2024 Sees Surge in May Tornadoes, Highest Since 2019

JOPLIN, Mo. (KSNF/KODE) — As the official start to summer approaches, many people across the Midwest are still recovering from a record number of destructive spring tornadoes.

According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, April and May of 2024 had the second most tornadoes on record, only behind the historic year of 2011 when an EF-5 tornado struck Joplin — claiming 158 lives and causing $2.8 billion in damage, making it the costliest single tornado in U.S. history.

May of 2024 had the fourth most May tornadoes on record (1950 to present), and the most since 2019.

As for why a large portion of the country has seen a significant increase this year in overall severe weather, Ray Foreman, chief meteorologist for Nexstar’s KODE, says it comes down to many factors, such as climate conditions, seasonal weather patterns and technology that allows more people to track and confirm tornadoes.

“We tend to go through cycles with severe weather, especially in Missouri. Some years we don’t have hardly anything at all. This past year has been a different story. It was active everywhere across the nation, but even more so here in the Four States,” said Foreman.

The Storm Prediction Center says more than 930 tornadoes were reported in the first five months of 2024. This is the fourth most active start to a year on record, and is near the 90th percentile for the last 25-year period, which is well above average.

Many of the tornadoes seen so far this year were of considerable strength. In fact, more than 130 tornadoes have been rated EF-2 or stronger (winds up to 135 mph). Thirty-two of those were EF-3 to EF-4 tornadoes (winds up to 170 mph) in the first 5 months of the year.

However, the most destructive tornadoes so far this year occurred in May. One of those touched down in northeast Oklahoma. On May 6, a powerful EF-4 destroyed much of Barnsdall and Bartlesville, killing one person.

Missouri has also seen its share of record-setting severe weather this year, especially when it comes to tornado warnings. As May turned to June and the typical peak of spring tornado season had been reached, so had a new record.

“Looking back on this past spring, which we’re not quite done with yet, we’ve had some very active weather,” said Foreman. “In Missouri, there was a two-day timespan between May 26 and May 27 where we had 34 tornadoes in just those two days. We see an average of 50 tornadoes, in total, during the course of a year. So that was over half of what we normally get in a year’s time in Missouri,” said Foreman.

As of June 1, Missouri had already experienced 184 tornado warnings — the third highest of any state so far this year, and the third highest in Missouri history. The highest number of tornado warnings issued in the U.S. so far this year has been in Texas (216), followed by Oklahoma (195).

2024 Sees Record Tornado Activity Across Midwest
The Midwest is grappling with the aftermath of a highly active tornado season, with 2024 witnessing the fourth most May tornadoes on record, and the most since 2019. According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, April and May of 2024 recorded the second highest number of tornadoes on record, only surpassed by the catastrophic year of 2011.
Chief Meteorologist Ray Foreman attributes the surge in tornadoes to factors such as climate conditions, seasonal weather patterns, and advanced tracking technology. In the first five months of 2024, over 930 tornadoes were reported, marking the fourth most active start to a year on record.
This year’s tornadoes have been notably severe, with more than 130 rated EF-2 or stronger, including 32 EF-3 to EF-4 tornadoes. The most destructive tornadoes occurred in May, particularly an EF-4 that devastated Barnsdall and Bartlesville in northeast Oklahoma, resulting in one fatality.
Missouri experienced a significant spike in tornado activity, with a two-day span in late May seeing 34 tornadoes, surpassing half of the state’s annual average. By June 1, Missouri had issued 184 tornado warnings, the third highest in the state’s history. Texas and Oklahoma had the highest number of tornado warnings in the U.S. so far this year.