May 16-19, 1989:

Multiple days of heavy rain and thunderstorms impacted eastern Texas and much of Louisiana. The highest totals were 16' west of Lake Charles and 18' southeast of Shreveport. Widespread flash flooding ensued, inundating several towns and rural areas.

#wxhistory

May 16, 1987:

A rare tornado touched down in south-central New Mexico, 7 miles east of Capitan in the Sacramento Mountains. The twister remained almost stationary and only uprooted trees at F1 intensity. This event occurred at an elevation of ~6,900 feet.

#wxhistory

On this date 7 years ago, this tornado formed near McLean, Texas.

It was one of more than a dozen tornadoes that formed that day in western Oklahoma and the eastern Texas Panhandle.

May 16-17, 2015:

A widespread outbreak of 59 tornadoes impacted the Central and Southern US. Four tornadoes were significant (EF2+), the strongest of which was a massive EF3 near Elmer, Oklahoma. Per the NCDC, the EF3 may have been violent. Three people were injured.

#wxhistory

May 16, 1991:

An outbreak brought four dozen tornadoes to the Great Plains. Two twisters were rated F3, one of which impacted Derby and Hayesville, Kansas. This was the second intense tornado to occur in the Wichita Metro in less than a month. 3 people were injured.

#wxhistory

May 16, 2017:

A widespread severe weather outbreak impacted the Great Plains and Upper Midwest. Nearly two dozen tornadoes were confirmed, five of which were significant (EF2+). Two EF3s were confirmed near Chetek, WI, and Pawnee Rock, KS. Two people were killed.

#wxhistory

May 16, 1989:

A violent tornado struck close to Brackettville, Texas. The F4 occurred mostly over open scrubland, destroying only three homes and a few outbuildings. Forty yards of pavement were ripped up from US-90 and hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted.

#wxhistory

May 16, 1977:

Scattered activity spawned 13 tornadoes in the Midwest and Southern Plains. Several F3s struck on the Texas/Oklahoma border and were documented in-depth by NSSL researchers. A few homes, businesses and a school were damaged near Shamrock and Quail.

#wxhistory

On this day in 2015, a moderate risk outbreak struck the Plains. Four tornadoes were significant (EF2+):

1. Elmer, Oklahoma EF3
– NCDC summary states that this tornado was likely violent
2. Orrick, Missouri EF2
3. Oneta, Oklahoma EF2
4. Inola-Tiawah, Oklahoma EF2

May 16, 1999:

A pair of intense tornadoes impacted Harrison County in western Iowa. The first F3 tracked for 6.2 miles and destroyed a home. The second F3 had a 7.5 mile path length destroyed six homes and a bridge. Two people were killed and 16 were injured.

#wxhistory

#weatherpicofday
Jim Bishop films a cone-shaped tornado over ranchland near the community of Amelia, Nebraska OTD 20 years ago, 16 May 2004. Soon after this pic, we had to bolt, the tornado passed over this location. w/ Mark McGowen
#newx

#weatherpicofday
Twin tornadoes over the Northwest Texas Panhandle near the community of Stratford during a significant outbreak OTD 21 years ago, 15 May 2003. Jim Bishop, Mark McGowen & I documented 3 twisters from this cyclic supercell.
#TXwx #film

May 15, 2009:

A supercell near Pampa, Texas produced grapefruit-sized hail, powerful downburst winds, and five tornadoes. The strongest tornado of the day was a half-mile-wide EF2 that caused one injury when a semi-truck was flipped.

#wxhistory

May 15, 1968:

39 tornadoes touched down in 10 states. Northern Iowa bore the brunt of two F5s that tore through Charles City and Oelwein, leveling numerous structures. To the south, an F4 impacted Jonesboro, AR. In total, 72 people were killed and 1200+ were injured.

#wxhistory

May 15-16, 2003:

A massive outbreak of 89 tornadoes struck the Plains and Southern US. 11 tornadoes were significant, though none eclipsed F2 intensity. One of the most notable tornadoes of the event was a large wedge F1 near Stratford, TX. Three people were injured.

#wxhistory

May 15, 1998:

A severe weather outbreak impacted the Central Plains and much of the Midwest. A potent squall line spawned several tornadoes, downbursts, and hail, causing a total of $1.5 billion in damage. A separate long-track F3 injured 47 people in eastern Iowa.

#wxhistory

May 15, 2013:

An outbreak of 19 tornadoes impacted Texas. The city of Granbury was slammed by a devastating EF4 (the first deadly Texas tornado since the 2007 Eagle Pass EF3). Later, a mile-wide EF3 impacted Cleburne. Six people were killed and 63 were injured.

#wxhistory

May 15, 2018:

A potent derecho affected the Mid-Atlantic and New England. The Storm Prediction Center received several hundred wind reports and ten tornadoes were confirmed. Over 600,000 customers lost power and at least five people were killed.

#wxhistory

May 15, 1896:

An estimated F5 devastated Sherman, Texas. The vortex narrowed as it entered the community and cut a path through the west side of town. Homes were obliterated, ground was scoured, and vegetation was shredded. 73 people were killed and 200 were injured.

#wxhistory

May 14-16, 2003, featured a widespread outbreak in the Central and Southern US. 12 tornadoes were significant:

1. Millerton, Oklahoma-Queen City, Texas F2
2. Springfield, Colorado F2
3. Liberal, Kansas F2 (#1)
4. Kismet, Kansas F2