Tornado outbreak of May 2019 facts for kids
Map of tornado warnings and confirmed tornadoes from the outbreak sequence.
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| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 16, 2019 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 237 |
| Max rating1 | EF4 tornado |
| Highest winds |
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| Total fatalities | 7 fatalities (+6 non-tornadic) |
| Areas affected | Great Plains, Midwestern United States, Eastern United States |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale Part of the Tornadoes of 2019 | |
The tornado outbreak of May 2019 was a huge series of tornadoes that hit parts of the United States and Canada. It was a record-breaking event because so many tornadoes happened over several days.
This outbreak produced at least 237 tornadoes. Many of these were strong, with 47 being rated EF2 or higher. Eighteen of them were very powerful EF3 tornadoes.
Contents
What is a Tornado Outbreak?
A tornado outbreak happens when a weather system creates many tornadoes over a large area. This usually occurs within a day or two. These events can cause a lot of damage and affect many communities.
A Record-Breaking Event
The May 2019 tornado outbreak set a new record for the United States. On May 28, it was the 12th day in a row with at least eight tornadoes. The old record was 11 days in a row, set back in 1980.
During this time, the U.S. saw an average of about 27 tornadoes every single day. This shows how active and unusual this weather period was.
Where Did the Tornadoes Hit?
The tornadoes in this outbreak affected many states across the U.S. These included Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado.
Other states like Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota also experienced tornadoes. The outbreak covered a very wide area of the country.
How Strong Were These Tornadoes?
Tornadoes are rated using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). This outbreak included many strong tornadoes.
There were 47 significant tornadoes, meaning they were EF2 or stronger. Eighteen of these were EF3 tornadoes, which can cause severe damage. The strongest tornado in this outbreak was an EF4.
Images for kids
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An EF3 tornado near Minneola, Kansas, on May 17, 2019.
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The large EF3 tornado that struck the town of Ballinger, Texas on May 18, 2019.
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The Storm Prediction Center's day 1 convective outlook, showing a high risk for tornadoes.
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High-end EF3 damage to an industrial building in Jefferson City, Missouri.
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EF2 damage to a cell phone tower in Plainview, Texas.
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EF3 damage to a trailer manufacturing warehouse near Montpelier, Indiana.
