From May 22–25, 2010, a significant tornado outbreak affected a large area from North Dakota to New Mexico. The system that caused the outbreak formed from a low-pressure system that was located in Canada. Isolated tornadoes were reported across portions of central South Dakota that afternoon. The most intense supercell produced a long-lived wedge tornado in and around Bowdle, South Dakota, where numerous houses and farm buildings were destroyed and cars were thrown into the air. It was rated as an EF4, but mostly remained in rural the countryside and no injuries were reported.
Meteorological synopsis On May 20, a strong low pressure system moved on to the British Columbia coast, bringing with it a cold front over the Rockies, although it produced no showers. Two days later, on May 22, the cold front detached from the low pressure system and connected with a warm front from the Southeastern United States and another low pressure system over Wyoming. Dry line activity increased over the Great Plains and many tornadoes formed in South Dakota. The worst of these tornadoes was rated an EF4 pending further analysis. The next day, on May 23, the warm front joined a portion of the cold front and became an occluded front. The cold front once again joined the Canadian low pressure system. Dry line activity held steady and a number of more tornadoes formed across the Great Plains. Many meteorologists believed that Monday, May 24 would be one of the most active tornado days. Dr. Greg Forbes of the Weather Channel issued an 8/10 risk of tornadoes for spots in the Great Plains. A front was stationed over South Dakota, bringing fast moving supercells and tornadoes from North Dakota to Texas. The next day, more severe thunderstorms fired up, but severe activity shifted east and south. VORTEX2 was able to get valuable information when tracking a supercell that produced 3 tornadoes, each weak and short-lived.
Confirmed tornadoes
May 22 event + List of confirmed tornadoes –Saturday, May 22, 2010EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary EF0S of AkaskaWalworthSD22:31–22:35A brief tornado touched down occurred in a field. EF1SE of JavaWalworthSD23:16–23:18A tornado knocked down six wooden power poles before lifting quickly. EF4ESE of Java to NE of BowdleWalworth, EdmundsSD23:21–23:40See section on this tornado EF0NNW of ChancellorPecosTX23:36–23:49A tornado was observed by trained spotters and local law enforcement, tracking south-southeast. Minor damage was done to vegetation. EF0NE of GretnaEdmundsSD00:10–00:12A tornado briefly touched down near US-12. No damage occurred. EF0NNE of BeebeEdmundsSD00:48–00:50A tornado briefly touched down and lifted. This tornado occurred simultaneously with the tornado below. EF0NNE of BeebeEdmundsSD00:48–00:50This tornado occurred simultaneously with the tornado above. It was brief and caused no damage. EF2NNE of Ipswich to Wetonka to WSW of BarnardEdmunds, McPherson, BrownSD01:01–01:40A significant, long-track tornado first touched down in northeastern Edmunds County, where it tore off sections from the roof of a barn. The tornado then tracked through primarily crop and pasture land to near Deerfield Colony. Sporadic tree damage was observed along the tornado path with many wooden power poles completely sheared off as the tornado entered into McPherson County. The tornado struck a farm where a calving shed was completely destroyed with large sections of the roof blown over . The tornado then caused moderate damage to a barn with one collapsed wall. Multiple softwood and hardwood trees were uprooted and many power poles were completely snapped near the base. The tornado tore the roof off a turkey barn at the Long Lake Colony. Several homes in Wetonka also sustained minor roof damage. The tornado then entered into western Brown County and did some tree damage before dissipating. EF0NW of ChancellorPecosTX01:15–01:16A trained weather spotter reported a weak, brief tornado. No damage was reported. EF1WSW of Orient HydeSD01:26–01:29A tornado struck a farm damaging or destroying several large barns, eighteen grain bins and the garage on a home. A grain cart was also tipped over by the tornado and twelve cattle were killed. EF0W of SparksCherryNE01:45–01:50A tornado touched down over an open field and traveled east where it struck a metal building tearing off a portion of the roof. The tornado destroyed a portion of a grandstand and completely demolished a concession stand before lifting. EF2NW of Houghton to W of HeclaBrownSD02:10–02:13A strong tornado tore the roof off an outbuilding and threw several grain bins over . Widespread tree damage also occurred. Before dissipating, the tornado damaged another outbuilding and destroyed an empty grain bin. EF2WinnerTrippSD02:11–02:22A tornado tracked through Winner, blowing down carports, trees, and flipping tractor-trailers. A large barn had its curved roof blown off in one piece and tossed across a corral east of town. Another machine shed was blown apart. EF2ENE of Norden to NW of BurtonKeya PahaNE02:30–02:50A tornado did extensive tree damage when it touched down, before moving northeast and striking two farmsteads. At the first farmstead, a loafing shed and stock trailer were destroyed, extensive tree and fence damage occurred, and a roof was torn off an old hog building. The most extensive damage occurred north of the farmstead where six rural power poles were broken. The tornado continued to move northeast and destroy a windmill. Then a second farmstead was hit with the tornado destroying a quonset before the tornado lifted.
May 23 event + List of confirmed tornadoes –Sunday, May 23, 2010EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary EF2SE of VerhalenReeves, PecosTX23:56–00:06A strong tornado moved southeastward damaging 12 power poles. All but two of these poles were broken into 3 or 4 pieces each. The tornado was also photographed by a NWS employee and local law enforcement. EF0N of Brownsville to S of BrewsterThomasKS01:03–01:06A storm chaser reported a cone tornado. EF1NW of SpringfieldBacaCO01:12–01:24A tornado traveled an odd northwest direction, where it downed 5 power poles and moved a hay swather. EF1WSW of FeltCimarronOK01:30–01:35A tornado remained over open country. EF0SE of RuletonShermanKS01:52A brief tornado was reported. EF2SSE of Clayton, NM to W of Felt, OKUnion (NM), Cimarron (OK)NM, OK01:52–02:47Power lines were downed, barbed wire fences and hay bales were tossed. In addition, a steel building from a feedlot was destroyed and a semi truck was turned over on private property. The tornado crossed the New Mexico-Oklahoma state line and destroyed a steel windmill tower. Three metal feed troughs were also destroyed along with considerable fence damage before the tornado lifted. EF0SSE of ClaytonUnionNM01:55–02:03A weak satellite of the previous EF2 tornado was videoed. EF1NNE of GoodlandShermanKS02:07–02:17A stovepipe tornado was visible from the NWS office in Goodland. An irrigation pivot was damaged and trees were downed. Several utility poles were broken. EF1W of AmistadUnionNM02:10–02:27A residence was damaged. EF2W of SedanUnionNM02:12–02:36A single-wide mobile home had its tie-down straps completely destroyed and the undercarriage was carried . Agricultural equipment was also damaged. EF0NNE of GoodlandShermanKS02:16–02:19A storm chaser reported a cone tornado. EF1N of Sedan to SSE of ClaytonUnionNM02:36–02:48A fence was downed and a grain silo was destroyed. EF1E of SedanUnionNM02:59–03:25Minor damage was reported.
May 24 event + List of confirmed tornadoes –Monday, May 24, 2010EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary EF0Near KimballKimballNE17:34–17:44A tornado was confirmed but no storm survey was performed. EF0NE of ScottsbluffScotts BluffNE18:11–18:30A tornado was reported near the Minatare Lake State Recreation Area. No survey was performed. EF0Near GeringScotts BluffNE18:16–18:36A tornado was confirmed, but no storm survey was done. EF0WNW of KimballKimballNE18:38–18:45Law enforcement reported a tornado near a conservation reserve project. No damage occurred. EF2SSE of Plainview to SSW of FaithMeadeSD19:24–19:57A strong tornado damaged a manufactured home shortly after forming, tearing off its roof and blowing its walls over. The tornado also destroyed an old, abandoned house and a pole barn, and tossed a combine, a hay swather and a van. EF1GraftonWalshND19:30–19:35Several trees were blown down and a metal street light pole was snapped in northeastern Grafton. EF0ENE of Big Woods to W of ArgyleMarshallMN19:48–19:55A tornado downed a few trees in a shelterbelt and tossed road construction signs. EF0SSW of FaithMeadeSD20:00–20:06A tornado traveled due north causing no damage. EF0NW of AllianceBox ButteNE20:11–20:30A tornado was reported by the public and relayed on KCOW. No storm survey was performed. EF0SSE of Valley CityBarnesND20:29A brief touchdown and debris cloud were observed by the public. The tornado remained over an open field. EF2SSE of Usta to S of MeadowPerkinsSD20:34–21:00A tornado destroyed outbuildings on two ranches, tossed farm equipment, damaged trees and killed four calves. EF0NE of HalstadNormanMN20:48–20:51A tornado was viewed from a farm as it remained over open fields. EF2SSE of MeadowPerkinsSD20:55–21:10A rural school was destroyed. EF0W of ShadehillPerkinsSD21:34–21:35The manager of the Shadehill Reservoir State Recreation Area observed a brief tornado touchdown. EF1S of New LeipzigSioux, GrantND23:05–23:15A low-end EF1 damaged a roof at a farmstead. EF0NNW of Fort YatesSiouxND01:09–01:13Minor damage occurred to fences and a trailer home. EF0WNW of SpearmanHansfordTX01:29–01:42A farmstead had some minor damage and large trees were downed. EF0W of SpearmanHansfordTX01:37–01:38This tornado was a satellite of the previous tornado. It remained over open country. EF0NW of SpearmanHansfordTX01:47–01:49A trained spotter reported an intermittent tornado as it remained over open country. EF0S of TangierWoodwardOK01:48A small tornado snapped two power poles and some light farm implements were thrown. The residence at the farm sustained minor damage. EF0Near SpearmanHansfordTX01:56–01:58A storm spotter reported a tornado over open land. EF1SSE of TuttleKidderND02:00–02:10A tornado damaged vehicles, stalls, and barns. Some animal feeders were tossed and trees were also uprooted.
May 25 event