NOAA satellites have been monitoring a potent and complex spring weather pattern responsible for nearly a week-long stretch of severe weather, including two destructive tornado outbreaks across parts of the central and eastern U.S. from May 15–16 and May 18–20, 2025.
The first round of storms developed west of Minnesota on the evening of Wednesday, May 14, producing wind damage along the South Dakota–Minnesota border before weakening as they moved eastward into Minnesota early Thursday. These storms eventually lifted north and dissipated as they approached the Minnesota–Wisconsin border.
From May 16–17, a more intense and deadly outbreak of severe weather swept through the central and eastern U.S., killing at least 25 people and causing widespread damage. Numerous deadly tornadoes were reported throughout the region, including one that touched down in Clayton, Missouri during the afternoon of Friday, May 16. It strengthened as it moved through the northern portions of St. Louis, reaching EF-3 intensity with maximum winds up to 152 mph. The city estimates roughly 5,000 buildings were damaged and at least 38 buildings collapsed.
In Kentucky, a long-track tornado traveled more than 55 miles between the towns of Somerset and London, causing EF-4 level damage with winds that reached 170 mph. According to the National Weather Service, it was the deadliest tornado, and first EF-4, ever recorded in the county’s Warning Area. More tornadoes were reported in Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky, including another EF-4 in southern Illinois.
Additionally, the storms knocked out power to more than 172,000 customers in Kentucky, damaged infrastructure, and prompted multiple counties to declare a local state of emergency. Tornadoes also touched down as far east as Baltimore, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Strong winds from the storms kicked up a large amount of dust that swept across northern Illinois, northern Indiana and the Chicago metropolitan area. This dust storm was both rare for the area and striking on satellite imagery.
More strong tornadoes began plowing through the region again on May 18, including several in Colorado.
Throughout the outbreaks, NOAA satellites provided critical data to the National Weather Service, which allowed them to provide advance warnings, real-time updates, and on-site support for emergency managers. In some parts of Kentucky, tornado warnings had lead times of up to 40 minutes, helping save lives amid the destruction.
Learn more about how NOAA Satellites Monitor Severe Weather Outbreaks
To learn more about how AI systems like ProbSevere and LightningCast were used for this event, check out the CIMSS Satellite Blog