After April’s stormy chaos, the first half of May brought a rare lull in Oklahoma’s spring severe weather season. Aside from an active kickoff on May 1 — featuring large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash flooding — the state experienced a quiet 16-day stretch, interrupted only by a single report of halfdollar- size hail in far southeastern Oklahoma on May 16. But the break didn’t last: severe storms returned on May 17 and dominated the remainder of the month.
2025 Tornadoes Reach Annual Average
At least 20 tornadoes were confirmed across Oklahoma in May, though that number may increase as National Weather Service (NWS) personnel continue their damage surveys. The preliminary total for January through May now stands at 58, nearly matching the state’s long-term annual average of 58.8 from 1951 to 2024. The January– May average is 41.8. Sixteen of the 20 tornadoes in May were rated EF1 or stronger.
Two of those tornadoes were the strongest of the year so far, both rated EF3. The first formed in the High Plains of Ellis County near Arnett on May 18, one of four tornadoes produced by the same parent supercell. The funnel was widely photographed as it moved over mostly open country, staying on the ground for 5.5 miles before lifting near Arnett’s outskirts. Peak winds were estimated at 145 mph, strong enough to strip bark from trees and toss a large shipping container 175 feet.
The second EF3 tornado struck southern Pittsburg County, carving a 16-mile path with peak winds estimated between 135 and 145 mph. At times up to 1.7 miles wide, the tornado damaged several homes and injured at least one person near the town of Pittsburg. Unlike the Ellis County storm, this tornado passed through more developed areas, contributing to its greater impact.
Hailstorms Cause Widespread Damage
Severe hailstorms pounded Oklahoma throughout May, producing widespread damage across multiple regions. One of the most extreme reports came from Ellis County on May 18, where 5-inch diameter hail — roughly the size of a DVD — fell from the same supercell that produced the Arnett EF3 tornado. Another bout of exceptionally large hail occurred near Hammon in Roger Mills County on May 26, with grapefruit-size stones reported.
Perhaps the most destructive hailstorm of the month struck on May 17, when a swath of 2- to 4-inch hail tore through central Oklahoma from near Chickasha to Oklahoma City. The hail shattered windshields, damaged roofs and siding, battered businesses, and shredded trees along its path. In total, Oklahoma’s National Weather Service offices received at least 228 reports of severe hail (1 inch or larger) during the month, with 79 reports involving hail the size of golf balls or larger. Hail 2 inches or greater — often considered the threshold for significant damage — was reported more than 40 times.
May saw at least 16 separate days with one or more severe hail reports across the state. The most active day was May 17, with over 60 hail reports logged statewide. Hailstones of 3 inches or larger were reported on five different days during the month, underscoring the unusually intense and frequent nature of this year’s spring hail activity.
