May-Day!

The month of May is set to be a dangerous and volatile one for tornadoes and other severe weather across large sections of the U.S., according to a recent report by AccuWeather. This includes areas outside of Tornado Alley, a region covering the Great Plains that is known for its frequent tornado activity.

“Through April 18, there have been over 315 preliminary tornado reports across the [U.S.], including deadly twisters that swept across Ohio in mid-March and a recent spate of more than a dozen tornadoes in the central Plains,” states the AccuWeather report. It adds, “During the first half of May, the bulk of the severe thunderstorms and tornadoes will likely focus on the nation’s midsection, including Tornado Alley. The areas at greatest risk include Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and St. Louis.”

In the second half of May, however, a shift in the pattern “will increase the number of severe storms and tornadoes farther east and in the Plains. The Tennessee Valley, southern Appalachians, and parts of the Southeast will have an elevated risk of severe weather during this timeframe. …Other areas, such as the Northeast and Ohio Valley, should also be on alert for potentially damaging storms,” according to Joe Lundberg, AccuWeather long-range expert.

The report emphasizes that the three-month period from April through June “typically accounts for half of the tornadoes in the U.S. every year, as it is when the ingredients for twisters come together most frequently. An AccuWeather analysis of data from the Storm Prediction Center found that May 25 is the day with the highest number of tornado reports. Between 1950 and 2020, 649 tornadoes touched down on the date, more than any other day on the calendar,” the report concludes. “While tornado activity usually peaks in late spring and early summer, it can occur on any day of the year when conditions are right.”