Tornado outbreak of May 22, 2020

A powerful trough moved from the west coast towards the central United States, and set the stage for a large severe weather outbreak. The event was forecast days in advance by the SPC, with a risk area outlined with the day 6 outlook. On the day of the event, the SPC upgraded the moderate risk they had in place the day before to a high risk for north Oklahoma, central Kansas, and south Nebraska. A strong surface low had formed and was positioned in northwest Kansas. The dryline extended from the surface low down into southwest Oklahoma, and a warm front was draped across much of the southern half of Nebraska. Given the impressive dynamics, with a 110+ knot jet streak nosing into the risk area, as well as a very strong low level jet, shear was not going to be an issue. 0-1 km SRH values were up to 300m2/s2 and 0-3km SRH values reached 700m2/s2 in some spots. Hodographs were textbook; they were very curved and exhibited the strong shear and potential for violent tornadoes nicely. Temperatures soared to 90 degrees, with dew points in the low 70's throughout the warm sector. The cap eroded by noon, and storms developed around 2:00 PM CDT. A PDS tornado watch was issued for much of the high risk area, with >95% chance of 2+ tornadoes, and a 90% of a significant tornado. There were two main areas where supercells with tornadoes developed: the dryline from central Kansas into central Oklahoma, and the warm front in Nebraska. By 3:00 PM numerous tornadoes were down, and the outbreak continued until just before midnight. The outbreak produced six violent tornadoes (4 EF4, 2 EF5), and is just the seventh day in since 1950 with multiple (E)F5 tornadoes. 39 people died, and the damages totaled almost $4 billion.

Tornado Statistics
 

May 22 Event
{| class="wikitable toccolours collapsible" width="100%" ! colspan="6" |List of confirmed tornadoes - May 22, 2018
 *   EF# || Location || County || Time of Origin (UTC) || Path length || Damage
 * colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |Nebraska
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * N of Red Cloud
 * Webster
 * 1956
 * 6.8 mi
 * Short-lived tornado went through farmland north of Red Cloud. Only damage was to crops and an outbuilding was destroyed.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * Amboy
 * Webster
 * 1959
 * 14.8 mi
 * Strong tornado occured simulataneosly with the EF0 tornado north of Red Cloud. The tornado touched down north of the Kansas/Nebraska border at 2:59 PM, and proceeded northeast. The very small community of Amboy took a direct hit, with four buildings in town taking EF2 damage.  The tornado dissipated just west of Highway 78 in a cornfield.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * Hardy to Ruskin
 * Nuckolls
 * 2024
 * 10.32 mi
 * This large wedge tornado achieved high-end EF2 strength on its 10 mile path. The tornado touched down on the northern side of Hardy, and moved north-northeast through mainly open farmland. The tornado did EF1 damage to a few farm buildings before entering Ruskin, where high-end EF2 damage was noted to several buildings on Main Street.  The tornado lifted just north of town, with a peak width of half a mile.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * N of Hardy
 * Nuckolls
 * 2029
 * 5.64 mi
 * Satellite tornado to the Hardy-Ruskin wedge. EF1 damage was noted to a farmhouse.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * E of Oak
 * Nuckolls, Thayer
 * 2048
 * 2 mi
 * Weak needle-shaped tornado remained in open fields, spawned from the same supercell that produced the Hardy-Ruskin EF2 tornado. Crossed from Nuckolls County into Thayer County before dissipating.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * W of Odell to Pickrell
 * Gage
 * 2125
 * 27.62 mi
 * 1 death - This intense tornado began just west of Odell in southwest Sage County. It rapidly gained size, turning into a multi-vortex wedge tornado as it turned north and moved through farmland.  The tornado killed one person in their car as it followed Route 77 up to Beatrice.  The city took a direct hit from the tornado at high-end EF3 strength.  Numerous homes in the Beatrice Country Club area were flattened or had only interior walls standing, and a few buildings in the downtown area of Beatrice demonstrated EF3 damage, as well.  Fortunately, no one was killed in the city.  The tornado did widespread EF2 damage on the north side of Beatrice, and narrowly missed the airport.  The twister became narrow and meandered through open country before weakening near Pickrell.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * SW of Salem
 * Richardson
 * 2246
 * 3.9 mi
 * Stovepipe tornado that was the first of four tornadoes spawned by a cyclical supercell in extreme southeast Nebraska. Although large and visually intense, this tornado did not impact any structures, remaining in open fields southwest of Salem.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * Falls City area
 * Richardson
 * 2304
 * 8.13 mi
 * Second tornado spawned by cyclical supercell in Richardson County. Tornado began southwest of Falls City and moved north-northeast.  The tornado did high-end EF1 damage to three homes on the western outskirts of Falls City.  Continuing northeast, additional EF1 damage was noted to a few buildings on the north side of town, including the Community Medical Center.  The tornado crossed the Big Nemaha River before weakening.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * NE of Falls City
 * Richardson
 * 2322
 * 0.3 mi
 * Third tornado spawned by cyclical supercell in Richardson County. Did minor damage to a farmhouse and downed power lines on 712 Road.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * E of Falls City
 * Richardson
 * 2330
 * 5 mi
 * Fourth and last tornado from the supercell in Richardson County. Took an unusual path; began moving east parallel to 706 Road east of Falls City, and then took a sharp turn north and damaged a farmhouse.
 * colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |Kansas
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * NE of Sylvia to Nickerson
 * Reno
 * 1939
 * 18.8 mi
 * Tornado spent much of its lifespan in open farmland. Touched down northeast of Sylvia, and moved northeast and crossed Route 50.  Tornado began exhibiting intense multi-vortex characteristics, but damage was limited due to the rural area the tornado moved through.  Slight ground scouring was noted and most trees in the path were debarked.  Two farmsteads exhibited EF3 damage, being flattened and partially swept away.  Tornado moved directly into Nickerson, where EF3 damage was noted again to Nickerson High School and a few other buildings in town before the tornado apbruptly stopped.  The tornado had a max width of 800 yards and was on the ground for almost 19 miles.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * Holyrood area
 * Ellsworth
 * 1945
 * 4.76 mi
 * Short-lived tornado did minor damage to crops, trees, and a few buildings on the north side of Holyrood.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * Wilson
 * Russell, Ellsworth
 * 1958
 * 11.2 mi
 * 1 death - This stovepipe tornado moved through very rural areas in eastern Russell County before crossing into Ellsworth County and doing EF2 damage to homes on the south side of Wilson. The Wilson High School had its roof and some walls removed, and a high-end EF2 rating was applied there, with estimated wind speeds of 135 mph.  A poorly built home near the school was nearly flattened, and the inhabitant was killed.  The tornado continued northeast, weakened and dissipated near I-70.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * W of Hill City to Edmond to W Prarie View
 * Graham, Nortin
 * 2018
 * 33.85 mi
 * Long-track, multi-vortex tornado was the only tornado other than its satellelite tornado that formed near the triple point in northwest Kansas. Touched down in open fields west-northwest of Hill City, moving north-northeast. A few farmsteads were damaged at EF1 to EF2 strength before the tornado wavered slightly more east, and then continued on its original course.  The tornado grazed the southwest side of Edmond, where high-end EF1 to low-end EF2 damage occured to a few buildings and grain bins.  Only EF0 and EF1 damage was noted past Edmond, as the tornado remained in mostly open country.  It deviated a bit more northeast before dissipating west-southwest of Prarie View.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * NW of Hill City
 * Graham
 * 2021
 * 3.34 mi
 * Satellite tornado to the Edmond tornado.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * S of Medicine Lodge to N of Sharon
 * Barber
 * 2036
 * 12.7 mi
 * Remained in open land and did minimal damage to farm buildings as it crossed Route 160. Was the middle supercell of three in south-central Kansas that went onto produce several significant tornadoes.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF4
 * Cunningham
 * Pratt, Kingman
 * 2047
 * 9.7 mi
 * The first violent tornado of the outbreak was spawned by the northern of the three cyclical, intense, long-track supercells in south-central Kansas. The tornado moved through open farmland for much of its lifespan, doing some ground scouring.  The tornado entered the southern side of Cunningham and reduced a few homes to piles of rubble, earning an EF4 rating.  EF3 damage was noted to several other homes as well.  Shortly after exiting town, the tornado lifted.  It had a max width of 700 yards, tracked almost 10 miles, and had estimated peak wind speeds of 170 mph.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * N of Inman to Hope
 * McPherson, Marion, Dickinson
 * 2048
 * 40.61 mi
 * Long-tracked wedge tornado was spawned by the same supercell that produced the Nickerson EF3. It touched down and moved northeast directly into McPherson.  Most of the damage was done on the south side of the city, where several buildings exhibited EF2 damage, and four homes showed low-end EF3 damage.  The east side of McPherson took damage as well, with the McPherson College building having its roof taken off, and several more homes and buildings damaged at EF1 to low-end EF3 strength.  Additional EF2 to EF3 damage was noted to a few farm buildings and agricultural equipment as the tornado passed south of Roxbury.  The twister continued through open country before lifting near Hope.  It was on the ground for just over an hour.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * W Wakefield to NE of Riley
 * Clay, Riley
 * 2058
 * 24.66 mi
 * Long-tracked tornado spawned from the supercell that produced the Holyrood EF1 two hours earlier. Began in farmland west of Wakefield on a northeasterly path, then took a right turn to a more easterly one.  Narrowly missed Riley and lifted near the Riley/Pottawatamie County border.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * S of Palmer
 * Washington
 * 2101
 * 6.54 mi
 * Tornado damaged crops and outbuildings south of Palmer. Spawned by the same supercell that produced the Wilson tornado.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * Kiowa to SE of Anthony
 * Barber, Harper
 * 2105
 * 32.3 mi
 * Long-lived wedge tornado produced by the southern of the three intense cyclical supercells in south Kansas. Tornado likely would have been rated much higher had it hit significant structures, but it remained in open land for the entirety of its 32 mile path, damaging only crops and a few outbuildings.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * Spivey to NW of Clearwater
 * Kingman, Sedgwick
 * 2124
 * 35.8 mi
 * EF3 tornado with estimated peak winds speeds of 150 mph. Began in Spivey and immediately did EF3 damage.  It was the second tornado spawned by the middle of three cyclic supercells in south-central Kansas.  Moved east-northeast and did EF3 damage to a home on SE 70 Avenue.  Remained in very rural areas and entered Sedgwick County.  The tornado didn't damage any significant structures and eventually weakened northwest of Clearwater.  It was in the ground for just under and hour and had a max width of half a mile.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * SW of Olsburg to Goff
 * Pottawatamie, Nemaha
 * 2132
 * 47.11 mi
 * 2 deaths - High-end EF3 tornado spawned by the Holyrood-Riley supercell. Began just east of Turtle Creek and Lake.  Two homes south of Fostoria were nearly flattened at EF3 strength.  Significant rowing of corn and grass occurred as the tornado moved through rural areas of Pottawatamie County.  The worst damage happened in Wheaton, where every building in town was damaged.  High-end EF3 damage was noted to a dozen homes that were mostly flattened.  Two peopled were killed.  The tornado continued northeast and passed between Neuchatel and Duluth, and EF3 damage occurred to a home on Onaga Road.  The tornado persisted to Goff, where EF2 damage was noted before it lifted just outside of town.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * SW Pretty Prarie to N of Whitewater
 * Reno, Sedgwick, Harvey
 * 2134
 * 54.33 mi
 * 3 deaths - High-end EF2 tornado spawned by the Cunningham supercell. Did near EF3 damage to buildings in Pretty Prarie, crossed the Cheney Resovoir, moved northeast through rural areas, and entered Mt. Hope, where high-end EF2 damage was again noted.  A tornado emergency was issued for Bentley and Sedgwick, where EF2 to near EF3 damage occurred to numerous homes and businesses.  One person died in Bentley and two more perished in Sedgwick.  The tornado weakened and continued northeast until it dissipated north of Whitewater.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF5
 * N of Freeport to E of Douglass
 * Harper, Sumner, Cowley, Butler
 * 2203
 * 61.98 mi
 * 6 deaths -
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * White City to Alta Vista
 * Morris, Wabaunsee
 * 2206
 * 17.44 mi
 * Several homes sustained EF2 damage in White City. Remained in relatively rural areas and did minor damage to structures it did impact before lifting in Alta Vista.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * N of Clearwater
 * Sedgwick
 * 2224
 * 1.78 mi
 * Knocked down a few trees and a few homes sustained roof damage. Preceded the Wichita area EF4.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF4
 * Oatville to Andover to S of Towanda
 * Sedgwick, Butler
 * 2229
 * 22.38 mi
 * 5 deaths - extremely high-end EF4 tornado. Began near Oatville at 6:29 PM, and began moving northeast.  Rapidly intensified to a high-end EF3 as it crossed I-235 and moved into subdivisions in Southwest Wichita, where a few homes were flattened.  Four homes on W 30th Street sustained EF4 damage, being reduced to rubble.  An industrial complex sustained EF2 to EF3 damage.  As the tornado crossed the Arkansas River, a tornado emergency was issued.  The tornado intensified to a high-end EF4 with estimated wind speeds of 190 mph as it went through South City.  Numerous homes were flattened or partially swept away, and dozens were injured.  The tornado continued northeast doing widespread EF3 to EF4 damage.  The tornado neared a mile wide adding to the extent of the devastation.  The tornado strengthened and did borderline EF5 damage to two homes in Park Meadows, both of which properly anchored and completely swept away.  The tornado took a bit more of a northeastern track and moved into the north side of Andover.  Near EF5 damage occured again, and wind speeds were estimated at just under 200 mph.  Several homes were partially or completely swept clean leaving only their slab foundations left.  Contextual discrepancies prevented a rating higher than EF4, however.  The tornado turned back to a east-northeasterly track into rural areas, where extreme wind rowing of debris was noted as well as some ground scouring.  Trees in the path were debarked.  The tornado dissipated near I-35 south of Towanda.  It had a max width of just under a mile and damages totaled about $1 billion.  The EF4 rating is disputed by some, as it could have been rated higher.
 * colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |Oklahoma
 * - |}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|
 * 3 deaths - High-end EF2 tornado spawned by the Cunningham supercell. Did near EF3 damage to buildings in Pretty Prarie, crossed the Cheney Resovoir, moved northeast through rural areas, and entered Mt. Hope, where high-end EF2 damage was again noted.  A tornado emergency was issued for Bentley and Sedgwick, where EF2 to near EF3 damage occurred to numerous homes and businesses.  One person died in Bentley and two more perished in Sedgwick.  The tornado weakened and continued northeast until it dissipated north of Whitewater.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF5
 * N of Freeport to E of Douglass
 * Harper, Sumner, Cowley, Butler
 * 2203
 * 61.98 mi
 * 6 deaths -
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * White City to Alta Vista
 * Morris, Wabaunsee
 * 2206
 * 17.44 mi
 * Several homes sustained EF2 damage in White City. Remained in relatively rural areas and did minor damage to structures it did impact before lifting in Alta Vista.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * N of Clearwater
 * Sedgwick
 * 2224
 * 1.78 mi
 * Knocked down a few trees and a few homes sustained roof damage. Preceded the Wichita area EF4.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF4
 * Oatville to Andover to S of Towanda
 * Sedgwick, Butler
 * 2229
 * 22.38 mi
 * 5 deaths - extremely high-end EF4 tornado. Began near Oatville at 6:29 PM, and began moving northeast.  Rapidly intensified to a high-end EF3 as it crossed I-235 and moved into subdivisions in Southwest Wichita, where a few homes were flattened.  Four homes on W 30th Street sustained EF4 damage, being reduced to rubble.  An industrial complex sustained EF2 to EF3 damage.  As the tornado crossed the Arkansas River, a tornado emergency was issued.  The tornado intensified to a high-end EF4 with estimated wind speeds of 190 mph as it went through South City.  Numerous homes were flattened or partially swept away, and dozens were injured.  The tornado continued northeast doing widespread EF3 to EF4 damage.  The tornado neared a mile wide adding to the extent of the devastation.  The tornado strengthened and did borderline EF5 damage to two homes in Park Meadows, both of which properly anchored and completely swept away.  The tornado took a bit more of a northeastern track and moved into the north side of Andover.  Near EF5 damage occured again, and wind speeds were estimated at just under 200 mph.  Several homes were partially or completely swept clean leaving only their slab foundations left.  Contextual discrepancies prevented a rating higher than EF4, however.  The tornado turned back to a east-northeasterly track into rural areas, where extreme wind rowing of debris was noted as well as some ground scouring.  Trees in the path were debarked.  The tornado dissipated near I-35 south of Towanda.  It had a max width of just under a mile and damages totaled about $1 billion.  The EF4 rating is disputed by some, as it could have been rated higher.
 * colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |Oklahoma
 * - |}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|
 * 22.38 mi
 * 5 deaths - extremely high-end EF4 tornado. Began near Oatville at 6:29 PM, and began moving northeast.  Rapidly intensified to a high-end EF3 as it crossed I-235 and moved into subdivisions in Southwest Wichita, where a few homes were flattened.  Four homes on W 30th Street sustained EF4 damage, being reduced to rubble.  An industrial complex sustained EF2 to EF3 damage.  As the tornado crossed the Arkansas River, a tornado emergency was issued.  The tornado intensified to a high-end EF4 with estimated wind speeds of 190 mph as it went through South City.  Numerous homes were flattened or partially swept away, and dozens were injured.  The tornado continued northeast doing widespread EF3 to EF4 damage.  The tornado neared a mile wide adding to the extent of the devastation.  The tornado strengthened and did borderline EF5 damage to two homes in Park Meadows, both of which properly anchored and completely swept away.  The tornado took a bit more of a northeastern track and moved into the north side of Andover.  Near EF5 damage occured again, and wind speeds were estimated at just under 200 mph.  Several homes were partially or completely swept clean leaving only their slab foundations left.  Contextual discrepancies prevented a rating higher than EF4, however.  The tornado turned back to a east-northeasterly track into rural areas, where extreme wind rowing of debris was noted as well as some ground scouring.  Trees in the path were debarked.  The tornado dissipated near I-35 south of Towanda.  It had a max width of just under a mile and damages totaled about $1 billion.  The EF4 rating is disputed by some, as it could have been rated higher.
 * colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |Oklahoma
 * - |}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|
 * - |}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|