Tornado outbreak of May 17–18, 2019
Weather event in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A significant tornado outbreak took place on May 17 and 18, 2019 within the Central United States, including the Great Plains. 47 tornadoes touched down as a result. This outbreak was the beginning of a broader 14-day period of significant tornadic activity in the U.S., which included two other much larger and devastating outbreaks across similar regions. On May 17, multiple strong tornadoes touched down across parts of Nebraska and Kansas, though they remained in mostly rural areas. Numerous EF2 and EF3 tornadoes impacted Texas on May 18, including two EF2 tornadoes that caused significant damage in the cities of Abilene and San Angelo, and an EF3 tornado which caused major damage in Ballinger as well.
A photogenic tornado near Farnam, Nebraska on May 17 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Duration | May 17–18, 2019 |
| Tornado outbreak | |
| Tornadoes | 47 |
Max. rating | EF3 tornado |
| Duration | 25 hours, 13 minutes |
| Highest winds | Tornadic – 157 mph (253 km/h) (Stockville, Nebraska EF3 on May 17) |
| Highest gusts | Non-tornadic – 100 mph (160 km/h) near Altus, Arkansas on May 18 |
| Largest hail | 3 in (7.6 cm) in Trenton, Nebraska on May 17 |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 4 |
| Damage | $1 billion (2019 USD) |
Areas affected | Great Plains, Midwestern United States |
Part of the Tornadoes of 2019 | |
Only four people sustained injuries as a result, given the more rural nature of the tornadoes. Total damages were estimated to be at least $1 billion.
Meteorological synopsis
May 17
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.[1] On the morning of May 14, this risk area was expanded and 30% severe probabilities were introduced as the SPC gained confidence in a widespread and prolonged severe weather outbreak.[2] For the first time in the organization's history, a threat of severe weather was introduced for their entire day 4–8 period.[3] By May 17, a dual enhanced risk existed across the Central Plains, one across much of Nebraska and the second across southwestern Texas kicking off a storm system with various tornadoes. 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. A cap across the region allowed the atmosphere to become extremely unstable, while an eastward-moving dryline was expected to become the focus for severe thunderstorms later in the day. The SPC noted uncertainty regarding convective development farther south across southwestern Kansas into Oklahoma but mentioned that any thunderstorms would be capable of significant severe weather if they came to fruition.[4]
By late afternoon, several discrete supercell thunderstorms formed across northwestern Kansas and progressed into western and central Nebraska. While weak and largely uniform wind shear caused several splitting storms that destructively interfered with one another,[5] one supercell later in the evening formed within a strongly sheared environment, becoming intense and long-lived as it progressed northeastward.[6] It produced seven tornadoes in total, five of which were weak. One EF2 tornado near McCook caused major damage to a house, outbuildings, and trees, while another EF2 tornado northeast of Stockville rolled 1,400 lb (640 kg) hay bales and snapped twelve power poles. The strongest was an EF3 tornado that extensively damaged or destroyed well-built structures at a farmstead near Stockville.[7] Later in the evening, another long-lived supercell formed in southwestern Kansas where SPC had previously highlighted uncertainty in convective development. This supercell produced four tornadoes in areas southeast of Dodge City, including one rated EF3 and two rated EF2. The EF3 tornado caused severe damage to farmsteads near the towns of Minneola and Bloom, and one of the EF2 tornadoes touched down in the town of Lewis, causing damage there before striking several farmsteads. A total of 21 tornadoes were confirmed.[8]
May 18–19
Into the morning of May 18, the large scale upper-level trough continued to shift eastward. Strong mid- and upper-level winds associated with this feature spread across much of Oklahoma and Texas, accompanied by dewpoints in the upper 60s to lower 70s °F and mixed-layer CAPE values on the order of 2,500–3,500 J/kg.[9] 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.[10] Throughout the pre-dawn and early morning, a mixture of semi-discrete and linear thunderstorms developed across central and eastern Oklahoma down into northern Texas.[11] Strong southeasterly surface winds ahead of this convection in Texas provided the impetus for prolific tornado production over subsequent hours as it moved toward the northeast.[12] A long-lived supercell produced seven strong tornadoes as it progressed from near San Angelo, Texas, to northwest of Coleman. 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. The cities of San Angelo and Abilene both sustained direct hits from EF2 tornadoes, resulting in severe damage to many homes and businesses.[13][14] Farther to the north, a brief but strong tornado occurred east of Geronimo, Oklahoma, ripping the roofs and exterior walls off of two homes and injuring one individual.[15] Through the late morning and afternoon, a squall line progressed across eastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. In the presence of strong instability and very strong low-level shear, numerous tornadoes were confirmed across the region, all rated EF0 or EF1. Fort Smith, Arkansas sustained considerable damage from two separate EF1 tornadoes. Widespread damaging winds were also observed, reaching 100 mph (160 km/h) in some places.[16]
Confirmed tornadoes
| EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 47 |
May 17 event
| EF# | Location | County / parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | E of Fort Stockton | Pecos | TX | 30.829°N 102.559°W | 21:43–21:55 | 2.41 mi (3.88 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Spotters and emergency management observed a tornado. No damage occurred.[17] |
| EFU | S of Culbertson | Hitchcock | NE | 40.1142°N 100.83°W | 22:40 | 0.25 mi (0.40 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | An emergency manager reported a tornado, but no damage was found.[18] |
| EF2 | ESE of Culbertson to NW of McCook | Red Willow | NE | 40.2034°N 100.7604°W | 22:55–23:01 | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | This strong tornado destroyed six grain bins and five farm outbuildings, and produced significant damage to a house, where it collapsed brick walls, lifted half of the structure's roof, and completely removed the garage. A combine sustained damage when it was struck by a grain bin. Windows of cars and homes were shattered, wooden and barbed wire fences were damaged, irrigation pivots were overturned, and numerous trees were snapped.[19] |
| EF0 | N of McCook | Red Willow, Frontier | NE | 40.3452°N 100.627°W | 23:10–23:14 | 2.98 mi (4.80 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | A NWS damage survey found snapped tree branches and minor debris from unknown sources.[20] |
| EF0 | SW of Stockville | Frontier | NE | 40.47°N 100.46°W | 23:32–23:33 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 20 yd (18 m) | A tornado briefly touched down. No damage occurred.[21] |
| EF0 | Northwestern Stockville | Frontier | NE | 40.53°N 100.38°W | 23:45–23:46 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A tornado briefly touched down in a field at the northwestern edge of Stockville. No damage occurred.[22] |
| EF0 | NE of Stockville | Frontier | NE | 40.56°N 100.34°W | 23:55–23:57 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 315 yd (288 m) | Several 1,400 lb (640 kg) hay bales were moved, damaging two fences.[23] |
| EF2 | NE of Stockville | Frontier | NE | 40.5812°N 100.3127°W | 23:58–00:00 | 0.6 mi (0.97 km) | 178 yd (163 m) | Numerous 1,400 lb (640 kg) hay bales were rolled across the road, and twelve power poles were snapped.[24] |
| EF3 | NE of Stockville to SW of Farnam | Frontier | NE | 40.6119°N 100.2722°W | 00:05–00:09 | 2.12 mi (3.41 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | A large pole barn was destroyed at a farm, along with a well-built, anchor-bolted garage structure that was swept completely away. A house at this farm was heavily damaged and shifted off of its foundation. A semi-truck and several pivot irrigation systems were overturned, and a large semi-trailer was thrown across a road.[25] |
| EF0 | NE of Stockville | Frontier | NE | 40.6733°N 100.1913°W | 00:12–00:13 | 0.3 mi (0.48 km) | 40 yd (37 m) | A tree trunk was twisted and many large tree limbs were broken.[26] |
| EF1 | E of Farnam | Frontier, Dawson | NE | 40.6992°N 100.1972°W | 00:15–00:33 | 4.67 mi (7.52 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | This tornado downed large tree limbs, uprooted trees, and caused minor damage to homes. Grain bins and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and a garage was pushed off its foundation.[27] |
| EFU | NNW of Forgan, OK | Beaver (OK), Meade (KS) | OK, KS | 36.9622°N 100.5635°W | 00:32–00:45 | 6.74 mi (10.85 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Storm chasers filmed a tornado crossing the Oklahoma/Kansas state line. No damage was observed.[28] |
| EF1 | NE of Cozad | Dawson | NE | 40.8606°N 99.953°W | 00:54–01:10 | 9.75 mi (15.69 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | Trees and power poles were broken. A large farm machinery shed was demolished and several irrigation pivots were overturned.[29] |
| EF0 | W of Eddyville | Dawson | NE | 41.0026°N 99.7586°W | 01:15–01:17 | 1.58 mi (2.54 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | A storm chaser reported a rain-wrapped tornado. No damage occurred.[30] |
| EF1 | SE of Oconto | Custer | NE | 41.0773°N 99.6836°W | 01:30–01:31 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 92 yd (84 m) | A pole barn was damaged, a tree trunk was snapped, and a house sustained minor porch damage. A horse trailer was rolled over two wooden fences and one metal fence before it landed in a horse corral.[31] |
| EF0 | N of Fowler | Meade | KS | 37.4181°N 100.2255°W | 00:36–00:38 | 1.54 mi (2.48 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A trained storm spotter witnessed an intermittent tornado. No damage occurred.[32] |
| EF3 | SE of Fowler to W of Ford | Meade, Clark, Ford | KS | 37.3497°N 100.1384°W | 01:37–02:22 | 29.62 mi (47.67 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | This significant, long-tracked tornado passed near the towns of Minneola and Bloom, significantly damaging multiple farmsteads. A semi-truck was blown off the road near the beginning of the path. Homes sustained major structural damage, including roof and exterior wall loss. Barns and outbuildings were completely destroyed, including a metal-framed structure that was severely mangled. Farm machinery was thrown and damaged, trees were snapped and denuded, and a wooden projectile was speared into a dirt road.[33] |
| EF0 | W of Minneola | Clark | KS | 37.4457°N 100.0765°W | 01:46–01:47 | 0.42 mi (0.68 km) | 25 yd (23 m) | A storm chaser reported a tornado. No damage occurred.[34] |
| EF2 | NE of Ford to SW of Kinsley | Ford, Edwards | KS | 37.6775°N 99.7119°W | 02:30–02:58 | 14.86 mi (23.91 km) | 875 yd (800 m) | A high-end EF2 wedge tornado snapped, denuded, and uprooted numerous trees. A house was damaged, a truck had its windows blown-out, and a large motorhome was overturned. Large metal grain bins were crumpled and destroyed, and several barns and outbuildings were destroyed as well.[35] |
| EF2 | Lewis to N of Belpre | Edwards, Pawnee | KS | 37.9405°N 99.2515°W | 03:19–03:37 | 10.92 mi (17.57 km) | 565 yd (517 m) | This tornado touched down in Lewis, where numerous trees were downed, a semi-truck was flipped, outbuildings were destroyed, and minor structural damage occurred. Elsewhere along the path, pivot irrigation systems were flipped, and homes and outbuildings sustained significant damage at several farmsteads.[36] |
| EFU | N of Seward | Pawnee | KS | 38.2521°N 98.7974°W | 04:28–04:30 | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A storm chaser reported a tornado. No damage occurred.[37] |
| EFU | SE of Dundee | Barton | KS | 38.27°N 98.81°W | 04:30–04:31 | 0.22 mi (0.35 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A trained storm spotter witnessed a brief rope tornado. No damage occurred.[38] |
May 18 event
| EF# | Location | County / parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF2 | N of Eldorado | Schleicher | TX | 31.0384°N 100.5931°W | 07:05–07:13 | 2.08 mi (3.35 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | Tree damage occurred, a stone house had its roof torn off, and a vehicle was moved. One person was injured.[39] |
| EF2 | N of Knickerbocker to San Angelo | Tom Green | TX | 31.3230°N 100.6501°W | 09:57–10:46 | 17.58 mi (28.29 km) | 1,760 yd (1,610 m) | This damaging tornado touched down near Knickerbocker, causing severe roof and exterior wall damage to a house and destroying a large garage structure. A gymnasium had a cinder block exterior wall blown out as well. The tornado weakened and entered the southwest side of San Angelo, and then moved northeastward through the downtown area. Damage along this portion of the path consisted of minor shingle and chimney damage to homes and a restaurant, downed fences and tree limbs, and damage to a gas station awning. A few trees were also uprooted in downtown San Angelo. High-end EF2 damage occurred in the northern part of the city, where several homes had their roofs torn off, a few of which sustained partial collapse of exterior walls. Many other homes sustained minor to moderate roof damage. A car was thrown into the front wall of one house, and a roof shingle was found impaled into a sheet metal fence in this area.[40] |
| EF2 | Western Abilene | Taylor | TX | 32.4191°N 99.8388°W | 10:43–10:53 | 5.04 mi (8.11 km) | 388 yd (355 m) | A strong tornado touched down to the east of Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene and moved through the western part of the city. A manufactured building at an elementary school was destroyed, and homes sustained partial to total roof loss. Vehicles were moved and damaged by flying debris, and a storage facility was significantly damaged with sheet metal debris scattered throughout the area. Power poles were snapped, and many trees were downed, some of which landed on homes.[41] |
| EF1 | Northern Abilene | Taylor, Jones | TX | 32.491°N 99.7372°W | 10:56–11:18 | 8.8 mi (14.2 km) | 550 yd (500 m) | A metal building had its roof ripped off, windows blown out, and north-facing exterior wall damaged. A billboard was ripped up, an 18-wheeler was flipped over, and trees were snapped or uprooted. Two residences and a number of outbuildings were damaged outside the city.[42] |
| EF3 | SSW of Lowake to Northwestern Ballinger | Concho, Runnels | TX | 31.5142°N 100.0926°W | 11:52–12:31 | 18.01 mi (28.98 km) | 1,760 yd (1,610 m) | In and around Lowake, this large and intense multiple-vortex tornado destroyed numerous outbuildings and an RV camper, and tossed a large metal storage tank. Farther along the path, a home lost its roof and exterior walls. As the tornado passed to the east of Rowena, two additional homes sustained total roof and exterior wall loss, and a large brick commercial building was leveled. Past Rowena, the tornado swept away a poorly anchored home, leaving only the concrete foundation slab behind. Nearby vehicles were tossed and damaged, and trees were partially debarked. The tornado struck the northwest part of Ballinger before dissipating, where several homes were left with only interior rooms standing, the athletic fields at the local high school sustained major damage, and a water tower was punctured by flying debris, resulting in a major water leak. Numerous trees and power poles were snapped along the path, and pivot irrigation systems were flipped and twisted. One person was injured.[43] |
| EF2 | E of Geronimo | Comanche | OK | 34.473°N 98.334°W | 12:37–12:38 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 60 yd (55 m) | A brief but strong tornado ripped the roofs and exterior walls off of two homes. One person suffered a minor injury.[44] |
| EF3 | NE of Benoit | Runnels | TX | 31.8350°N 99.7791°W | 12:52–13:02 | 5.79 mi (9.32 km) | 1,760 yd (1,610 m) | A significant tornado collapsed metal truss towers, bent large metal power line pylons to the ground, and completely swept away a metal-framed outbuilding. Another metal outbuilding was damaged, power poles were leaned, and trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which were severely debarked.[45] |
| EF3 | NW of Coleman | Coleman | TX | 31.8604°N 99.5939°W | 13:20–13:43 | 7.84 mi (12.62 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | This intense tornado destroyed a cabin, outbuildings, and trees. The second floor of a well-built home was removed, and two exterior walls were collapsed as well.[46] |
| EF0 | ESE of Stillwater | Payne | OK | 36.106°N 97.002°W | 14:27 | 0.2 mi (0.32 km) | 25 yd (23 m) | An outbuilding and a detached garage were severely damaged.[47] |
| EF0 | ENE of Ingalls | Payne | OK | 36.102°N 96.87°W | 14:33 | 0.4 mi (0.64 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Three barns and a shop were significantly damaged.[48] |
| EFU | SE of Santo | Palo Pinto | TX | 32.58°N 98.2°W | 15:42 | 0.01 mi (0.016 km) | 25 yd (23 m) | A trained storm spotter observed vegetation debris as the tornado was ongoing.[49] |
| EF0 | W of Bixby | Tulsa | OK | 35.9285°N 95.9464°W | 16:03–16:08 | 3.7 mi (6.0 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | A weak tornado blew the roof off an outbuilding, caused minor damage to homes, and snapped tree limbs[50] |
| EF0 | NNE of Cottonwood | Coal | OK | 34.647°N 96.178°W | 16:18 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Multiple large shipping containers were blown over and multiple light frame structures were damaged at a natural gas production facility that was under construction. Flying debris damaged numerous vehicles and injured three people.[51] |
| EFU | E of Melvin | McCulloch | TX | 31.2014°N 99.5676°W | 16:34–16:35 | 0.06 mi (0.097 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A trained storm spotter sighted a tornado in open country.[52] |
| EF1 | E of Claremore to SW of Adair | Rogers, Mayes | OK | 36.3049°N 95.4547°W | 16:58–17:11 | 10.1 mi (16.3 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | Multiple homes sustained minor damage, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. Some power poles were also snapped.[53] |
| EF0 | NW of Langley | Mayes | OK | 36.47°N 95.086°W | 17:32–17:35 | 2.1 mi (3.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Outbuildings were damaged and power poles were blown down. Some tree limbs were also damaged.[54] |
| EF1 | N of McCurtain | Haskell | OK | 35.1901°N 94.9903°W | 18:13–18:15 | 1.2 mi (1.9 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Several trees were uprooted.[55] |
| EF1 | SSW of Arkoma, OK to Fort Smith, AR | Le Flore (OK), Sebastian (AR) | OK, AR | 35.3400°N 94.4381°W | 18:55–19:04 | 5.3 mi (8.5 km) | 450 yd (410 m) | A tornado impacted southwestern Arkoma, damaging trees, before crossing into Arkansas and striking Fort Smith. There, numerous homes and businesses sustained roof damage and broken windows. Power poles were snapped, and numerous large trees were downed, some of which landed on homes and caused major structural damage.[56] |
| EF1 | Northern Greenwood | Sebastian | AR | 35.2203°N 94.2919°W | 18:59–19:04 | 3.5 mi (5.6 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, power poles were snapped, and homes sustained roof damage in the northern part of Greenwood.[57] |
| EF1 | Prairie Grove | Washington | AR | 35.98°N 94.3468°W | 19:01–19:02 | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Trees and power poles were blown down.[58] |
| EF1 | Southeastern Fort Smith | Sebastian, Crawford | AR | 35.3462°N 94.3164°W | 19:04–19:09 | 2.9 mi (4.7 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted and homes were damaged in the southeastern part of Fort Smith.[59] |
| EF1 | SE of Lavaca to NNE of Charleston | Sebastian, Franklin | AR | 35.2857°N 94.1170°W | 19:10–19:19 | 7.3 mi (11.7 km) | 1,000 yd (910 m) | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted and chicken houses were damaged.[60] |
| EF1 | Mulberry | Crawford | AR | 35.5052°N 94.0617°W | 19:25–19:27 | 1.6 mi (2.6 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | A brief tornado impacted Mulberry, uprooting trees and damaging homes.[61] |
| EF1 | NW of New Chapel Hill | Smith | TX | 32.3121°N 95.2087°W | 22:45–22:48 | 0.72 mi (1.16 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | The roofs of two metal outbuildings and a single family home were damaged, along with a Dairy Queen sign. Trees were snapped and uprooted as well.[62] |
| EF0 | W of Slovak | Prairie | AR | 34.66°N 91.64°W | 22:55–22:56 | 0.25 mi (0.40 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A tornado caused minor damage to grain bins.[63] |
Notes
- All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
