In May 2008, various weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service confirmed 462 tornadoes in the United States. At the time, this was the third most active May on record for tornado activity in the country, only behind 2003 and 2004. Based on the long-term 1991–2020 average, an average May records 268 tornadoes in the United States.[1] The brunt of activity was focused across three significant events,[2] including a tornado outbreak from May 1–2 and tornado outbreak sequences encompassing May 7–11 and May 22–27. The most intense tornado of the month was an EF5 tornado that affected areas near Parkersburg, Iowa. It was the first such tornado in Iowa since June 13, 1976.[3] In all, tornado activity across the United States in May 2008 resulted in 44 deaths and 683 injuries.[4] [5] The monetary cost of the May 22–27 tornado activity alone cost $4.2 billion (2008 USD).[6]
There were 597 tornadoes reported in the United States in the month of May, of which 462 were confirmed.
Date | Total | Enhanced Fujita scale rating | Deaths | Injuries | Damage | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | |||||||||||||||
May 1 | 28< | --Confirmed--> | 20< | --EF0--> | 4< | --EF1--> | 3< | --EF2--> | 1< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 2 | 34< | --Confirmed--> | 8< | --EF0--> | 17< | --EF1--> | 7< | --EF2--> | 2< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 6< | --Deaths--> | 45< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 3 | 0< | --Confirmed--> | 0< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 4 | 0< | --Confirmed--> | 0< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 5 | 2< | --Confirmed--> | 2< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 6 | 3< | --Confirmed--> | 3< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 7 | 10< | --Confirmed--> | 7< | --EF0--> | 3< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 1< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 8 | 27< | --Confirmed--> | 11< | --EF0--> | 10< | --EF1--> | 5< | --EF2--> | 2< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 1< | --Deaths--> | 7< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 9 | 4< | --Confirmed--> | 2< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 2< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 10 | 34< | --Confirmed--> | 13< | --EF0--> | 16< | --EF1--> | 3< | --EF2--> | 1< | --EF3--> | 1< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 22< | --Deaths--> | 375< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 11 | 44< | --Confirmed--> | 14< | --EF0--> | 14< | --EF1--> | 13< | --EF2--> | 2< | --EF3--> | 1< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 2< | --Deaths--> | 33< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 12 | 0< | --Confirmed--> | 0< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 13 | 1< | --Confirmed--> | 1< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 14 | 12< | --Confirmed--> | 10< | --EF0--> | 2< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 15 | 14< | --Confirmed--> | 6< | --EF0--> | 7< | --EF1--> | 1< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 3< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 16 | 0< | --Confirmed--> | 0< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 17 | 1< | --Confirmed--> | 1< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 18 | 1< | --Confirmed--> | 1< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 19 | 0< | --Confirmed--> | 0< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 20 | 6< | --Confirmed--> | 4< | --EF0--> | 2< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 4< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 21 | 0< | --Confirmed--> | 0< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 22 | 28< | --Confirmed--> | 16< | --EF0--> | 8< | --EF1--> | 3< | --EF2--> | 1< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 1< | --Deaths--> | 81< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 23 | 79< | --Confirmed--> | 41< | --EF0--> | 22< | --EF1--> | 9< | --EF2--> | 6< | --EF3--> | 1< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 2< | --Deaths--> | 6< | --Injuries--> | >< | --Damage--> |
May 24 | 23< | --Confirmed--> | 18< | --EF0--> | 3< | --EF1--> | 2< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | >< | --Damage--> |
May 25 | 31< | --Confirmed--> | 22< | --EF0--> | 6< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 2< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 1< | --EF5--> | 10< | --Deaths--> | 92< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 26 | 7< | --Confirmed--> | 5< | --EF0--> | 2< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 27 | 5< | --Confirmed--> | 5< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 28 | 4< | --Confirmed--> | 4< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 1< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 29 | 37< | --Confirmed--> | 18< | --EF0--> | 13< | --EF1--> | 4< | --EF2--> | 2< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 0< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 30 | 19< | --Confirmed--> | 8< | --EF0--> | 8< | --EF1--> | 3< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 34< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
May 31 | 3< | --Confirmed--> | 3< | --EF0--> | 0< | --EF1--> | 0< | --EF2--> | 0< | --EF3--> | 0< | --EF4--> | 0< | --EF5--> | 0< | --Deaths--> | 1< | --Injuries--> | < | --Damage--> |
Total | 434 | 243 | 137 | 55 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 44 | 683 | > |
Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
bgcolor=# | EF0 | ENE of Imperial | Pecos | TX | 22:25–22:27 | 2.28abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado was reported by a trained spotter and relayed by local media. No damage was reported.[7] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | W of Crane | Crane | TX | 22:59–23:02 | 2.68abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A trained relayed a report of a tornado to law enforcement. No damage was reported.[8] | |
Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SE of Congress | Yavapai | AZ | 20:15–20:16 | 0.2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A trained spotter reported a brief tornado touchdown with no damage.[9] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SW of Maywood | Frontier | NE | 23:30 | 0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado over open rangeland caused no damage.[10] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NNW of Wellman to W of Brownfield | Terry | TX | 23:45–23:46 | 1.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A supercell thunderstorm interacted with an outflow boundary and produced this short-lived and weak tornado over open country that was documented by a research meteorologist. No damage was reported.[11] | |
See main article: Tornado outbreak sequence of May 7–11, 2008.
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SE of Burnet | Burnet | TX | 10:10–10:12 | 0.25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado tracked through predominantly wooded areas, damaging numerous trees. One mobile home had minor damage from airborne debris.[13] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | ESE of Pleasant Grove | Rusk | TX | 14:30–14:40 | 4.26abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on | West of County Road 1798, a manufactured home was lifted from its foundation when wind got underneath it and thrown back down resulting in its destruction. Debris was strewn up to 3miles away. Farther along the tornado's path, a barn, shed, and outbuilding were destroyed or severely damaged. Numerous trees and power poles were snapped or uprooted.[14] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NE of Denver City | Yoakum | TX | 20:15–20:16 | 1.91abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Motorists reported a tornado from U.S. Highway 82/380. While no damage was observed, Doppler radar imagery corroborated that a tornado likely occurred.[15] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | N of Lubbock | Lubbock | TX | 21:02–21:03 | 0.23abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado severely damaged the roof of a metal warehouse and shattered car windows.[16] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | W of Westbrook | Mitchell | TX | 22:05–22:10 | 2.11abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Local law enforcement observed a tornado over open fields.[17] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | W of Edleona | Nolan | TX | 22:35–22:38 | 0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A trained spotter reported a brief tornado.[18] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | S of Sweetwater | Nolan | TX | 22:53–22:55 | 0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A storm spotter reported a brief tornado.[19] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | N of Melvin | McCulloch | TX | 23:07–23:10 | 0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado was reported just outside the city limits of Melvin.[20] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | W of Brady | McCulloch | TX | 23:16–23:19 | 1.01abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 85abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado tracked along the southeast shores of the Brady Creek Reservoir. Storage buildings, a marina, and many trees were damaged.[21] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SW of Lampasas | Burnet | TX | 01:25 | 0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado uprooted trees.[22] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SW of Dublin | Erath | TX | 01:30–01:31 | 0.25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 30abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A storm spotter observed a brief tornado.[23] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | NW of Winnsboro | Franklin | TX | 05:50–06:00 | 3.21abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A bookend tornado formed along the north side of a straight-line wind event, impacting the north side of Winnsboro. One mobile home sustained minor damage.[24] | |
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SE of Buna | Jasper | TX | 09:00–09:10 | 0.25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado downed trees and tore the roof from a barn.[25] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | WSW of Deridder | Beauregard | LA | 09:15–09:22 | 4.92abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tied-down mobile home was destroyed, a barn lost its roof, and one home had shingles blown off. Two people suffered minor injuries. Multiple trees were downed along the tornado's path.[26] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | S of Deridder | Beauregard | LA | 09:25–09:26 | 0.29abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado uprooted trees.[27] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SW of Gueydan | Vermilion | LA | 11:12–11:13 | 0.27abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado destroyed a barn and uprooted trees.[28] | |
bgcolor=# | EF2 | N of Leroy to SW of Lafayette | Vermilion, Lafayette | LA | 11:15–11:28 | 7.6abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 200abbr=onNaNabbr=on | In Vermilion Parish, a mobile home was destroyed and another was shifted from its block foundation.[29] After moving into Lafayette Parish, the tornado intensified and severely damaged a permanent home. The structure had its roof torn off and thrown into a neighboring home, causing significant damage to that structure. Several other homes suffered minor damage. Many trees were snapped or uprooted.[30] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | Southwestern Lafayette | Lafayette | LA | 11:35–11:36 | 0.69abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado downed trees and blew shingles off the roofs of a few homes.[31] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SW of Abbeville | Vermilion | LA | 11:35–11:41 | 5.55abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado downed trees and a few homes sustained minor damage[32] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | Downtown Lafayette | Lafayette | LA | 11:40–11:42 | 0.85abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado touched down in the Oil Center District of Lafayette, causing significant damage to the roofs of buildings in the Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center. Debris from these structures impacted nearby buildings, breaking many windows. Many trees were downed, some of which fell on cars. Total damage reached an estimated $3 million.[33] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | Breaux Bridge | St. Martin | LA | 11:55–12:00 | 3.79abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado touched down just north of Beaux Bridge (just northeast of Lafayette) and moved south through the city. Several large warehouses were damaged near a Wal-Mart. After crossing Highway 94, the tornado destroyed a business and caused damage to homes and an apartment complex as it tracked across Beaux Bridge. Near its dissipation point, a home was shifted from its foundation, injuring the sole occupant. Total damage reached an estimated $1.5 million.[34] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | SW of Folsom | St. Tammany | LA | 14:00–14:12 | 5.02abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A large metal building was severely damaged while several other structures had minor roof damage. Many trees were snapped or uprooted.[35] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | ENE of Enon | Washington | LA | 14:20–14:26 | 2.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado occurred within a broader region of straight-line winds. Damage was primarily confined to large trees being snapped in half, though one structure was heavily damaged.[36] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | ESE of Purvis to Camp Shelby | Lamar, Forrest | MS | 15:05–15:24 | 15.43abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 600abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This longer tracked tornado touched down near Interstate 59, tracked toward U.S. Route 49, and subsequently dissipated near Camp Shelby. Many trees were snapped or uprooted in the touchdown area, with homes and outbuildings damaged by the falling debris. One mobile home was destroyed by a fallen tree. Within Camp Shelby, trees downed by the tornado fell onto base structures and vehicles. Total damage reached an estimated $1.21 million.[37] [38] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | W of Camp Shelby | Forrest | MS | 15:15–15:17 | 1.3abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 150abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado existed simultaneously with the preceding Camp Shelby tornado, tracking just to its south. Damage was primarily limited to downed trees, with only one church suffering roof damage.[39] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | WNW of Paul to ENE of South | Conecuh, Covington | AL | 17:17–17:38 | 14.96abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This weak tornado tracked through predominantly rural areas of Conecuh County, with damaged limited to trees.[40] Within Covington County, the tornado damaged a home near Red Level and four others near South. A volunteer fire department was damaged in the latter community.[41] | |
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
bgcolor=# | EF1 | S of Govan to NE of Ehrhardt | Bamberg | SC | 21:07–21:20 | 13.29abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 800abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This large tornado caused notable damage to three homes and two mobile homes and destroyed an outbuilding. Numerous trees and a few power lines were downed along its path.[44] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NNW of Collinsville | DeKalb | AL | 21:48–21:50 | 0.21abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado snapped multiple trees and left convergent grass patterns along its path.[45] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NW of Davisboro | Washington | GA | 22:20–22:21 | 1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado downed multiple trees.[46] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | Lebanon | Cherokee | GA | 22:35–22:42 | 5.87abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1760abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1 indirect death - A very large tornado touched down in and tracked through the city of Lebanon, causing extensive damage. The Falton Lakes Mobile Home Park was particularly hard-hit. Throughout the tornadoes path, 60 homes were destroyed (35 site-built and 25 mobile) while 1,014 other homes suffered damage (391 of which were major). Twenty school district buildings and ten businesses were also damaged. Total damage from the tornado reached $46 million. More than a week after the tornado, two trees damaged by the storm fell on cars, killing one person and injuring another.[47] Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency for Cherokee County following the tornado.[48] Perdue made an appeal for federal aid to FEMA on May 28; however, it was denied on July 23.[49] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | ENE of Vidette to SW of Waynesboro | Burke | GA | 23:41–23:55 | 10.43abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 600abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A weak tornado damaged many trees and a few power lines along its path. Fallen trees caused damage to an outbuilding and an abandoned church.[50] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | WSW of Eureka | Hancock, Washington | GA | 01:00–01:08 | 4.83abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 125abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This tornado tracked through predominantly rural areas, leaving behind damage to only one barn and hundreds of trees damaged hundreds of trees.[51] [52] | |
See main article: Tornado outbreak of May 22–27, 2008 and List of tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of May 22–27, 2008. A total of 173 tornadoes were confirmed during this multi-day tornado outbreak. Three of the tornadoes touched down in Canada.
Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
bgcolor=# | EF0 | Dubois | Fremont | WY | 43.5344°N -109.6311°W | 21:08–21:09 | 0.04abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado blew the roof off of a restroom facility in town and snapped a sign support pole. A window at a nearby residence was shattered by flying debris, causing minor injuries to a woman inside.[53] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | N of Sunset | Lincoln | NM | 33.39°N -105.06°W | 22:45–22:46 | 0.17abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 15abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[54] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | N of Tecolotitio | San Miguel | NM | 35.29°N -105.18°W | 23:45–23:46 | 0.56abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[55] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | N of Tucumcari | San Miguel | NM | 35.3°N -103.73°W | 00:27–00:28 | 0.18abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Brief tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[56] |
List of reported tornadoes – Thursday, May 29, 2008 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF# | Location | County | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
Wyoming | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NE of Thermopolis | Hot Springs | 43.75°N -108.07°W | 1834 | unknown | Tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[57] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SE of Buffalo | Johnson | 44.23°N -106.34°W | 2125 | unknown | Tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[58] |
Kansas | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF0 | E of Hoxie | Sheridan | 39.36°N -100.35°W | 2140 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Narrow tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[59] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | S of Hoxie | Sheridan | 39.22°N -100.44°W | 2245 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Rain-wrapped tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[60] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | S of Palco | Rooks | 39.25°N -99.6°W | 2302 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Tornado struck four farmsteads, with damage to outbuildings, garages, and trees. A wood-frame metal building was completely destroyed.[61] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | Woodston | Rooks | 39.45°N -99.1°W | 2336 | unknown | Brief tornado moved through town, with a brick building and a nearby house sustaining the heaviest damage.[62] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NW of Zurich | Rooks | 39.25°N -99.33°W | 0005 | unknown | Brief tornado damaged a few power poles.[63] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | E of Zurich | Rooks | 0009 | unknown | Brief tornado snapped a few power poles.[64] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | S of Downs to N of Tipton | Osborne, Mitchell | 39.43°N -98.55°W | 0116 | 16 miles (25.6 km) | Tornado damaged trees and power poles along its path, and eventually merged with the larger, more powerful Glen Elder/Jewell EF3.[65] |
bgcolor=# | EF3 | SW of Glen Elder to N of Jewell | Mitchell, Jewell | 39.63°N -98.15°W | 0130 | 18 miles (29 km) | Near Glen Elder, this large multiple-vortex tornado produced EF2 damage, heavily damaging farmsteads and snapping trees and power poles. Additional farmsteads sustained major damage further to the northeast before the tornado reached EF3 strength and struck the west side of Jewell. A cafe, a trucking company, and several homes in town were destroyed, and the town's water tower was toppled to the ground. Trees in town were stripped, several large metal buildings were destroyed, vehicles were tossed, and several railroad cars were blown over as well. The tornado dissipated just north of Jewell.[66] [67] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SW of Randall | Mitchell, Jewell | 0158 | 10 miles (16 km) | Tornado caused minor damage to trees, power poles, and wheat fields.[68] | |
bgcolor=# | EF3 | SW of Formoso to N of Fairbury, NE | Jewell, Republic, Thayer (NE), Jefferson (NE) | 39.72°N -97.89°W | 0234 | 54 miles (86.4 km) | Strong, long-tracked wedge tornado initially remained over open country before passing near Courtland at EF3 strength, where power poles were snapped, trees were ripped out of the ground and thrown, headstones were toppled at a cemetery, barns, grains bins, and outbuildings were destroyed, an old schoolhouse was destroyed, and an old stone house was destroyed as well. Several other homes sustained moderate to major damage. The tornado crossed into Nebraska and produced EF1 damage near Hubell, damaging grain bins, trees, and power poles. A few homes and outbuildings sustained roof damage as well. Additional power pole and outbuilding damage occurred further along the path before the tornado re-strengthened to EF2 intensity near Fairbury, where a garage was destroyed, a house had its roof torn off, a large barn was destroyed, several hangars were destroyed at the Fairbury Airport, and several large trees were snapped before the tornado dissipated.[69] [70] |
Nebraska | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF0 | E of Stockville | Frontier | 2050 | unknown | Brief tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[71] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | W of Elwood | Gosper | 2110 | 6 miles (9.6 km) | Brief tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[72] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NE of Smithfield to NE of Westmark | Gosper, Phelps | 2132 | 21 miles (33.6 km) | Tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[73] | |
bgcolor=# | EF2 | N of Funk to S of Kearney | Phelps, Buffalo | 40.66°N -99.26°W | 2216 | 14 miles (23 km) | Near Funk, this tornado caused major damage to outbuildings and grain silos. The tornado weakened to EF0 strength as passed south of Kearny, damaging a billboard, irrigation piping, trees, and power poles.[74] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | W of Kearney to Shelton | Buffalo | 2220 | 26 miles (41.6 km) | Multiple-vortex tornado began west of Kearney, blowing numerous empty coal train cars off the tracks. The tornado moved directly through downtown Kearney, toppling numerous trees and tree limbs onto homes, businesses, and vehicles, and causing widespread roof and siding damage. Signs and power lines were downed, and empty grain bins were displaced as well. The tornado caused tree damage in the towns of Gibbon and Shelton before dissipating.[75] | |
bgcolor=# | EF2 | W of Kearney to NE of Wood River | Buffalo, Hall | 40.7°N -99.12°W | 2226 | 30 miles (48 km) | Large rain-wrapped tornado caused significant damage in Kearney, including at the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. An apartment building sustained major damage, losing much of its roof along with a wall, and cars in the parking lot were thrown into a pile. Extensive tree damage occurred at Harmon Park, and a building near the hospital had its roof torn off. The local fairgrounds sustained major damage, and the Expo Center building partially collapsed. A hangar was completely destroyed and collapsed onto a private jet at the local airport as well. The tornado weakened as it continued through rural areas east of town, causing relatively minor roof, grain bin, power pole, tree, and outbuilding damage before dissipating.[76] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | W of Grand Island | Hamilton | 2352 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Power lines and trees were damaged.[77] | |
bgcolor=# | EF2 | S of Aurora | Hamilton | 40.87°N -98.06°W | 0002 | 9 miles (14.4 km) | Large wedge tornado damaged several homes, some heavily. A cell tower was toppled to the ground, empty railroad cars were blown off the tracks, and high-voltage power lines were downed. Many power poles and irrigation sprinklers were blown over as well.[78] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | E of Thayer | York | 0044 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | tornado damaged trees and irrigation sprinklers.[79] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | E of Winslow | Washington | 41.61°N -96.43°W | 0055 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Narrow tornado damaged trees and destroyed half of a machine shed. Outbuildings were damaged at a church as well.[80] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | E of Beaver Crossing | Seward | 40.78°N -97.22°W | 0100 | unknown | Brief tornado remained over mostly open country. A hay shed was flipped onto a neighboring shed at a dairy farm near the tornado's path, though it was unclear if this was a result of the tornado or straight-line winds that occurred later that evening.[81] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | E of Herman | Washington | 41.67°N -96.14°W | 0115 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Tornado flipped irrigation sprinklers, snapped power poles, and destroyed a shed.[82] |
bgcolor=# | EF2 | SE of Pickrell to NE of Filley | Gage | unknown | unknown | 10.81 miles (1.6 km) | Tornado embedded in a squall line heavily damaged two homes and multiple outbuildings near the beginning of the path. A church was damaged and trees were snapped and uprooted as well. Less intense tree, house, and outbuilding damage occurred at 10 other farmsteads further east before the tornado dissipated.[83] |
South Dakota | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF0 | E of Kingsburg | Bon Homme | 42.9°N -97.85°W | 2313 | unknown | Brief tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[84] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | W of Talmo | Yankton | 43.02°N -97.23°W | 0005 | unknown | Brief tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[85] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | NW of Wakonda | Clay | 43.03°N -97.15°W | 0010 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Tornado caused widespread tree damage and littered roads with tree debris.[86] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | NE of Wakonda | Clay | 43.06°N -97.08°W | 0017 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Tornado struck a farmstead, where a barn was destroyed and outbuildings were damaged, with lumber scattered across a nearby field. Trees and power lines were also damaged.[87] |
Iowa | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF1 | SW of Moorhead | Monona | 41.89°N -95.89°W | 0100 | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | Tornado damaged several groves of trees, including one where a large 3-foot in diameter tree was snapped off at the base. House and outbuilding damage occurred, and a chicken coop was damaged as well.[88] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SW of Dow City | Crawford | 41.92°N -95.51°W | 0137 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | A farmhouse had shingles peeled off and windows blown out. Nearby trees were damaged as well.[89] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | E of Denison | Crawford | 42.02°N -95.35°W | 0146 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Tornado tore the roof off of a barn, tore shingles from the roof of a house, and downed numerous trees. A hog confinement building was leveled, and trailers were damaged at a trailer park.[90] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | SE of Templeton | Carroll | 41.91°N -94.91°W | 0210 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Tornado struck three farmsteads, with outbuildings damaged and a large machine shed destroyed. Tree damage occurred along the path as well.[91] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | Northern Somers | Calhoun | 42.39°N -94.43°W | 0223 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Tornado struck the north side of town, damaging homes and garages.[92] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | W of Farnhamville | Calhoun | 42.28°N -94.42°W | 0225 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Tornado struck four farmsteads, causing minor tree and house damage.[93] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SW of Gardiner | Dallas | 41.76°N -94.07°W | 0406 | unknown | Brief tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[94] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | NW of Adel | Dallas | 41.62°N -94.04°W | 0550 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Several farm outbuildings were damaged or destroyed by this tornado. Tree and power line damage occurred as well.[95] |
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for May 29, 2008, NWS Hastings #1, NWS Hastings #2, NWS Sioux Falls, NWS Omaha #1, NWS Omaha #2, NWS Topeka | |||||||
List of reported tornadoes - Friday, May 30, 2008 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF# | Location | County | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
Iowa | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF1 | NE of Murray | Clarke | 0913 | 9.1 miles (15 km) | Outbuildings, power lines, an trees were damaged.[96] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | S of Lacona to S of Melcher | Warren, Marion | 41.19°N -93.38°W | 0951 | 7.8 miles (12 km) | Tornado caused damage to farm buildings, trees, and power lines.[97] |
bgcolor=# | EF2 | NE of Columbia to W of Beacon | Marion, Mahaska | 1007 | 18 miles (29 km) | Worst damage occurred near Attica, where several frame homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, and two mobile homes were destroyed. 10 people were injured.[98] | |
Indiana | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF1 | S of Wabash | Wabash | 40.78°N -85.83°W | 2215 | 0.2 mile (320 m) | Two barns were heavily damaged, and 12 power poles were snapped or pushed over. Two people sustained minor injuries in one of the barns.[99] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SW of Dora | Wabash | 2222 | unknown | A barn was damaged and spattered with mud, and a few trees were downed.[100] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NE of Pyrmont | Carroll | 40.48°N -86.67°W | 2330 | unknown | A few trees were damaged in a field.[101] |
bgcolor=# | EF2 | NE of Lawrence to NE of Gem | Marion | 39.83°N -86.08°W | 0227 | 2.5 miles (4 km) | Tornado struck residential areas of eastern Indianapolis. An apartment complex sustained major damage. Trees, power lines, and several homes were damaged as well. Barns were also damaged or destroyed towards the end of the path. 18 people were injured.[102] |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | SE of Fortville | Hancock | 0235 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) | Homes and farm buildings were damaged.[103] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NE of Rivare to NW of Wren, OH | Adams, Van Wert (OH) | 40.97°N -84.61°W | 0400 | unknown | In Indiana, several trees were downed and a shed sustained shingle damage. In Ohio, a barn had its steel doors destroyed.[104] |
Missouri | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF1 | N of Ewing | Lewis | 2210 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Several machine sheds were destroyed along the path, with debris scattered up to 200 yards away and boards driven into the ground. Power poles were snapped, a grain bin was damaged, and tree damage occurred as well.[105] | |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | S of Center | Ralls | 39.5°N -91.53°W | 2215 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Power poles were bent over, tree damage occurred, and a machine shed and a modular home were damaged. A mobile home was flipped onto its side as well.[106] |
Illinois | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF1 | SW of Summer Hill | Pike | 39.54°N -90.94°W | 2125 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | A large machine shed was destroyed with debris scattered up to a half-mile away. Trees were damaged as well.[107] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | SE of Pittsfield | Pike | 2315 | 4 mile (6.4 km) | Damage was limited to trees.[108] | |
bgcolor=# | EF1 | W of Waverly to NW of Lowder | Morgan, Sangamon | 39.59°N -89.95°W | 0017 | 5.6 miles (9 km) | Near Waverly, this tornado snapped trees and damaged homes. Pole barns, grain bins, sheds, and garages were destroyed. Near Lowder, the tornado snapped trees and power poles, and damaged a house. Additional outbuildings were destroyed before the tornado dissipated.[109] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | S of Taylorville | Christian | 39.51°N -89.26°W | 0120 | unknown | Brief tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[110] |
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NE of Westervelt | Shelby | 39.5°N -88.83°W | 0133 | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[111] |
Ohio | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF1 | N of Glandorf | Putnam | 41.05°N -84.11°W | 0428 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | High-end EF1 damaged multiple homes, a few of which had their roofs blown off. Several outbuildings were destroyed, and numerous pieces of farm equipment and 11 vehicles were damaged or destroyed as well.[112] |
bgcolor=# | EF2 | SW of Arcadia to Southern Fostoria | Hancock, Seneca | 40.89°N -83.65°W | 0529 | 8 miles (13 km) | Near Arcadia, the tornado damaged numerous properties with two homes and many outbuildings destroyed, and other homes heavily damaged. Hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. The tornado struck the south side of Fostoria before dissipating, where several homes were damaged and one was destroyed. Much of the damage in town was from falling trees and tree limbs. 6 people were injured.[113] |
Minnesota | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NW of Morris | Stevens | unknown | unknown | .5 miles (4.8 km) | Tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[114] |
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for May 30, 2008, NWS Indianapolis, NWS Central Illinois, NWS Cleveland, NWS St. Louis | |||||||
List of reported tornadoes - Saturday, May 31, 2008 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF# | Location | County | Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
West Virginia | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF0 | NNE of Terra Alta | Preston | 1230 | 0.5 miles (800 m) | Brief touchdown. Many trees were snapped or toppled, two homes sustained damage, a mobile home was pushed off of its foundation, and one person was injured by flying glass.[115] | |
Virginia | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF0 | Etna Mills | King William | 37.77°N -77.27°W | 2052 | unknown | Shingles were torn from homes and windows were blown out. An empty silo was blown over and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted.[116] |
Oklahoma | |||||||
bgcolor=# | EF0 | N of Pawhuska | Osage | 36.67°N -96.34°W | 0007 | unknown | Tornado remained over open country, causing no damage.[117] |
Sources: SPC Storm Reports for May 31, 2008, NWS Pittsburgh NWS Wakefield | |||||||