Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for May 6, 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 6.5 earthquake struck NW, Slovenia, NE, Balkans NW, Italy. It killed 978 people, injured 1,700 and did $3.6 billion in damage.
Earthquakes
The 1930 Salmas earthquake occurred on 7 May at 01:34:26 IRST in West Azerbaijan province, Iran. 1 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earthquakes
5 and a maximum EMS intensity of X. The shock occurred in the Friuli region in northeast Italy near the town of Gemona del Friuli.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Jucuapa, El Salvador. It killed 1,100 people and did $23 million in damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Salmas, Iran. It killed 2,539 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Hill, Navarro, Ellis counties, Texas and tracked 35.3 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 41 and injuring 200. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Frost, TX.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Karnes, DeWitt counties, Texas and tracked 20.2 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 36 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Karnes/Dewitt Co. TX.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Hennepin, Ramsey, counties, Minnesota and tracked 17.3 miles, 667 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 158.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Hopkins County, Texas and tracked 20.2 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 19. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Birthright, TX.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Carver, Hennepin counties, Minnesota and tracked 12.3 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 175.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Anoka County, Minnesota and tracked 6.8 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 175.
Tornadoes
An F5 tornado touched down in McLennan, Bosque counties, Texas and tracked 10.6 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
147 on May 6, oldest first.
An unrated tornado touched down in Williamson, Davidson counties, Tennessee and tracked 10.2 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Nashville/Brantwood, TN.
An F2 tornado touched down in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana and 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S New Orleans, LA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Cook County, Illinois and tracked 3.8 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 35. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Chicago, IL.
An F3 tornado touched down in Cumberland County, Illinois and tracked 9.8 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, injuring 21. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Neoga/Cottonwood Twp., IL.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hamilton, Madison counties, Indiana and tracked 25.5 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N New Britton, IN.
An F2 tornado touched down in Leavenworth County, Kansas and tracked 3 miles, killing 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Leavenworth, KS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Harrison County, Texas and tracked 9.9 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Marshall, TX.
An F4 tornado touched down in Pratt, Stafford counties, Kansas and tracked 21.8 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NNE Pratt to E Stafford, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Reno, Rice counties, Kansas and tracked 25 miles, injuring 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Lyons, KS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Cooke County, Texas and tracked 5.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Gainesville/Fair Plain, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Barton County, Kansas and tracked 6 miles, 70 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 11. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Ellinwood/Cheyenne Bottoms, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Barton County, Kansas and tracked 5.6 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Ellinwood to NNE Great Bend, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Ellsworth County, Kansas and tracked 3.2 miles, 70 yards wide at its widest. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Ellsworth, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Andrew, Nodaway counties, Missouri and tracked 8.9 miles. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Fillmore to NNW Bolckow, MO.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lamar County, Texas and tracked 9.6 miles. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Paris/Blossom, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Hodgeman County, Kansas, killing 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Jetmore, KS.
An F4 tornado touched down in Hopkins County, Texas and tracked 20.2 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 19. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Birthright, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Denton, Collin counties, Texas and tracked 8.3 miles, 250 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Celina, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Wagoner County, Oklahoma and tracked 4.8 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Coweta, OK.
An F2 tornado touched down in Coahoma County, Mississippi and tracked 11 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Clarksdale/Jonestown, MS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Crockett, Gibson, Carroll counties, Tennessee and tracked 49.2 miles, killing 4 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Gadsden/Mansfield, TN.
An F2 tornado touched down in Acadia Parish, Louisiana and tracked 4.6 miles, killing 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Egan/Mermentau, LA.
An F4 tornado touched down in Hill, Navarro, Ellis counties, Texas and tracked 35.3 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 41 and injuring 200. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Frost, TX.
An F4 tornado touched down in Karnes, DeWitt counties, Texas and tracked 20.2 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 36 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Karnes/Dewitt Co. TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Sabine County, Texas and tracked 5 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Bronson, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Gonzales County, Texas and tracked 1.9 miles, killing 1 and injuring 7. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Ottine, TX.
An F1 tornado touched down in Bexar County, Texas and tracked 1.4 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: San Antonio, TX.
An F4 tornado touched down in Hockley County, Texas and tracked 5.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Sundown, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Roosevelt, Cochran counties, New Mexico and tracked 5 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Roosevelt County, NM to Bledsoe, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Bell County, Texas and tracked 10.1 miles, 33 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Conway, Faulkner counties, Arkansas and tracked 26.7 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 30.
An F3 tornado touched down in LaGrange, Steuben, Williams counties, Indiana and tracked 33.4 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, injuring 5.
An F2 tornado touched down in Independence, White counties, Arkansas and tracked 1.5 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 6.
An F4 tornado touched down in Hennepin, Ramsey, counties, Minnesota and tracked 17.3 miles, 667 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 158.
An F4 tornado touched down in Carver, Hennepin counties, Minnesota and tracked 12.3 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 175.
An F4 tornado touched down in Anoka County, Minnesota and tracked 6.8 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 175.
An F4 tornado touched down in Hennepin, Carver counties, Minnesota and tracked 6.9 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest.
An F2 tornado touched down in Carver, Sibley counties, Minnesota and tracked 11.2 miles, 667 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 175.
An F3 tornado touched down in Sibley, McLeod counties, Minnesota and tracked 15.5 miles, 167 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Jefferson County, Alabama and tracked 4.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 25.
An F3 tornado touched down in Roberts County, Texas and tracked 0.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 6.
An F3 tornado touched down in Kendall, Blanco, Burnet counties, Texas and tracked 38.9 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Kimble, Menard, McCulloch counties, Texas and tracked 41.6 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lamb County, Texas and tracked 1 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
An F1 tornado touched down in Crawford, Harrison counties, Indiana and tracked 8.1 miles, 40 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2.
An F5 tornado touched down in McLennan, Bosque counties, Texas and tracked 10.6 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
An F4 tornado touched down in Sarpy, Douglas counties, Nebraska and tracked 8 miles, 267 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 133.
An F4 tornado touched down in Pierce County, Nebraska and tracked 4.1 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Stanton, Wayne counties, Nebraska and tracked 15.9 miles, 167 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Pierce, Cedar, Knox counties, Nebraska and tracked 44.8 miles, 90 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Shawnee County, Kansas and tracked 19 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 25.
During the late evening of May 6, 1985, severe thunderstorms developed over parts of northwest Oklahoma. Hail up to baseball-size fell just northeast of Gage, and golf ball-size hail was common. A tornado was spotted near Tangier, in Woodward County. Flooding of many low-lying areas occurred after six inches of rain fell from the storms.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
The May 1989 tornado outbreak occurred on May 4–6, 1989. The outbreak spawned at least 27 tornadoes across the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, especially in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The tornado moved through the northern part of the county causing damage at nine different locations. Most damage was to outbuildings and barns although three homes were damaged in Duluth along with numerous utility poles and cable. The tornado had multiple vortices at times.
A line of thunderstorms moved into southwest Iowa during the evening hours. As the line progressed it turned into a large thunderstorm complex. Quite a bit of severe weather was associated with the complex while it was to the southwest of Iowa.
Windows broken in an area near Wilson.
Summary of events for May 6:Numerous severe thunderstorms developed over eastern Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening hours of May 6. Many of these thunderstorms developed rotation with some storms ultimately producing tornadoes.
A low pressure system over southeast Minnesota moved east across central Wisconsin during the late afternoon and early evening hours. Severe thunderstorms developed in the unstable air near the intersection of a warm front and a cold front.
An F4 tornado touched down in Pulaski, Massac, Pope counties, Illinois and tracked 33 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 33.
74 tornadoes were recorded on May 6, 2003, in South Carolina, Alabama, Missouri, Georgia, Arizona, North Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma and more, 1 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 2 people.
The deadliest and most destructive storm of the night tracked within 10 miles of the Ohio River across extreme southern Illinois. The storm produced a 33-mile long tornado that killed two and injured about 33.
An F3 tornado touched down in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri and tracked 2 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
A supercellular severe thunderstorm tracked northeast across Bollinger and Cape Girardeau Counties, producing several tornadoes and hail up to golf ball size. Other severe thunderstorms north of the supercell's path produced damaging wind gusts and large hail.
The tornado touched down in the extreme eastern part of Lee County and tracked east into Itawamba county. In Lee County, one mobile home was destroyed and numerous trees were blown down.
This tornado moved from Madison County into northwest Elbert County and intensified, destroying or severely damaging several houses and mobile homes. A parked car was also flipped before the tornado lifted.
A strong cyclic supercell tornado developed over Mineola, Texas while a strong tornado developed shortly there after and moved to the east northeast. Numerous Pine, Oak, and other species of trees were either snapped or pushed over along the entire tornado track.
A National Weather Service storm survey determined an F1 tornado touched down approximately 2.5 miles west of Hemingway. The tornado overturned two singlewide mobile homes and tore the roof off another, dropping it on a vehicle and causing damage.
The most prolific tornado-producing storm of the night entered western Kentucky near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and moved east, passing between Paducah and Mayfield.
The tornado formed northwest of Cairo near the Mississippi River. Three tractor-trailer rigs were overturned on the Interstate 57 bridge over the Mississippi River. The tornado tracked through Cairo, damaging dozens of homes and several businesses.
Severe weather began on this day back in 2007, and continued until the early hours of the 7th. A surface low-pressure system in Colorado translated southeastward with thunderstorms developing in northwest Oklahoma early in the afternoon. A supercell that developed over central Oklahoma produced two small tornadoes in Seminole County. Minor damage was reported near State Highway 9, where a large tree fell onto a trailer and pushed it off its foundation.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
A very strong upper level low pressure trough had carved out over the western U.S. Iowa was in the strong southwest flow on the front side of this system. A surface warm front lifted north into southwest Iowa during the evening of the 5th.
Thunderstorms began early in the morning on the 6th, continued most of the day and into the early morning hours of the 7th. An upper level low pressure remained anchored over Colorado during this time period.
An upper level disturbance and a nearby stationary front combined to produce numerous severe thunderstorms across Central Alabama, that included damaging winds, large hail, and several tornadoes.
Strong thunderstorms erupted around Midnight on the 6th in northwest Alabama and tracked across portions of north Alabama.
A stationary front was located across southern portions of the Midsouth during the overnight hours of May 5th continuing into May 6, 2009. Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed along the front.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma and tracked 2 miles, 700 yards wide at its widest, injuring 12.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Sedgwick, Harvey counties, Kansas and tracked 16.48 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Grady County, Oklahoma and tracked 10.3 miles, 1,500 yards wide at its widest.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Republic County, Kansas and tracked 1.87 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
A cold front moved south out of the Texas panhandle on May 6th, and was draped across north Texas on the 7th and 8th.
A potent Spring storm system took shape across the Southern and Central Plains. Strong surface cyclogenesis took shape during the day, allowing ample moisture to return northward with strong southerly flow.
48 tornadoes were recorded on May 6, 2015, in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas.
Thunderstorms developed early this Wednesday afternoon and evening, and predominantly produced tornadoes and flash flooding. With no cap in place, scattered thunderstorms began developing as early as the noon hour over north central Kansas.
At least 14 tornadoes touched down during the afternoon and evening of May 6th 2015. One tornado touched down near Archer City, Texas as well. A tornado that moved near Amber and Bridge Creek in Grady County was rated EF3, as was a tornado that struck parts of southeastern Oklahoma City that injured 12. Another tornado moved through the west side of Norman and was rated EF1. The tornado that occurred near Archer City in western north Texas was rated EF2. One flash flood fatality occurred during this severe weather event. A woman who had taken refuge from severe weather in her storm cellar in southeast Oklahoma City was drowned when flash flooding inundated her shelter and she was unable to get out. In addition, at least 150 high water rescues were conducted in the Oklahoma City metro area as a result of the heavy rainfall and flash flooding that occurred.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Thunderstorms developed early this Wednesday afternoon and evening, and predominantly produced tornadoes and flash flooding. Five tornadoes occurred over Jewell County.
A modest dryline developed across South Central and Central Kansas during the afternoon hours of May 6th, 2015. Moderate instability and shear combined to produce supercell thunderstorms across South Central Kansas and Central Kansas.
A storm system moving through the central plains allowed for low pressure to develop over the high Plains, and a warm front to lift north into the northern Plains.
Approximately 14 tornadoes were documented and confirmed via reports and radar data all occurring during the late afternoon and evening of May 6th. The tornadoes impacted Republic, Cloud, Washington and Clay Counties. In fact, 7 tornadoes alone occurred in Republic County.
Several rounds of severe thunderstorms developed along and in advance of a cold front. Multicellular clusters and supercells were the primary storm modes during this event which produced damaging winds, large hail and a brief EF-0 tornado.
A warm front was in place across the state during the morning hours on May 6th, setting the stage for increased moisture and warm air into the region. By the afternoon, a nearby low pressure system began to occlude, furthering the lift and instability across the state.
Several rounds of severe storms developed in advance of a cold front. Multicellular clusters and supercells were the primary storm modes during this event which contributed to damaging winds, large hail, and one tornado.
Strong southerly flow lifted a warm front through central North Carolina Friday afternoon, triggering multiple rounds of severe and tornadic storms producing a radar confirmed tornado near the Orange/Alamance County line and hail up to golf ball size over the southern Piedmont…
On the afternoon of May 6 strong thunderstorms formed in far northwest Missouri. Through the afternoon these storms strengthened as they moved east across northern Missouri, ultimately turning into robust supercells that started diving southeast toward Highway 36.
An EF4 tornado touched down in Osage, Washington counties, Oklahoma and tracked 40.8 miles, 1,700 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 33.
Severe thunderstorms developed over western Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 6th, as a dry line sharpened over the area. These storms developed eastward across central Oklahoma during the afternoon, and then moved into eastern Oklahoma during the evening.
41 tornadoes were recorded on May 6, 2024, in South Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, 1 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 2 people.
In the evening hours of May 6, 2024, a large and destructive EF4 tornado moved through the communities of Barnsdall and Bartlesville in the state of Oklahoma, prompting a tornado emergency to be issued for both Barnsdall and Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak of severe weather across the Great Plains.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A significant severe weather outbreak, including ten (10) tornadoes, impacted northern and central portions of the WFO Norman Forecast Area during the evening of the 6th into the early morning hours of the 7th.
A shortwave trough and an associated cold front pushed through the Missouri Ozarks during the late evening of May 6, 2024 and into the early morning hours of May 7, 2024.
A broken line of thunderstorm tracked eastward across Middle Tennessee on May 6, 2024. With plenty of instability and modest shear, these thunderstorms became strong to severe, especially across eastern Middle Tennessee.
An upper level low pressure system over the Desert Southwest shifted east through the Intermountain West on May 6th, inducing surface low development over West Texas.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Adams, Lawrence counties, Mississippi and tracked 81.88 miles, 2,640 yards wide at its widest, injuring 23.
A slowly advancing cold front was positioned beneath strong west-southwesterly flow downstream of a broad upper-level trough with embedded shortwaves.
20 on May 6, oldest first.
A young man and woman died when their truck was washed off Highway EE at the North Fork of the White River. The flooded section of Highway EE was at the bottom of a hill at the river. The truck ran into the water and apparently stalled and then was washed off.
A prolonged period of light to occasionally moderate rain gradually saturated the ground during the first few days of May.
Jackson County EMA reported numerous trees and power lines down with scattered outages. Some residences suffered roof damage. Highway 90 was closed for several hours due to fallen trees and high water.
A strong upper to mid level trough moved across the region during the period May6-7 producing torrential rainfall across Puerto Rico. This rainfall caused widespread flooding of streams, rivers and roads, and landslides and damaged many local farms.
Record flooding on the South Chickamauga Creek, near record flooding on the Tennessee River. Widespread flooding, road closures, damage, evacuations.
Widespread flooding, road closures, damage, evacuations.
Widespread flooding, road closures, damage, evacuations.
Widespread flooding, road closures, damage, evacuations.
Widespread flooding, road closures, damage, evacuations.
Widespread flooding, road closures, damage, evacuations.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding across the northern two-thirds of Jefferson County. Up to 4 feet of water was reported on Main Street in De Soto. Numerous homes had flooded basements as small creeks and drainage ditches overflowed.
Widespread flooding, road closures, damage, evacuations.
Widespread early morning thunderstorms with attendant very heavy rain caused widespread flash flooding. The flash flooding gave way to more generalized flooding by late morning. Some of the flooding lasted for several days.
Rainfall of 4 to 8 inches fell over much of eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa over the weekend of May 4th, 5th and 6th, 2007.
The flood of 2011 had its birth around the end of March when heavy rainfall of 2 to 5 inches fell across Arkansas, Southeast Missouri, and the Ohio River Valley.
Very heavy, and in some cases, record rainfall fell across southeast Nebraska on the evening of the 6th and into the early morning hours of the 7th. This led to flooding on several rivers and creeks across southeast Nebraska on the days to follow.
Warm temperatures in early May prompted accelerated snow melt in the mountains of British Columbia. Run off from this snow melt caused multiple areal flooding issues in Okanogan County during the second and third week of May.
A slow moving low pressure system, along with plenty of moisture, allowed for showers and thunderstorms to gradually move through the Ohio Valley during the day on May 6th.
Accelerated snowmelt from a near-record snowpack due to above normal temperatures produced high and fast flow on drainages in Mesa County that stemmed from the Dolores River.
Saturated soils from the previous rainfall events enhanced the risk of flash and river flooding, as another mid to upper-level trough lingered across the region.
12 on May 6, oldest first.
Dime-size hail was first reported by the New Mexico State Police. Shortly afterward, a SKYWARN spotter reported golf ball-size hail that pounded much of Artesia.
The May 6th event caused widespread damage. According to the SC Insurance industry, 6.5 million in damage occurred across the state, most of it in the midlands.
This storm eventually developed into one of the most devastating hail-and-wind storms in the history of Bexar County.
Severe thunderstorms tracked across much of the northern half of Kansas during the afternoon and evening hours on Thursday, May 6 before moving out of the area during the early morning hours Friday, May 7.
One isolated severe thunderstorm tracked NE from Lost Trail to Georgetown Lake to Garrison to Elliston and eventually Great Falls. Strong shear and modest instability allowed for the storm to maintain its structure and become a long-tracked super cell.
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across Middle Tennessee during the afternoon and evening hours on May 6. Numerous reports of wind damage were received, and one person was killed and another injured in Robertson County.
A high based squall line, exhibiting little to no lightning, roared southeast through north Alabama during the late afternoon and early evening. The initial gust front was likely responsible for the highest wind gusts and observed damage.
Long-track, elevated supercell brings swath of large hail to portions of south central Nebraska during the evening of May 6th with additional elevated storms and large hail over far northern portions of the area late overnight.
Potent upper level low brings widespread severe weather to much of the Central Plains, including portions of north central Kansas, during the afternoon and early evening hours of May 6th.
A line of heavy thunderstorms moved east through northwest Alabama shortly after daybreak. The storms produced gusty winds knocked down a few trees. The rainfall contributed to a pickup truck hydroplaning off of westbound U.S.
1 on May 6, oldest first.
A closed upper level low lifted northeast across eastern Montana on May 6th through the 9th. This low merged with a shortwave streaming from the Pacific Northwest.
3 on May 6, oldest first.
The first run of hot weather, with high temperatures that reached between 90 ands 95 degrees for up to four days across southeast Pennsylvania caused seven heat related deaths.
Strong high pressure with abundant sunshine and dry air allowed for temperatures to reach excessive heat warning criteria for periods of time May 6-9.
Hot temperatures were experienced on May 6 with high temperatures in the lower to middle 90s in southern Cochise County. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one female found north of the International Border west of Douglas.
1 on May 6, oldest first.
Groton recorded 8.74 inches, South Dakota’s all-time greatest 24-hour precipitation, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
35 on May 6, oldest first.
The MARQUETTE11 Fire started on May 6, 1986, in Michigan, and burned 3,980 acres.
The MARQUETTE13 Fire started on May 6, 1986, in Michigan, and burned 2,489 acres.
The 1987 Black Dragon fire, also known as the 1987 Daxing'anling wildfire, was the deadliest forest fire in the People's Republic of China. The fire broke out in Daxing'anling Prefecture, Heilongjiang, on May 6, 1987.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Saw Fire started on May 6, 1988, in New Mexico, and burned 3,110 acres.
The Fire 232035 was discovered on May 6, 1992, in Alaska, and burned 1,410 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Unnamed Fire started on May 6, 1995, in Texas, and burned 2,969 acres.
The Sundale Fire was discovered on May 6, 2000, in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and burned 5,120 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Milne/Squirrel Fire was discovered on May 6, 2002, in El Paso County, Colorado, and burned 6,355 acres.
The Juneberry Fire was discovered on May 6, 2005, in Roseau County, Minnesota, and burned 2,700 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Waumbach Fire was discovered on May 6, 2005, in Minnesota, and burned 1,800 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 6, 2006, in Osceola County, Florida, and burned 1,585 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Wood River WFU Fire was discovered on May 6, 2007, in Florida, and burned 1,167 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Brevard Complex (Osage) Fire was discovered on May 6, 2008, in Brevard County, Florida, and burned 3,560 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Colyear Fire was discovered on May 6, 2008, in Tehama County, California, and burned 1,331 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Twenty-Two Wfu Fire was discovered on May 6, 2008, in Coconino County, Arizona, and burned 1,255 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Honeybee Fire was discovered on May 6, 2008, in Tulare County, California, and burned 1,225 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Bombing Range 15 Fire was discovered on May 6, 2008, in Marion County, Florida, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Canelo Fire was discovered on May 6, 2009, in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, and burned 4,208 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Dickens County Complex was discovered on May 6, 2011, in Dickens County, Texas, and burned 89,200 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Crooked Creek Fire was discovered on May 6, 2011, in Chaves County, New Mexico, and burned 18,199 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on May 6, 2011, in Loving County, Texas, and burned 10,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Alley South (06) Fire was discovered on May 6, 2012, in Broward County, Florida, and burned 1,350 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Woodward Fire was reported on May 6, 2014, in Woodward County, Oklahoma, and burned 13,072 acres.
The McKenna Fire was reported on May 6, 2016, in Catron County, New Mexico, and burned 10,210 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Birdon Fire was reported on May 6, 2016, in Collier County, Florida, and burned 9,226 acres.
The Cumero Fire was reported on May 6, 2016, in Pima County, Arizona, and burned 5,555 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Anclote Branch Fire was reported on May 6, 2017, in Pasco County, Florida, and burned 2,275 acres.
The Mulberry Fire was reported on May 6, 2017, in Pima County, Arizona, and burned 1,755 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Strausburg Road Fire was reported on May 6, 2018, in Scotland County, North Carolina, and burned 1,183 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
A small wildfire occurred May 6th east of Cottonville (Adams County) in the Town of Richfield. The burned remains of a person was found with the cause of death determined to be cardiac related because of extreme stress and exertion related to the fire.
The Otter Slide Fire was reported on May 6, 2021, in Brevard County, Florida, and burned 1,451 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Flying Bucket Fire was reported on May 6, 2024, in Maricopa County, Arizona, and burned 2,795 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The OP-1 Fire was reported on May 6, 2025, in Polk County, Florida, and burned 5,755 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The pouch point Fire was reported on May 6, 2025, in Mountrail County, North Dakota, and burned 2,200 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Springs Fire was reported on May 6, 2025, in Tulare County, California, and burned 1,817 acres.
26 on May 6, oldest first.
An earthquake struck Croatia, Balkans NW.
An earthquake struck Zacatecas, Mexico.
An earthquake struck Banda Sea, Indonesia. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Tangiers, Morocco. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Iceland.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Taiwan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Agno, Philippines. It caused a tsunami.
The 1930 Salmas earthquake occurred on 7 May at 01:34:26 IRST in West Azerbaijan province, Iran. 1 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Salmas, Iran. It killed 2,539 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
An earthquake struck Leon (Telica Volcano Destroyed), Nicaragua. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Luzon Island, Mindor Island, Philippines. It caused a tsunami.
The 1947 Wisconsin earthquake took place on May 6, immediately south of Milwaukee at 15:27 (CST). It was the largest tremor to be historically documented in Wisconsin, but was not recorded by seismographs.
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A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Jucuapa, El Salvador. It killed 1,100 people and did $23 million in damage.
2 Ms at 23:03 UTC. This was the first in a sequence that affected the area around Jucuapa over a period of a few days.
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A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Chillan, Concepcion, Chile. It killed 9 people, injured 26 and did $500 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
The 1953 Concepción earthquake occurred on May 6 at 17:16 UTC. The epicenter was located offshore Biobío Region, Chile.
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A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck NW, Slovenia, NE, Balkans NW, Italy. It killed 978 people, injured 1,700 and did $3.6 billion in damage.
5 and a maximum EMS intensity of X. The shock occurred in the Friuli region in northeast Italy near the town of Gemona del Friuli.
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A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Fars Province, Southern, Iran. It killed 26 people, injured 100 and destroyed 800 houses.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Tacna, Peru. It injured 11.
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck La Union, San Miguel, El Salvador. It injured 1 and destroyed 11 houses.
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck S. of, Honshu, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Wampar, Morobe, Papua New Guinea. It destroyed 130 houses.
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Khuzdar, Pakistan. It injured 1 and destroyed 100 houses.
1 on May 6, oldest first.
Sumisujima, Japan erupted. The eruption caused a tsunami and was accompanied by an earthquake.
9 on May 6, oldest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Banda Sea, Indonesia.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Tangiers, Morocco, with a maximum water height of 9 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Taiwan, with a maximum water height of 0.5 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake and landslide struck Philippines.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Tayabas Bay, Sulu Sea, Philippines.
A tsunami with a source recorded as meteorological struck Lake Huron, MI, United States, with a maximum water height of 1.52 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Central Chile. It killed 9 people, injured 26 and did $500 million in damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck S. of Honshu Island, Japan, with a maximum water height of 0.15 meters.
3 on May 6, oldest first.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began May 6, 1939, reached Kp 7- and lasted 24 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 51; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began May 6, 1946, reached Kp 7- and lasted 12 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 41; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began May 6, 1960, reached Kp 8+ and lasted 63 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 128; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 43 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
3 on May 6, oldest first.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.7 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 4, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 6, 2015 to May 10, 2015.
A severe storm disaster that cost $2.2 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 1, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 6, 2023 to May 8, 2023.
A severe storm disaster that cost $6.6 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 3, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 6, 2024 to May 9, 2024.
3 on May 6, oldest first.
Several thunderstorms developed across the St. Cloud area the afternoon of May 6th. An individual was working in his backyard at the time one of the thunderstorms moved through and was struck by lightning.
Rip currents producing a strong undertow claimed the life of a swimmer at South Padre Island.
A man died while swimming at Ocean City due to a rip current.
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.