A significant four-day outbreak of tornadoes impacted areas across the High Plains, central Midwest, and parts of the Ohio Valley in early May. The outbreak also produced the first EF4 tornado of the year in Katie, Oklahoma on May 9, where one death occurred. An EF3 tornado near Connerville, Oklahoma also killed a person that day. Other notable tornadoes included two large EF2 tornadoes in Colorado on May 7, a large EF2 tornado near Catherine, Kansas on May 8, and a destructive EF3 tornado that struck Mayfield, Kentucky on May 10. Overall, 57 tornadoes were confirmed.

Meteorological synopsis

The tornado outbreak developed along a cold front alongside an area of low pressure while situated north of the United States–Canada border. Near the High Plains, a dry line began to coalesce as wind shear started climbing to levels favorable for tornadoes. In addition, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico was advected northwards into the country. Not long afterwards, tornadic supercell thunderstorms began developing late on May 7.

Tornadic activity started with a large multiple-vortex EF2 tornado that tossed several RVs into the air and injured two people near Wiggins, Colorado on May 7. Later that evening, a large stovepipe tornado caused high-end EF2 damage near the town of Wray, while several other tornadoes tracked across other very rural areas of Colorado, causing no damage. Scattered tornadoes occurred on May 8, most of which were weak. However, a strong EF2 tornado caused considerable damage to outbuildings and high-voltage transmission line poles near Catharine, Kansas. On May 9, a significant tornado event unfolded across Oklahoma, as several strong to violent tornadoes touched down and caused severe damage in several portions of the state. A violent EF4 stovepipe tornado (the first EF4 tornado of 2016) near Katie, Oklahoma killed one person, leveled and swept away multiple homes, and left behind an extensive swath of ground scouring, while a large EF3 wedge tornado from the same parent supercell caused major damage near Sulphur. An EF3 tornado that tracked from near Connerville to Bromide destroyed a house and killed one person. An extremely large EF3 multiple-vortex tornado reached a maximum width of about as it passed near Boswell, snapping and denuding numerous trees, destroying mobile homes, heavily damaging frame homes, and toppling two large metal power line truss towers along its path. Other strong tornadoes occurred as far north as Nebraska, including an EF2 tornado that tore the roof and some exterior walls from a home near Nehawka and injured one person. An EF1 tornado also caused minor damage in residential areas of Lincoln. Significant tornado activity continued on May 10, as several tornadoes moved across areas of western Kentucky, including an EF3 tornado that injured 10 people as it moved through the north edge of Mayfield, Kentucky, destroying numerous homes, vehicles, and businesses. Another tornado caused EF2 damage near Hartford. Overall, this outbreak killed two people and produced 57 tornadoes.

Confirmed tornadoes

May 7 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 7, 2016EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamage(2016 USD) EF0NNW of GoodrichMorganCO2020A storm chaser reported a brief tornado touchdown in an open field. EF0SW of BuckinghamWeldCO2025A storm chaser observed a brief tornado in open country. EF2W of Wiggins to NW of OrchardWeld, MorganCO2055–2110A large multiple-vortex tornado developed south of I-76 and moved north, snapping numerous power poles and tossing several RVs. Large trees were snapped and uprooted, ten irrigation pivots were destroyed, and outbuildings were damaged as well. Two minor injuries occurred when a camper was rolled over. EF0NW of Fort MorganMorganCO2135This tornado remained over open country and caused no damage. EF0SW of EckleyYumaCO2206–2215A storm chaser reported a tornado over open country. EF0N of EckleyYumaCO2257–2302This tornado remained over open country and caused no damage. EF0S of WrayYumaCO2337–2340This tornado remained over open country and caused no damage. EF2N of Wray to SE of WaunetaYumaCO2353–0016Three residences and two businesses north of Wray were damaged by this high-end EF2 stovepipe tornado. A semi-truck was picked up and tossed, scattering cargo down US 385. A tractor and several vehicles were flipped and sandblasted by gravel. Large amounts of barbed wire fencing were torn up and strewn throughout the area, and 40 power poles were downed. Four people were injured. EF1SE of Petersburg to NE of OtwellPikeIN0020–0024One home received substantial damage, with the attached garage being blown down and some windows and doors being broken. A farm building and a small shed were blown down and dozens of trees were downed as well.

May 8 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, May 8, 2016EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamage(2016 USD) EF0SW of GoveGoveKS2233–2248Members of the public observed a tornado over open country. EF0S of WaKeeneyTregoKS2300–2306A brief tornado remained over open country and caused no damage. EF0NE of IndianolaRed WillowNE2325–2350This landspout tornado remained over open country, causing no damage. EF0NNE of EllisEllisKS0000–0004A brief tornado remained over open country and caused no damage. EFUSE of Central HighStephensOK0003–0007Numerous trained storm spotters and storm chasers observed a tornado over open country. EF2N of Catharine to S of CodellEllis, RooksKS0008–0023Four large high-voltage transmission line poles were damaged or destroyed. Several outbuildings, trees, and at least 36 power poles were damaged or destroyed as well. The tornado continued into Rooks County and caused minimal damage before lifting. EF1SSE of CodellRooksKS0027–0033Trees, fences, and several power poles were damaged. EF0E of StockvilleFrontierNE0029–0030A brief tornado remained over open country and caused no damage.

May 9 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, May 9, 2016EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamage(2016 USD) EF0SW of DrakesvilleDavisIA2006–2007This narrow, intermittent landspout caused no damage. EF4S of Katie to SW of WynnewoodGarvinOK2106–21271 death – See section on this tornado EF1Southeastern LincolnLancasterNE2125–2131A brief tornado touched down in a residential area, causing mainly tree, shingle, and fence damage. One home sustained considerable damage to its garage. EF0N of OdessaBuffaloNE2130A brief landspout tornado touched down but caused no damage. EF3NNW of Davis to SSW of RoffMurray, PontotocOK2134–2217See section on this tornado EF1WNW of BennetLancasterNE2153–2156Tornado destroyed a barn and caused minor tree damage. EF0E of FairfieldClayNE2206–2214A weak tornado impacted an irrigation pivot, inflicted minor damage to a walkway overhang at a school, blew windows out of vehicles, and damaged trees and fences. EF0E of WymanLouisaIA2215–2216Brief tornado remained over open country and caused no damage. EF0SE of BushnellMcDonoughIL2215–2217This brief tornado remained over open country and caused no damage. EFULake ThunderbirdClevelandOK2216A brief tornado/waterspout occurred over Lake Thunderbird; no damage occurred. EFUW of PontotocJohnstonOK2218–2225This rope tornado remained over open country and caused no damage. EF3S of Connerville to BromideJohnston, CoalOK2218–22341 death – Much of the damage from this tornado was limited to snapped trees and power poles, though an unanchored home was obliterated and swept away, killing the occupant and leaving little debris behind. A pickup truck from the residence thrown into a wooded area and severely mangled. Other structures along the path sustained roof damage. The tornado weakened significantly before striking Bromide and dissipating, causing only minor tree limb damage in town. EF0S of GreenbushWarrenIL2243–2244A brief tornado remained over open country and caused no damage. EF1ENE of Wapanucka to N of AtokaAtoka, CoalOK2246–2319This tornado damaged and destroyed outbuildings, rolled an oil tank, and blew the roof off of a radio station building. Numerous trees were downed along the path. EFUENE of WapanuckaAtokaOK2247A brief satellite tornado associated with the previous tornado caused no damage. This tornado may have been anticyclonic. EF2W of NehawkaCassNE2249–2315A house lost its roof and some exterior walls, outbuildings were destroyed, and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. One person was injured after they were thrown from the house, and survived by hanging on to a small tree. EF2SE of Perry to WSW of MorrisonNoble, PayneOK2258–2320This large cone tornado caused significant roof damage to two homes, destroyed a mobile home, snapped numerous trees and power poles, and damaged outbuildings. EF3SE of Bennington to SW of SoperBryan, ChoctawOK2322–2342An extremely large multiple-vortex tornado with a path width of nearly passed near the town of Boswell and destroyed at least three mobile homes, injuring two people. Several frame homes were damaged, some of which sustained major roof loss and the collapse of some exterior walls. Multiple outbuildings were destroyed, numerous power poles were snapped, and many trees were snapped and uprooted, some of which were denuded. Two large metal truss towers were collapsed as well. EF0SE of FactClayKS2340–2342This brief tornado remained over open country, causing no damage. EF1HugoChoctawOK0002–0010Numerous homes and businesses were in town were damaged, storage buildings were destroyed, trees were uprooted, and signs were blown down. EFUNW of Sawyer to S of SpencervilleChoctawOK0018–0030A tornado remained over Hugo Lake for nearly all of its duration, with no signs of damage across accessible land areas. EFUN of SawyerChoctawOK0025–0026This satellite tornado associated with the Hugo Lake tornado caused no known damage. EF0E of North BranchGuthrieIA0046–0101Roof paneling was removed from an outbuilding and augers were flipped over and rolled at a farmstead. EF0NW of WichitaGuthrieIA0118–0123This weak, narrow tornado caused no damage. EF0S of HomesteadSheridanMT0125–0128A landspout tornado was observed, and dirt was found disturbed in an open field. EF1NE of Spring HillBowieTX0159–0203A home sustained minor siding loss, an outbuilding was damaged, and trees were snapped or uprooted. EF1NE of Spring HillBowieTX0206–0207Several trees were snapped or uprooted. EF1NW of AvillaSalineAR0334–0339Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which fell and caused roof damage to homes. A manufactured home had its windows broken.

May 10 event