A major tornado outbreak occurred across the Central and Southern United States between May 6 and 10, 2024, as a result of a slow-moving trough that was moving across the country. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a tornado-driven high risk convective outlook for portions of central Oklahoma and extreme southern Kansas early on May 6. Millions of people were put under a particularly dangerous situation (PDS) tornado watch later that evening, as many tornadoes were reported across the region, particularly in Oklahoma, where a violent EF4 tornado struck the towns of Barnsdall and Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Severe and tornadic weather spread eastward over the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys over the next two days, with a nocturnal outbreak occurring in the latter on May 8, as tornadic supercell thunderstorms produced many tornadoes across the states of Tennessee, northern Alabama and western Georgia. The system responsible for the outbreak finally moved offshore by May 10 after producing several more tornadoes across the Southeast, including two EF2 tornadoes and hurricane-strength straight-line winds that moved through Tallahassee. This large outbreak came less than two weeks after a similarly large and deadly outbreak occurred across most of the same regions.
Five fatalities directly linked to the tornadoes were confirmed from the outbreak: two in Oklahoma on May 6, one in Tennessee on May 8, and two in Florida on May 10. Three non-tornadic deaths related to straight-line winds also occurred. In addition, during the outbreak, tornado emergencies were issued for three consecutive days between May 6–8 for damaging tornadoes; the last time that this phenomenon had occurred was exactly 21 years prior, when tornado emergencies were issued for four consecutive days between May 6–9, 2003, during a similarly large outbreak.
Overall, 180 tornadoes were confirmed from the outbreak, most of which were clustered around Oklahoma, Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama, earning 51 points on the outbreak intensity score.https://x.com/sigtor2019/status/1790050762174636255?s=46&t=qS0n16XhYMOv-kF6m_Tg1g
Meteorological synopsis May 6
Starting April 30, the Storm Prediction Center noted that certain models, including the ECMWF, forecasted a multi-day period of high instability and supportive wind shear across the Southern and Central Plains, and by May 1, a 15% risk was added across Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and northern Texas. On May 3, as confidence in a significant tornado outbreak increased, a 30% risk zone was introduced in far northern Oklahoma, central Kansas, and far southern Nebraska, and on May 5, a moderate risk was issued as forecasters noted the possibility of strong and long-tracked tornadoes and large hail.
At 7:12 a.m. Central Daylight Time on May 6, a mesoscale discussion was issued concerning an upgrade to a tornado-driven high risk across central and north central Oklahoma and south central Kansas, which was issued at the 1300Z outlook. A separate system also spawned severe thunderstorms in Tennessee, including one that produced an EF1 tornado that moved through Smithville.
At 1630Z, the Storm Prediction Center, noting severe activity in Tennessee as well as confidence in cells further south within Oklahoma, issued a new convective outlook, which expanded the high-risk area further south, the moderate risk further east, and added a marginal risk over the Tennessee Valley. This notably mentioned the presence of mixed-layer CAPE values between 2,500 and 4,500 j/kg across central and northern Oklahoma into southern Kansas, as severe activity was set to peak through the night, and at 2 pm, a particularly dangerous situation tornado watch was issued, noting the probability of 2 or more tornadoes at >95%, and at least 1 significant tornado at 90%. At 300Z, an observed sounding from the National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma indicated an incredibly favorable environment for supercellular tornadoes, with mixed-layer CAPE values over 3,500 j/kg as well as strong wind shear and lapse rates, with a formulated Significant Tornado Parameter (STP) of 14.9.
One hour earlier, a powerful supercell spawned a violent tornado southeast of Hominy, Oklahoma. The tornado continued northeast, producing significant tree damage. As the tornado closed in on the city of Barnsdall, a tornado emergency was issued. The tornado inflicted EF4 damage to a well-constructed home south of Barnsdall and to a two-story home in the southeast side of the town; widespread EF3 damage occurred to other homes and a well-built, metal-framed building. Intense tree damage occurred in this area as well. At least one person was killed in the city. The tornado continued northeast and moved into Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where a Hampton Inn suffered severe damage. The tornado dissipated northeast of the town. However, despite several supercells forming throughout the days, all the other tornadoes that occurred across the Plains were weak. A line of storms developed in southwestern Oklahoma that night, but most of them dissipated quickly without becoming severe and, as a result, areas in southern part of the high risk and further south did not see any storms. The only storm of the cluster to become severe tracked through the Oklahoma City metropolitan area producing intense straight-line winds and two weak EF1 tornadoes.
May 7–8
On May 7, a tornado-driven enhanced risk was issued across the Ohio Valley by the Storm Prediction Center. That afternoon, a strong, high-end EF2 tornado caused severe damage in Portage, Michigan. Later, another tornado prompted the issuance of a tornado emergency for Union City and Sherwood, the first tornado emergency ever issued in the state of Michigan. Other tornadoes were reported across Michigan along with Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania through the overnight hours into May 8. Later on May 8, a wind and hail driven Moderate Risk was introduced, both at 45% hatched wind and hail risks, more severe weather and tornadoes impacted much of the Middle Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys. PDS tornado warnings were issued for tornadoes near Equality, Illinois and Aurora, Missouri. Multiple strong supercells hit Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. At 6:54 pm CDT a tornado emergency was issued for parts of Marshall County, Maury County, Rutherford County, and Williamson County including Spring Hill, Tennessee, Chapel Hill, Tennessee, and Allisona, Tennessee of the Southern Nashville Metro area, a second in 5 months, after a Tornado Emergency in the north of the metro that hit Hendersonville on December 9, 2023. In the middle of the outbreak, the SPC issued a 15% hatched tornado driven Moderate risk for Southeastern Tennessee, Northwestern Georgia and North Alabama at 0100 UTC. Two flash flood emergencies were issued for parts of Northern Tennessee after round of torrential rainfall battered the area. Later, another supercell in Alabama caused a PDS tornado warning for the city of Huntsville, Alabama. That same supercell went on to produce another damaging tornado that sparked a tornado emergency for Henagar, Alabama, Hammondville, Alabama, and Mentone, Alabama.
May 9–10
Isolated tornadoes occurred during the day on May 9. Additionally, several supercells produced large hail across Texas. Widespread damaging winds occurred overnight into the next day, from a congealing squall line, along with a few tornadoes including two EF2 tornadoes and an EF1 tornado in the Tallahassee Metropolitan area. The outbreak ended as severe storms moved offshore during the afternoon hours of May 10.
Confirmed tornadoes
Hominy–Barnsdall–Bartlesville, Oklahoma
This large and violent EF4 tornado first touched down at 9:12 p.m CDT (02:12 UTC) southeast of Hominy on CR-1701 and moved northeastward snapping trees at EF1 strength. As the tornado approached SH-20, it intensified to low-end EF2 strength, damaging the roof of a home and destroying two outbuildings. Past this point, the tornado rapidly strengthened to low-end EF3 intensity as it knocked over seven steel power poles and snapped trees. After the tornado had crossed SH-20, it weakened. It traveled through primarily rural areas at EF2 strength, and then EF1 strength. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted, and outbuildings were damaged. At 9:39 p.m CDT (02:39 UTC), the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Oklahoma issued a Tornado Emergency for Barnsdall, after receiving reports of a large tornado and a large debris ball appearing on radar. As the tornado approached CR-2240, it regained EF2 strength and severe ground-scouring began. It then crossed Birch Lake, and further intensified to EF3 strength, continuing to destroy trees. As the tornado passed east of CR-2380, it became violent. It reached its peak intensity of EF4, with wind speeds estimated at . A well-constructed home was swept clean off of its crawl space, and its debris was blown to the northeast. Nearby trees were completely stubbed and debarked, and vehicles were thrown and rolled. Continuing northeast, the tornado weakened slightly as it inflicted high-end EF3 damage to the NuCera Solutions wax plant on the southeast side of Barnsdall.
The tornado then continued moving into the east side of town, where numerous homes sustained severe damage. One manufactured home was completely destroyed, resulting in a fatality. Another frame-home was completely destroyed, with a nearby well-constructed garage being destroyed as well, both structures earning high-end EF3 ratings. The second fatality occurred in this residence. Along 2nd St, the tornado strengthened to EF4 intensity again, completely destroying a two-story home. Wind speeds here were estimated at . Past there, the tornado crossed SH-123 where it severely damaged numerous homes and metal buildings and completely destroyed a manufactured home at EF2-EF3 strength. This was the second time this part of Barnsdall had been hit by a tornado in 2024; an EF1 tornado had previously impacted the area on April 1.
Moving northeastward away from Barnsdall, the tornado weakened, but remained strong at EF1-EF2 strength as it caused significant tree damage, damaged homes, and destroyed outbuildings in more rural areas. The parent supercell also began to interact with a squall line that was coming from the west. The tornado then moved through the southern part of Bartlesville, where numerous homes and businesses suffered severe damage. The tornado then weakened to EF1 strength and crossed US 60 and US 75 east of Bartlesville, where it severely damaged a Hampton Inn there. The concrete walls of the hotel were speared with 2x4s as well. The nearby Gan's Mall had its newly-installed roof thrown across the road, which ended up trapping several people inside the Hampton Inn. The tornado then exited the town as the parent supercell became absorbed into the trailing squall line, which caused the tornado to dissipate northeast of the town near Dewey at 10:07 pm. CDT (03:07 UTC). The tornado was on the ground for approximately 55 minutes, traveling a total length of , reaching a peak width of at times. Along with the two fatalities, 33 other people were injured and the tornado caused $25 million in damage.
Columbia, Tennessee