From May 10–12, 2014, a large and widespread tornado outbreak of 44 tornadoes spanned across portions of the central and Great Plains regions of the United States. The May 11 portion is sometimes referred to as the Mother's Day tornado outbreak by locals, due to it occurring on the celebration at the time. The outbreak began on the 10th, with isolated tornadoes across Idaho, Kansas, Missouri and also Alabama. The strongest tornado of that event was an EF2 tornado that struck Orrick, Missouri, causing widespread damage in town.
The following day on the 11th, dozens of tornadoes were reported across Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota, with the event's epicenter taking place across southern and eastern Nebraska, where a prolific and cyclical, high-precipitation supercell produced 17 tornadoes from areas southeast of Hastings, to the Omaha metropolitan area. Two large EF3 tornadoes caused severe damage to portions of Clay, Fillmore, York and Seward Counties. The first one impacted rural farmsteads until eventually passing by Sutton. The parent supercell brought in powerful rear flank downdraft winds that were estimated at into the downtown area. The second EF3 was a massive and rainwrapped wedge tornado, which spanned wide and struck farms near Cordova, before eventually making a direct hit on the small city of Beaver Crossing. Severe rear flank downdraft and inflow winds occurred alongside as well as the supercell tracked through southeastern Nebraska. Winds of were reported near the Omaha metro area, notably Douglas County.,
On the 12th, minor tornadic activity was reported. Only two tornadoes, both rated EF0 occurred outside of Elyria and Medina, Ohio, before the outbreak came to an end.
Alongside tornadic events, major and historic flash floods caused by an organized convective complex struck northern Ohio on May 12. A winter storm brought heavy snow cover for parts of the Rocky Mountains and High Plains. of snow was reported at the Sierra Madre Range, Wyoming., One person was killed along US 285 near Denver, Colorado, by the storm.
Only one person was injured by one of the tornadoes from this outbreak. Other injuries were inflicted by the winter storm that persisted through May 10–12, where one death also occurred.
Meteorological synopsis
On May 9, 2014, at 11:30 p.m. CDT (04:30 UTC), the Storm Prediction Center outlined a slight risk for severe weather across portions of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. A 2% probability for tornadoes within of a point within the region was also outlined, as a cold front moved eastward through the Great Lakes region and the Ozarks into an environment with moderate atmospheric instability and strong wind shear.
May 10 By May 10, 1:00 a.m. CDT (06:00 UTC), the slight risk shifted westward, including much of the central Great Plains region, with a 5% probability for a tornado within of a point within portions of northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas, where increasing temperatures and maximized low-level shear along a warm front enhanced the threat for tornadoes. As the day progressed further, several supercell thunderstorms formed along a front over areas in central Missouri, producing several tornadoes and bringing strong wind and hail to the region. Additionally, an isolated tornado was reported in the northeastern parts of Idaho.
May 11 On May 11, 1:00 a.m. CDT (06:00 UTC), a moderate risk was outlined for portions of northeast Kansas, southeast Nebraska, northwest Missouri, and much of southwest and central Iowa, in light of the ample moisture and high temperatures ahead of a warm front within the region. A 10% probability for a tornado within of a point was highlighted for much of the same area. Alongside this, a slight risk was outlined, stretching from central Texas to the Great Lakes region, alongside a 2% and 5% hatched area for tornadoes overlapping much of same areas. At 3:00 a.m. CDT (08:00 UTC), a line of strong thunderstorms rapidly formed near the Kansas/Nebraska border and shifted northward, bringing strong wind and hail to the area. As the day progressed, the moderate risk area was expanded to include more of the central Great Plains region, with a 15% hatched area for tornadoes being outlined for portions of southwest Iowa and southeast Nebraska, as strong, low-level wind shear, considerable moisture, and moderate instability favored supercellular development across the region. In the afternoon hours, thunderstorms began to rapidly develop near Hastings, Nebraska, with one severe storm that was moving eastward along a warm front producing numerous tornadoes across the region, including two that were rated EF3. Strong wind gusts, heavy rain, and large hail were also reported. Additional supercells moved across the Central Plains region, stretching from central Kansas to central Iowa. Very large hail was reported, alongside numerous tornadoes and damaging winds.
May 12 On May 12, 1:00 a.m. CDT (06:00 UTC), a slight risk was outlined for a large portion of the southwestern and midwestern regions of the United States, stretching from southern Texas to the Great Lakes region, as moderate atmospheric instability redevelops and a cold front that was over portions of Iowa, eastern Kansas, and central Oklahoma. A 2% probability for a tornado within 25 mi (40 km) of a point was outlined for much of the same areas, alongside a 5% hatched risk area for central-to-northeast Missouri, eastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois, and southwest Wisconsin. Clusters of strong thunderstorms began to develop that afternoon, affecting areas from southern Michigan to the southern Great Plains. Strong wind and hail were reported across the region, alongside several tornado reports. That evening, a warm front over Lake Erie tracked over Ohio, with several embedded supercells forming over north-central portions of the state. The slow-moving storms produced two confirmed tornadoes and extreme levels of rainfall, resulting in numerous flash floods.
Confirmed tornadoes
May 10 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, May 10, 2014EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthDamageSummaryRefs EF0NW of MonteviewJeffersonID1747–1753A brief tornado touched down over open fields. EF1E of BlackGenevaAL2007–2016A house sustained considerable damage and metal barn was destroyed. Support beams at the barn were blown over, which resulted in concrete footings being pulled out of the ground at that location. EF2N of Sibley to Orrick to SW of HenriettaJackson, RayMO2215–2255See section on this tornado EF0N of LexingtonRayMO2300–2302Brief tornado caused no damage. EF1NNE of MarshallSalineMO0026–0043Large wedge tornado damaged trees, power lines, and farm structures. EF0NW of SeveryGreenwoodKS0116–0117Rope tornado touched down in an open field, causing no damage.
May 11 event