Early May Severe Storms

Severe storms continue across the Plains and Midwest where large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are possible.

On May 7, 2024, severe storms raced across the Midwest. The storms spawned several damaging tornadoes in southern Michigan, including one that hit the town of Portage.

On May 6, 2024, a high risk of severe storms was issued for parts of Oklahoma and Kansas. During this high risk, a powerful, damaging tornado ripped through the towns of Bartlesville and Barnsdall in Oklahoma.

For more information, visit the Storm Prediction Center.

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Contributions by: Kim Erickson, Josh Reiter and Dakota Smith

Satellite imagery of this event:

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Active Night for Many Across the Southeast US

Media Details

It was an active night for many folks across the southeastern US as multiple rounds of thunderstorms moved through the area.

Phenomena Lightning, Thunderstorms

Satellites GOES-16

Products GeoColor, GLM Group Energy Density, Infrared (band 13)

Instruments ABI, GLM

Timespan Start: 2024/05/09 19:00 - 2024/05/10 14:26

Storms Ignite Yet Again Across the South

Media Details

Thunderstorms ignite across the Southern US yet again this afternoon. Satellites monitor storm activity as the severe weather threat continues through tonight, from Texas all the way to the Atlantic coast.

Phenomena Thunderstorms

Satellites GOES-16

Products Infrared (band 13), Visible (band 2)

Instruments ABI

Timespan Start: 2024/05/09 15:30 - 2024/05/09 18:26

Morning Storms Roll Across the Southeast

Media Details

Thunderstorms continue to roll across the southeast US.

Phenomena Thunderstorms

Satellites GOES-16

Products GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)

Instruments ABI, GLM

Timespan Start: 2024/05/09 11:16 - 2024/05/09 15:01

Relentless Thunderstorms Hit Midwest and South

Media Details

Thunderstorms relentlessly hitting parts of the Midwest and South.

Phenomena Lightning, Thunderstorms

Satellites GOES-16

Products GeoColor, GLM Group Energy Density

Instruments ABI, GLM

Timespan Start: 2024/05/08 04:01 - 2024/05/09 07:56

Severe Storms Produce Tornadoes in Tennessee

Media Details

Several ongoing severe thunderstorms have produced tornadoes across the state of Tennessee, including a large and dangerous tornado earlier this evening that tracked through Central Tennessee, near the city of Columbia. Tornado watches are still in effect across several Southern US states for the next few hours.

Phenomena Above Anvil Cirrus Plumes, Thunderstorms, Tornadoes

Satellites GOES-16

Products Visible (band 2)

Instruments ABI

Timespan Start: 2024/05/08 22:00 - 2024/05/09 00:17

Severe Weather Populates Across Mid-South and Midwest States

Media Details

Numerous lightning strikes fill the skies above several Midwest and Mid-South states as severe weather continues to threaten the region this afternoon.

All severe storms hazards ranging from tornadoes, to large hail, to damaging wind gusts have been observed and will still be probable from the Ozarks to the Carolinas through tonight.

Phenomena Lightning, Thunderstorms

Satellites GOES-16

Products GeoColor, GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)

Instruments ABI, GLM

Timespan Start: 2024/05/08 15:00 - 2024/05/08 20:27

Sun Rises on a Supercell Over Missouri

Media Details

The sun rises on a supercell thunderstorm traveling over Missouri. All severe storm hazards are possible today through the mid Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys.

Phenomena Overshooting Tops, Thunderstorms

Satellites GOES-16

Products GLM Group Energy Density, Infrared (band 13), Visible (band 2)

Instruments ABI, GLM

Timespan Start: 2024/05/08 12:01 - 2024/05/08 14:47

Severe Storms Spawn Damaging Tornadoes in Southern Michigan

Media Details

Severe storms racing across the Midwest, spawning several damaging tornadoes in southern Michigan.

Phenomena Hail, Lightning, Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Wind

Satellites GOES-16

Products GeoColor, GLM Group Energy Density

Instruments ABI, GLM

Timespan Start: 2024/05/07 19:01 - 2024/05/08 01:26

Severe Storm Initiation Over the Midwest

Media Details

Another round of severe weather has kicked off today as storms proliferate over the Midwest US. All storm hazards, including a few tornadoes, large hail, and strong winds are possible through the evening hours.

Phenomena Lightning, Thunderstorms

Satellites GOES-16

Products GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)

Instruments ABI, GLM

Timespan Start: 2024/05/07 17:10 - 2024/05/07 19:22

High-Risk Storms From Polar-Orbiting Satellites

Media Details

This imagery taken from polar-orbiting satellites shows the storms on Monday afternoon, just after they first began firing-up across the Plains, and early Tuesday morning moving into the Midwest.

Phenomena Lightning, Thunderstorms

Satellites NOAA-20, NOAA-21, S-NPP

Products Day/Night Band, Infrared (band I5)

Instruments VIIRS

Timespan Start: 2024/05/06 18:19 - 2024/05/07 08:29

Dangerous Tornado Touches Down in Northeast Oklahoma

Media Details

A supercell in northeast Oklahoma produced a large and dangerous tornado that moved towards the towns of Barnsdall and Bartlesville. Storms continue to flare up across the Great Plains as the severe threat will last through the overnight hours.

Phenomena Thunderstorms, Tornadoes

Satellites GOES-16

Products GeoColor, Infrared (band 13)

Instruments ABI

Timespan Start: 2024/05/07 01:01 - 2024/05/07 03:26

Tornadic Storms Form in Oklahoma

Media Details

Multiple tornadic storms erupt in Oklahoma.

Phenomena Lightning, Thunderstorms, Tornadoes

Satellites GOES-16

Products GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)

Instruments ABI, GLM

Timespan Start: 2024/05/06 19:30 - 2024/05/07 00:50

Lightning Indicates Strong Storm Development in the Plains

Media Details

Strong and severe thunderstorms proliferate across the central and southern plains.

Phenomena Lightning, Thunderstorms

Satellites GOES-16

Products GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)

Instruments ABI, GLM

Timespan Start: 2024/05/06 17:00 - 2024/05/06 20:25

Severe Thunderstorms Initiate in Oklahoma and Kansas

Media Details

A line of storms have erupted along the frontal boundary in the central and southern plains, with some them already becoming severe. All severe storm hazards, including strong tornadoes, are forecasted for this region through the nighttime hours.

Phenomena Thunderstorms

Satellites GOES-16

Products Visible (band 2)

Instruments ABI

Timespan Start: 2024/05/06 17:00 - 2024/05/06 20:25

Storms Begin to Fire Up Over the Great Plains

Media Details

Severe thunderstorms begin to fire up across the Great Plains.

Phenomena Lightning, Thunderstorms

Satellites GOES-16

Products GeoColor, GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)

Instruments ABI, GLM

Timespan Start: 2024/05/06 16:01 - 2024/05/06 19:16

Southern Plains Tornado Outbreak

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