This page documents all tornadoes confirmed by various weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service in the United States in May 2024. Tornado counts are considered preliminary until final publication in the database of the National Centers for Environmental Information. Based on the 1991–2020 average, about 268 tornadoes occur in May. Activity spreads northward and westward in May, with the maxima moving into the Midwest and the Great Plains as the springtime jet stream patterns tend to occur farther north (while the South begins to see decreasing activity), while the potential for tornadic activity also increases in the Northeastern United States.
May was a very active, violent, and deadly month for tornadoes. A very sharp temperature and moisture contrast due to a weakening El Niño caused temperatures across the Plains and Midwestern United States to be cooler than normal while record-breaking heat waves continued across Texas and Mexico. This temperature contrast led to an abnormally strong jet stream along with a marked increase in wind shear while the moisture contrast caused by a warmer than normal Gulf of Mexico led to abundant atmospheric instability. This pattern persisted throughout the entire month and, as a result, the trend of widespread, relentless tornadic weather that started at the end of April continued into May and only two of the 31 days in the month had no confirmed tornadoes. Additionally, this led to the Plains and Midwestern United States seeing abundance of tornadoes, which has become increasingly rare due to climate change shifting tornado alley eastward. This included EF4 tornadoes in Oklahoma and Iowa, as well as dozens of strong to intense tornadoes. Having been struck by another EF4 tornado in the previous month, it was the first time since 2013 that multiple violent tornadoes occurred in Oklahoma in the same year. By May 21, May had exceeded its average tornado count, making it the first time since 2019 that May was above average. It finished with 547 tornadoes and 27 tornadic fatalities were confirmed. It was the second most active May on record behind only 2003 (and the third most active month overall, behind that month and April 2011). In addition to the tornadoes, three derechos occurred during the month as well.
May
May 1 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, May 1, 2024EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EFUS of Fort StocktonPecosTX18:52–18:57unknownunknownA nearly stationary landspout remained over an open field. EFUE of Fort Stockton (1st tornado)PecosTX19:35–19:38unknownunknownThe first of two simultaneous landspouts observed to be stationary over open land. No damage occurred. EFUE of Fort Stockton (2nd tornado)PecosTX19:35–19:38unknownunknownThe second of two simultaneous landspouts observed to be stationary over open land. No damage occurred. EFUS of Fort StocktonPecosTX20:28–20:49High-resolution satellite imagery showed a tornado scar through shrubland. EF0W of ClarendonDonleyTX20:56–20:58A tornado damaged some vegetation and fencing. EF1WSW of ClarendonDonleyTX21:04–21:19A water pumping windmill was destroyed and vegetation was damaged. This tornado moved directly over the path of the previous tornado. EF0W of GeorgeKittitasWA22:00This landspout tornado was filmed in the Wenatchee Mountains from east of the Columbia River. This is the first tornado recorded in Kittitas County since reliable records began in 1950. EFUSSE of SpearmanHutchinsonTX22:14–22:16A brief tornado was observed by law enforcement and storm chasers. EFUNNW of TurkeyHallTX22:49Several storm chasers photographed a brief tornado. EFUNNE of HealyGoveKS23:26–23:27This tornado was reported by multiple storm chasers and occurred over rural land. EF0WSW of SpearmanHansfordTX23:43–23:44A high-end EF0 tornado unroofed a building and damaged some trees. EF0Southeastern SpearmanHansfordTX23:46–23:48The tornado damaged a small shed and utility trailer at the Spearman High School. EF1Northern SpearmanHansfordTX23:53–23:55Several buildings sustained roof damage and some carports were damaged on the northeastern side of Spearman. Some power poles were snapped. EFUN of LorenzoCrosbyTX00:10A brief rope tornado was photographed over open land. EFUE of PetersburgFloydTX00:20unknownunknownThis brief landspout was reported by local broadcast media. EFUENE of TurkeyHallTX00:52–00:57This tornado was captured through photographs by numerous storm chasers. It remained over open land and caused no known damage. EFUNW of UticaGove, LaneKS01:55–02:01A landspout tornado occurred on the Gove and Lane county line.
May 2 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, May 2, 2024EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EFUNW of FaxonComancheOK05:04A tornado debris signature was observed on radar, but no damage could be found. EF1W of RobelineSabine, NatchitochesLA15:09–15:19Several large trees were uprooted and several large tree trunks were snapped. EFUSSW of WelshJefferson DavisLA16:32This tornado was reported in an open field by a storm spotter. EF1Southeastern Carl JunctionJasperMO18:40–18:42Numerous trees were damaged or uprooted, one of which significantly damaged a home after it fell on it. Four other homes had minor roof and siding damage. EF0Eastern AreciboAreciboPR20:58–21:07A waterspout moved onshore the Cambalache barrio of Arecibo, downing mangrove branches and blowing away street signs and canopies. EF2ENE of Ballinger to SSW of BenoitRunnelsTX22:53–23:15A strong tornado moved a one-story house off its foundation and severely damaged a metal barn. Wooden utility poles were also damaged. EFUNW of AnsonJonesTX23:29–23:37A storm chaser observed a tornado over open country. EF2NW of DooleConcho, McCullochTX23:39–00:04A strong tornado damaged electrical transmission lines on metal truss towers, including one of the towers collapsed. EF3W of HawleyJonesTX00:06–00:33A high-end EF3 tornado first damaged metal outbuildings and snapped trees and power poles. A home under construction that was 80–90% complete was destroyed with its concrete slab swept clean. Several trucks and a trailer near the home were thrown by the tornado. The tornado destroyed another home, fully clearing it off its foundation and injuring four people. Homes and outbuildings subsequently sustained roof and wall damage in a small neighborhood before the tornado dissipated shortly thereafter. This tornado was extremely slow-moving, with an average forward speed of .
May 3 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, May 3, 2024EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF2SSW of SilverCokeTX20:40–20:55The roof of a ranch house was ripped off, and a metal barn was completely destroyed, with building material tossed well downstream. EFUN of Hale CenterHaleTX21:35An off-duty NWS employee and a trained spotter reported a brief tornado over an open field. EF3SSE of Robert LeeCokeTX21:35–21:55This erratic, low-end EF3 tornado completely destroyed a manufactured home and heavily damaged the walls and roof of a metal barn next to the home. The tornado also damaged the roof of another home and snapped large tree limbs. The tornado then lifted the roof off a concrete building before moving northwest and occluding. EF0NW of DeerfieldKearnyKS01:10A brief tornado was recorded by a storm spotter. EF1WNW of AtlantaPhelpsNE01:53–01:55A brief tornado heavily damaged the roof of a home. EF1Eastern HoldregePhelpsNE02:08–02:21A high-end, intermittent EF1 tornado touched down near the Phelps County fairgrounds area and began moving due north through eastern Holdrege. On the east side of town, wooden poles were snapped, a pivot was overturned and multiple manufactured homes had damage. After exiting town, the tornado reached peak intensity as it damaged newer, well-built outbuildings. Roof damage to homes was also noted nearby the outbuildings. The tornado then turned northeast damaging numerous trees, power poles and center-line irrigation pivots before dissipating. EF0NW of RaganHarlan, PhelpsNE02:09–02:20A weak, intermittent tornado damaged trees, irrigation pivots, and a few power poles. EF1N of HoldregePhelpsNE02:11–02:21A high-end EF1 tornado touched down just north of town at a golf course. Moving northeast, the tornado overturned pivots and snapped several power poles. Trees were damaged as well. EF0N of Guide Rock to S of LawrenceWebster, NuckollsNE03:51–03:58A tornado sporadically damaged trees, farmsteads, and outbuildings.
May 4 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 4, 2024EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF2S of Fort StocktonPecosTX20:56–21:15This strong tornado tracked southeastward over rural Pecos County south of Fort Stockton, beginning near US 385. Vegetation was damaged and power poles were cleanly snapped near their bases. EFUSSE of Fort Stockton (1st tornado)PecosTX21:18–21:36A tornado was observed but occurred over a rural and inaccessible area west of US 285. EFUSSE of Fort Stockton (2nd tornado)PecosTX21:40–21:55 A tornado was observed but occurred over a rural and inaccessible area west of US 285. EFUSSE of Fort Stockton (3rd tornado)PecosTX22:04–22:08 A tornado was observed but occurred over a rural and inaccessible area west of US 285. EFUSSE of Fort Stockton (4th tornado)PecosTX22:29–22:38 A tornado was observed but occurred over a rural and inaccessible area west of US 285. EFUENE of ChattanoogaMercerOH23:38–23:40A weak landspout tornado caused no damage. EF2NE of Pandale to S of OzonaCrockettTX02:10–02:45A long-lived tornado damaged several structures on a ranch. The roof structure of a barn was uplifted and destroyed. A heavy metal bulk feeder was lifted at least into the air and then deposited about from its original location. A very old tree trunk was snapped.
May 5 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, May 5, 2024EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF0ESE of LockesburgSevierAR23:45–23:47A landspout tornado snapped small branches and damaged the roof of a home and a carport.
May 6 event
May 7 event
May 8 event
May 9 event
May 10 event
May 11 event