List of United States tornadoes from May to July 2020

This page documents confirmed tornadoes from May to July 2020 via various weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service. Based on the 1991–2010 averaging period, 276 tornadoes occur across the United States throughout May, 243 in June, and 143 in July. The climatological peak for tornadic activity in the country, May features a risk area that is concentrated throughout the U.S. Great Plains, especially in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. This is a shift from earlier months where the highest concentration of tornadoes is focused around the U.S. Gulf Coast. Historical data shows a substantial drop in the number of violent (EF4+) tornadoes in May versus April, likely due to the loss of the amplified winter jet stream, and perhaps as a result of tornadoes tracking over more sparsely populated areas. However, intense tornadoes are still possible in any month of the year. Tornado activity in June typically shifts more north and west across the Plains, especially Northern Colorado and the Texas Panhandle. Tornado activity in July normally affects the Northern Plains and the Great Lakes.

In May 2020 was extremely inactive. The jet stream changed directions to flow south, a direction unfavorable for tornadoes. In the mid-part of the month, the pattern flipped and the jew stream turned north, allowing for cooler and drier air to move into the US, suppressing widespread thunderstorm activity. This resulted in the month May 2020 having only 126 verified tornadoes, turning it into one of the least active months on record. No moderate- or high-risk outlooks were issued by the Storm Prediction Center throughout the month, a first since archives of outlooks began in 2002. The dry conditions persisted into June as a high pressure built over the Great Plains and east, suppressing thunderstorms. This made June even less active, with only 92 confirmed tornadoes. In addition, no EF2+ tornado was confirmed during June, this first time this had occurred since records began 1950. However, July saw its first violent tornado since 2004 despite finishing well below average with only 98 confirmed tornadoes in the month. June and July also saw several tornadoes coming from tropical cyclones.

Tornado counts listed below are considered preliminary until final publication in the database of the National Centers for Environmental Information.

United States yearly total

May

May 3 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, May 3, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF1MarstonNew MadridMO18:56–19:01Several farm buildings were destroyed and had their concrete pillars pulled from the ground. Marston City Hall and an apartment building lost parts of their roofs. At least three power poles were broken. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped.

May 4 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, May 4, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF0S of GrandinCarterMO21:23–21:29A small section of the roof of a manufactured home was removed, several wooden power poles were pushed over, and dozens of trees were downed. EF1E of LexingtonClevelandOK22:50–22:54A mobile home had roof damage. Trees were downed just north of SH-39. EF0S of WinchesterFranklinTN02:50–02:54A manufactured home sustained minor roof damage, and several trees were uprooted, with one falling on a second house.

May 5 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, May 5, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF1SE of ChesterChesterSC22:32–22:39A house and a mobile home sustained siding damage, and numerous large trees were snapped or uprooted. EF2S of Richburg to SW of Heath SpringsChester, LancasterSC22:46–23:07Numerous large trees were snapped or uprooted. Fallen trees landed on a vehicle and destroyed a house. EF1S of Longville to NE of GillisBeauregard, CalcasieuLA02:45–02:59Outbuildings and carports were damaged, shingles were ripped off houses, and trees were snapped.

May 8 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, May 8, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF1MamouEvangelineLA19:35–19:36A few homes and businesses were damaged in town, and trees were blown down.

May 12 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, May 12, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF0McMahanCaldwellTX14:09–14:11A house was damaged, a barn sustained roof damage, and several trees were downed in McMahan. EF0NW of SmithvilleBastropTX15:54–16:01A few homes were damaged, and several trees were downed. EFUSSE of PaigeBastropTX16:28A storm chaser reported a tornado. No damage was found.

May 13 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, May 13, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF0E of CoyanosaPecosTX21:30–21:32The public reported a landspout tornado; no damage was found.

May 14 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, May 14, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EFUNW of BushongLyonKS01:05–01:09A brief, small tornado was observed by storm chasers; it did not cause damage. EFUNE of Alta VistaWabaunseeKS01:20–01:26A brief, small tornado was observed by storm chasers; it did not cause damage. EFUS of Council GroveMorrisKS01:49–02:00This tornado was observed by storm chasers but caused no damage. EF0NW of BushongLyonKS01:53–02:06An outbuilding sustained minor damage, and a trampoline was blown over. EF1NE of CambridgeHenryIL03:16–03:20Trees and outbuildings were damaged on two farmsteads. A silo was badly damaged.

May 15 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, May 15, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF1KeefetonMuskogeeOK14:38–14:49Outbuildings were damaged, trees were uprooted, sixteen homes or mobile homes were damaged or destroyed, and multiple power poles were snapped by this high-end EF1 tornado. EF1WiltonSaratogaNY21:59–22:01Softwood trees were snapped or uprooted nearly continuously along the path, some of which fell onto homes in town. Several street signs were blown down and displaced. Sheeting from a warehouse roof, along with an empty trailer, were blown on top of a van. EFUESE of DavidsonTillmanOK00:32A storm chaser photographed a tornado. No damage was found.

May 16 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 16, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF1MauricevilleOrangeTX11:48–11:53Several trees were snapped or uprooted in Mauriceville. EF1 MalakoffHendersonTX17:36–17:38Several trees were blown onto cars and homes in town, causing minor damage. A nursing home had significant roof damage. A small propane supply business building was completely destroyed at high-end EF1 intensity. EF0NW of Mount VernonFranklinTX18:33–18:34A metal outbuilding lost parts of its roof, and the garage of a home was damaged. Many tree limbs were downed, and several trees were uprooted. EF0N of MabankVan Zandt, KaufmanTX18:47–18:50This high-end EF0 tornado produced intermittent tree and power line damage, as well as roof damage to several manufactured homes, site-built homes, and a couple of farm outbuildings. EFUSW of Foreman, ARLittle River (AR), McCurtain (OK)AR, OK19:35–19:38This tornado was observed over open field and caused no damage. EFUWright Patman LakeCass, BowieTX20:37–20:39A waterspout was well-documented but caused no damage. EF1NE of LearyBowieTX22:05–22:06Roofing was torn from a home, and two trees were toppled. Video of this tornado was captured on a phone camera. EF1E of TexarkanaMillerAR22:16–22:18Shingles were ripped off a house, and the structure's carport was destroyed. A wooden power poles were snapped and trees were uprooted. EF0WNW of TomMcCurtainOK22:20–22:21A few small trees and branches were damaged. EF0W of FultonLittle RiverAR22:36–22:37The roof of a house was partially damaged, and multiple large tree limbs were downed. EF1NW of WaldoColumbia, NevadaAR22:39–22:42A car was flipped, and several large trees were uprooted. EF1E of BodcawNevadaAR22:56–22:58A metal overhang was tossed about , and several trees were snapped or uprooted. EF0E of BlevinsHempsteadAR23:46–23:47A brief tornado documented via pictures downed a large tree limb.

May 17 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, May 17, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EFUN of MillingtonKendallIL20:15–20:17A brief tornado with no known damage was reported by a trained storm spotter. EF0NNE of Macon to ENE of ElwinMaconIL21:06–21:14Minor damage was done to trees. EFUS of Coal CityGrundyIL22:26–22:27A brief tornado was reported by emergency management with no known damage. EF1S of OakdaleAllenLA22:41–22:49Several trees were snapped or uprooted. EF0N of Holly BeachCameronLA23:01–23:02This tornado remained over marshland. EF0SSE of De QuincyCalcasieuLA23:40–23:41Photos and videos were taken of this tornado. It remained in wooded areas. EF0SE of MamouEvangelineLA01:00–01:01Videos were taken of this tornado. It remained over swampland. EF3NW of Church PointAcadia, St. LandryLA01:31–01:411 death– A mid-range EF3 tornado moved southeast toward Church Point, initially causing minor structural damage before producing major damage near the Acadia/St. Landry parish line. One home was picked up and thrown to the south, destroying it. Three people were in the home at the time; one person was killed and two sustained significant injuries. Nearby, four mobile homes were destroyed. Two were flipped and separated from their frames, the third was rolled over onto an SUV, and the fourth was pulled off its blocks and received significant structural damage. A few vehicles were flipped as well. The tornado briefly passed into St. Landry Parish, where two grain dryers were destroyed at a farm, and a tractor-trailer used for transporting crops was flipped onto a road. It then re-entered Acadia Parish and continued toward Church Point before dissipating. Numerous trees were downed along the path, including a large tree that fell onto a home near the end of the path. Nine people were injured by the tornado.

May 18 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, May 18, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF0NW of IoneSacramentoCA19:21–19:26A brief tornado was observed over open country south-southwest of Michigan Bar. No damage occurred. EF0Lilly ChapelMadisonOH20:49–20:53A barn was destroyed, with metal roofing thrown across a road, and several trees were downed.

May 19 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, May 19, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EFUN of LintnerPiattIL23:07–23:15A trained storm spotter reported a landspout tornado. No damage was found. EFUNNE of CherawOteroCO02:15–02:22This tornado was confirmed by a state trooper. No damage was found.

May 20 event