Alaska, United States.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Ustukran, Turkey. It killed 840 people.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Northern, Pisco, Chiclayo, Peru. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 66,794 people, injured 50,000 and did $530 million in damage.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Kishinev, Cis, Romania.
10 on May 31, oldest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It killed some people (about 51 to 100).
A tsunami with a source recorded as meteorological struck Dorset, England, United Kingdom.
A tsunami struck Southwest England, United Kingdom, with a maximum water height of 2.4 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Central Mexico, with a maximum water height of 13.9 meters. It killed 2,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake and landslide struck S. California, United States.
A tsunami struck Banka Island, Indonesia.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Northern Chile.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Crimea, Ukraine.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, with a maximum water height of 0.06 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck N. Peru, with a maximum water height of 0.46 meters. It killed 66,794 people, injured 50,000 and did $530 million in damage.
2 on May 31, oldest first.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began May 31, 1958, reached Kp 8 and lasted 30 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 72; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 45 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began May 31, 1991, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 63 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 74; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
3 on May 31, oldest first.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.6 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 30, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 31, 1982 to June 10, 1982.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.8 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 89, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 31, 1985 to May 31, 1985.
A severe storm disaster that cost $3.0 billion in 2024 dollars, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 31, 2024 to June 1, 2024.
20 on May 31, oldest first.
On 31 May 1970, a debris avalanche and mudflow triggered by the Ancash earthquake destroyed the town of Yungay, Peru and 10 nearby villages, leaving up to 30,000 people dead. It is the deadliest avalanche or glacier-related disaster in history, surpassing the death toll from the previous deadliest avalanche disaster, the avalanches of White Friday on the Italian front of World War I and the third or fourth most deadly landslide-related disaster of the 20th century, after the Haiyuan landslides…
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A 60-year old Miami Beach resident drowned in a rip current in the Atlantic off 68th Street. Dozens of other bathers were rescued along Dade and Broward county Atlantic beaches over the entire Memorial Day Weekend as east winds of 20 mph predominated.
An eight year old female drowned in a rip current while swimming offshore a peninsula named Picnic Island, nine miles southwest of Tampa.
An elderly man drowned in rough surf at the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. Reported by the Gulf County EMA.
Rip currents claimed the life of a 26-year-old man at Panama City Beach. Reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
Increasing east to southeast winds ahead of a low pressure area over the Gulf of Mexico which eventually became Tropical Storm Barry caused favorable conditions for rip currents along Atlantic beaches on May 31st. One person drowned in Delray Beach.
Moderate onshore winds in combination with long period swell, resulted in a fatal rip current along the South Carolina coast.
A local man drowned after being caught within a rip current at Paradise Beach Park in Satellite Beach.
A strong cold front moved through the near shore areas during the afternoon of May 31st and generated severe storms with gusty winds over portions of the near-shore waters of Lake Michigan.
The Indian River County Beach Patrol confirmed media reports of a drowning. The main died after being caught in a strong rip current at a beach park in Vero Beach.
A strong ridge of high pressure persisted over the southeast states resulting in an onshore wind along the southeast Florida coast and strong rip currents.
Two enlisted men from Texas and California were not equipped for cold and windy waters when they went fishing from kayaks and drowned not far from the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
A man was pulled out to sea in a rip current at Carolina Beach and drowned.
Strong easterly flow caused rough surf and strong rip currents late in the month. Several dozen rip current related rescues and two drownings were reported along the Volusia County coastline.
There was a rip current fatality off the Galveston Island beach.
A 61 year old male died while snorkeling off of Panama City Beach in the water behind Regency Towers, 5801 Thomas Drive. Double red flags were flying.
A 47-year-old male drowned while attempting to rescue two people who were caught in a rip current.
A 14 year old male was swept out to sea while swimming near Long Beach, WA. United States Coast Guard performed search and rescue, but has since suspended the search.
A group of four swimmers was caught in a rip current off of a Wildwood, NJ beach late in the afternoon of May 31. Weather conditions were hot and dry, with relatively calm seas. The risk for rip currents was considered low. The beach was unguarded at the time.
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.