One tornado, being called the "Quad-State Tornado" ripped across four states in four hours (Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky), slamming communities such as Monette, Arkansas, and Mayfield, Kentucky, which were two of the hardest hit towns. May 26 Editors note: A previous version of this story said deadly tornadoes crossed the Ohio border on Memorial Day in 2019. This version of the story has been updated to reflect that one tornado was deadly in Ohio on Memorial Day 2019. A weak landspout tornado remained over open country near Crownpoint, New Mexico, causing no damage before the outbreak sequence came to an end. The first storm system of meteorological spring produced tornadoes, hail, and hurricane-force winds on Thursday across at least three southern states, and [131], States of emergency were declared in every county in Oklahoma. Kentucky Gov. The Kansas City International Airport, over 40 miles away from the area affected by the tornado, reported debris on the runway. [41] By the late afternoon hours, more transient supercell structures had become apparent,[42] leading to a few tornadoes across the Texas Panhandle. Kentucky Gov. A large EF2 tornado damaged homes, destroyed outbuildings, and damaged the roof of an apartment building in Mangum, Oklahoma. [99] Most of this region had received between 510 inches (1325cm) of rain during April. A few tree limbs were snapped at EF0 intensity at South Alfadale Road before the tornado lifted and dissipated. The tornado finally lifted and dissipated along Burkhardt Road, just west of the border between Montgomery and Greene counties after traveling 20 miles (32km). [113] The flood flight was in its 216th day, and later surpassed the 1973 record of 225 days. I'm going to be asking the EPA and others to take a look at that," Biden said. That was 3,125 days ago and the longest streak on record. However, unexpectedly high CAPE, shear, and helicity was in place in the region, and the activity only intensified as numerous tornadic supercells overspread the state, producing numerous intense tornadoes. EF2 damage continued as the tornado crossed Loesch Road, destroying outbuildings and snapping numerous large trees. Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+. Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, Rockslide In Californias Santa Monica Mountains, Cold Or Flu? Continuing to the east, the tornado exited densely populated areas of Beavercreek and began moving through more rural areas. The National Weather Service confirmed tornadoes impacted Shreveport and Alexandria. This will help fuel the development of new thunderstorms, which can quickly turn severe through the evening commute. The second floor of the motel was almost completely destroyed, with numerous walls collapsed. Cars along US 54 were damaged as the tornado exited town and moved to the northeast. In September2019, the Montgomery County coroner ruled that an elderly Trotwood woman's death was caused in part by trauma from the tornado. It was on the ground for 55 minutes, and traveled a distance of 29.07 miles. [37][24], On May 23, the Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk of severe weather for the Texas Panhandle, and an enhanced risk for western Oklahoma and southern Kansas. In addition, the most intense winds appeared to have occurred in a wooded area along the Stillwater River, between the two apartment complexes. 22, 2019 22:20 PM CDT, EF1 tornado on May. Several businesses were damaged in southwest Ohio. This included an EF1 tornado that caused moderate damage in Carrollton, Ohio. Both of the fatalities occurred at the mobile home park. Keli Pirtle, keli.pirtle@noaa.gov, (405) 203-4839, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The December 2021 tornado outbreak, explained, NWS Storm Damage Summary of Dec. 10 Tornadoes, Climate.gov: Historical probability of severe weather events, Explaining Extreme Events from a Climate Perspective in 2020, Spring Outlook: Drought to expand amid warmer conditions. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. One-third of all flash-flooding reports during April and May came from Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. It was two years ago when a series of powerful tornadoes struck Ohio on Memorial Day in 2019. The torrential rain resulted in frequent flash-flooding. [33], The outbreak on this day had been poorly forecasted. It was also the first violent tornado to occur in the month of May in three years.[82][81]. Heavy damage downtown after a tornado swept through the area on Dec. 11, 2021 in Mayfield, Ky. Further east, a separate enhanced risk was in place for much of Pennsylvania and part of Maryland, including a 5% risk of tornadoes. [17] While the prominent threat was expected to be damaging winds along an eastward-moving mesoscale convective system, the SPC noted the potential for embedded and brief tornadoes. A regional outbreak of severe thunderstorms, with damaging gusts of up to 75 miles per hour, hail as large as billiard balls or larger, Note the metal dumpster deposited on the second floor. The NWS issued more than 149 tornado warnings. Many restaurants and businesses including National Tire and Battery, Mike's Carwash, Primanti Brothers, Abuelos's, IHOP, Chick-fil-A, Aldi, two strip malls, and several office buildings sustained significant damage. Downed power lines and trees, including at least one on a house, were reported further to the east near Springfield, according to WHIO-TV. Local media reported that a distribution center for discount chain Meijer was damaged in Tipp City, and multiple other businesses were hit. She had been in poor health, and was trapped in her destroyed home following the tornado. Some of the most severe damage occurred along Rushton Drive, where multiple homes were left with only a few interior walls standing. Download it here. [31] A total of 31 tornadoes were confirmed on May 21. That's the altitude commercial airplanes fly. A total of 27 tornadoes were confirmed. Reaching its peak intensity, the tornado then struck the nearby Budget Value Inn motel at low-end EF3 strength. Besides the Celina EF3 tornado, two additional EF3 tornadoes touched down in Ohio from this system, and three EF2 tornadoes. In the Dayton, Ohio region, 80,000 people were without power on May 28 and 29. Around 10 p.m., an EF3-rated tornado moved through Celina. Two people were killed as a block-foundation farmhouse was completely leveled with debris strewn long distances through nearby fields. [16], Into the morning hours of May 18, the large scale upper-level trough continued to shift eastward. Several high-use areas not directly struck by tornadoes were covered by extensive blown or falling debris. If confirmed as one single and continuous tornado, it will set the record for the longest long-track tornado in U.S. history. [85] Just east-southeast of this point, the tornado briefly weakened slightly as it struck a neighborhood along the west side of Grange Hall Road, where dozens of homes were heavily damaged or destroyed at high-end EF2 intensity. Research shows that other types of extreme weather, including heavy precipitation events, storm surge, and wildfires are also being influenced by climate change. [3] Straight-line winds of 94mph (151km/h) were reported near Marshall, Oklahoma on May 20. [121], Ottawa, Ontario nearly doubled its average rainfall to set a new May record of 175.8 millimetres (6.92in) of rain. 28, 2019 17:32 PM CDT, "Hidden by rain, tornado tore damage path of 40 or 50 miles in Kansas.#1", "Tornado causes extensive damage in Linwood. A few of these structures sustained roof and exterior wall loss, and flying debris was impaled through the walls of other buildings. Radar suggested that the Mayfield tornado threw debris over 30,000 feet into the air. The large and powerful multiple-vortex tornado touched down along Redbud Road, immediately reaching EF2 strength. Three of these tornadoes reached EF3 intensity, including a large multiple-vortex tornado that struck Ballinger, where homes were left with only interior rooms standing, and a water tower was punctured by flying debris. And I mean everything settled down, and we looked out here. Which City Is the Worst for Fall Allergies This Year? Low-end EF4 damage to apartment buildings in Dayton. Since the ground may be saturated from the recent rain and thunderstorms, some trees may topple over more easily than if the ground was fairly dry. About one-third of all flash flood, flood and debris flow reports in that time were from KS, OK, and MO.pic.twitter.com/I25IzddA9N", "Here is a closer look at our Day 1 Excessive Rainfall Outlook. A total of 42 tornadoes were confirmed. Severe thunderstorms in the South and Ohio Valley could produce tornadoes as well as damaging straight-line winds and hail. The tornado then weakened to high-end EF1 intensity as it crossed East 1100th Road, tearing a large section of roof from a house, and causing lesser roof damage to another nearby home. On May 21, Baton Rouge, Louisiana broke the previous record for its longest-ever flood event, at 136 days. Two EF4 tornadoes occurred, one in Dayton, Ohio, and the other in Linwood, Kansas. The last EF5 tornado to strike the U.S. was Moore, Oklahoma, in May of 2013. [137] The mayor declared a state of emergency in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, after it received more than four inches of rain in 24 hours. Cars in the parking lot were damaged by flying debris as well. As the day progressed, the wind fields strengthened helping to create the dynamics, or "spin," in the atmosphere needed to produce tornadoes. [68] On May 27, Governor Mike Parson activated the Missouri National Guard to assist with clean up efforts. [7], The May 2019 outbreak sequence is remarkable for its unusually low casualty rate relative to the number and intensity of tornadoes. "Farther south, a narrow stripe of thunderstorms moving into Georgia and the Carolinas will likely be remembered for producing locally damaging wind gusts.". Numerous RVs, trucks, and trailers were tossed and damaged as well. The tornado then caused additional minor roof, tree, and barn damage within the vicinity of Clifton Road and US 68 before dissipating to the north of Xenia, Ohio. An overturned tree sits in front of a tornado-damaged home in Mayfield. I was trying to get home because I knew that bad weather was coming our way in North Texas, but my radar kept telling me it was a severe thunderstorm warning. [123], Chicago, Illinois set a new May rainfall record of 8.25 inches (21.0cm), more than double its average precipitation, as part of its second-wettest spring on record. The roof was off the house, the garage was gone, the storage shed back there, the kids had a trampoline and everything had blown away, said Shirley Cartom, a storm victim. Farther to the northeast, EF3 damage continued at the intersection of North 900th Road and East 1000 Road, where additional trees were debarked and a house was leveled at high-end EF3 strength. I am so grateful to GOD.. Debris patterns in this area indicated that the tornado had a multiple-vortex structure at this point. A seamless forecasting system with nearly 30 minutes of lead time is credited for preventing deaths in these two cases. This storm system prolonged an ongoing heavy precipitation event across much of the southern Plains, Midwest, and eastern Canada, which included an unusually late, record-setting heavy snow event in the Midwest. Dayton, Trotwood, Montgomery County and parts of Greene County, Ohio were placed under a boil water advisory on May 28. [24], On the morning of May 20, 2019, the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma issued a high risk for severe weather across western and central Oklahoma and northwest Texas. The tornado proceeded to follow the CE Red Whaley Expressway into town, striking a car dealership, where approximately 500 cars were damaged or destroyed, with losses estimated at $1530million. One person was killed when an automobile was launched through a home. In Dayton, the Ohio Department of Transportation used snowplows to clear debris from Interstate 75. Homes and trees in town were damaged, and a few homes lost large portions of their roofs. Nine Ways To Tell The Difference. Just beyond this point, the tornado passed over Lake Carmel, causing roof damage to numerous lakeside homes, one of which had it roof removed entirely. Continuing through residential neighborhoods to the northeast, the tornado weakened briefly, with numerous homes sustaining EF1 roof damage along this segment of the path, though one home sustained EF2 damage along Holiday Drive. This included a 10% risk of tornadoes. A total of 21 tornadoes touched down in Ohio between May 27 to May 28, 2019. The El Reno, Oklahoma school districtwhich has storm shelters at seven of its schools (six underground and one above-ground shelter)was one of the few in sections of central and western Oklahoma under highest threat of significant severe weather that decided to hold regular classes that day; El Reno Superintendent Craig McVay defended the decision on safety grounds, acknowledging that between 75% and 90% of students in the district do not have shelters in their home. Some minor injuries were reported in the area. Here is a summary within the NWS Wilmington OH area. A total of 22 tornadoes were confirmed. 22, 2019 21:56 PM CDT, "3 Deaths In Missouri As Tornado Strikes State Capital", NWS Damage Survey for 05/22/2019 Tornado Event #6, "Jefferson City, Missouri takes direct hit from tornado", "Gov. [24][79], The tornado weakened slightly back to high-end EF3strength as it passed north of downtown Dayton and moved through the Northridge area of Harrison Township. The strongest tornado was an EF3 that occurred near the town of Laverne, Oklahoma. At that point, I didnt care, I went into survival mode. An EF5 tornado that struck the Columbus, Ohio area, doing extreme damage in the suburb of New Albany. The tornado outbreak sequence of May 2019 was a prolonged series of destructive tornadoes and tornado outbreaks affecting the United States over the course of nearly two weeks, producing a total of 400 tornadoes, including 53 significant events (EF2+). An EF1 tornado struck the town of Marysville, Kansas, where trees and power lines were downed, a semi-truck was overturned, a few structures were damaged, and several gas tanks were thrown across a roadway. [101][103] The addition of the wide-reaching heavy rainfall from the May series of storms to the already-saturated ground intensified river flooding and flash flooding effects. The most significant event of the night occurred when Dayton, Ohio and its surrounding suburbs were struck by three powerful tornadoes in quick succession, with the tornadoes rated EF4, EF3, and high-end EF2 in intensity. Well-built apartment buildings had their roofs completely removed and no exterior walls were left. As a large scale upper-level trough ejected into the region, dew points in the low to mid-60s F surged north in front of a dryline. [48] Into the afternoon hours, a concentrated risk for severe weather was once again expected to exist across the Central and South Plains. historically increases tornado frequency across the Mississippi Valley. D - Go Down to the lowest level. Many well-built homes in this area had their roofs ripped off and sustained collapse of numerous exterior walls. Many trees and power lines were downed, and a small automotive business was leveled as well. [8], The threat for organized severe weather on May 17 was first outlined five days prior, when the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) outlined the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, as well as western Kansas, in a 15% probability contour. [130], In the Black Hills of South Dakota, up to 25 inches (64cm) of snow fell. An emergency dispatcher in Miami County, where the tornado started, said hundreds of calls came into 911 but details on the full scope of the situation weren't immediately available. Dozens of tornadoes occurred throughout the day, including an EF1 tornado that touched down in Tulsa, Oklahoma, damaging homes and trees, and injuring one person. Eighteen of these were EF3 tornadoes, spanning over multiple states, including Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio, with additional tornadoes confirmed across a region extending from California to New Jersey. Exceptionally Numerous homes in Trotwood were damaged or destroyed, including several well-built homes that sustained total loss of their roofs and exterior walls. The most destructive tornado of the night was a high-end EF3tornado that tore directly through Jefferson City, Missouri, where numerous homes, apartments, and businesses were heavily damaged or destroyed. WebThe tornado began in Obion County, in northwest Tennessee, and tracked across 11 counties in western Kentucky: Fulton, Hickman, Graves, Marshall, Lyon, Caldwell, [53] Numerous tornadoes were reported throughout the area, most of which were weak. The cities of San Angelo and Abilene both sustained direct hits from EF2 tornadoes, resulting in severe damage to many homes and businesses. Although they affected thousands of people at different times throughout the day, all power was restored by the end of the day. The powerful storm responsible for this early-season severe weather outbreak arrived on the shores of the United States earlier this week and brought more drought-relieving rain and heavy snow to lower elevations in California. Damaged ranged from sections of roofing torn off to severe structural damage. Threats: Tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds and heavy rainfall are the top concerns. This large, intense tornado completely swept away an unanchored farmhouse, and mangled a pickup truck beyond recognition. [12], By late afternoon, several discrete supercell thunderstorms formed across northwestern Kansas and progressed into western and central Nebraska. A dangerous severe weather outbreak is underway in the South as widespread damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and some tornadoes push eastward.