Tornado outbreak of May 15–16, 2025

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Tornado outbreak of May 15–16, 2025

A powerful storm system swept across the Central United States and the Ohio Valley on May 15–16, 2025, spawning 61 tornadoes. The most intense activity happened on May 16, with several long-track, violent twisters. The event left 26 people dead from tornadoes (and four more from related causes), about 168 injured, and roughly $5.9 billion in damages. More than 600,000 power customers lost electricity in the St. Louis area as the storms moved through the region. federal aid was requested to help with recovery efforts.

Major tornadoes and impacts

- St. Louis, Missouri metro area (EF3): A long, strong tornado touched down near Clayton and moved through the city, causing widespread damage to homes, churches, and businesses. Four people were killed by the tornado, and hundreds of structures were damaged as the storm tracked across the city and into surrounding areas, including damage to the St. Louis Zoo.

- Scott County, Missouri (EF3): A separate, intense tornado moved through parts of western Scott County near Blodgett, killing two people and injuring several others as it destroyed homes and damaged property.

- Linton, Indiana (EF2): A tornado crossed Greene County, hitting Linton and nearby areas, causing one death and multiple injuries as homes and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed.

- Wolf Creek–Hudgens– Marion, Illinois (EF4): A very strong, long-track tornado crossed southern Illinois, causing significant damage in rural and semi-urban areas. It resulted in injuries and property damage but no direct fatalities.

- London–Somerset–Whittle, Kentucky (EF4): The most deadly twister of the outbreak carved a long path through Laurel County, including the towns of London and Sunshine Hills near London. This violent tornado killed 19 people, destroyed or heavily damaged many homes, and caused extensive losses across residential and public areas. It traveled for about 89 minutes and reached peak strength near 170 mph in places, making it one of the deadliest Kentucky tornadoes in years.

Other notes

- A separate, long-tracked EF4 tornado also affected parts of Kentucky before diminishing, contributing to the overall destruction across the region.

- The outbreak included several weaker tornadoes as well as large hail and damaging winds, along with dust storms and other weather hazards in some areas.

Aftermath

- In the aftermath, Kentucky and Missouri counties faced widespread damage assessments, with authorities counting dozens of destroyed homes, collapsed buildings, and uprooted trees. In St. Louis, emergency declarations were issued as responders and engineers assessed structural safety and began rebuilding. FEMA sent teams to assist with immediate needs, and state governors requested federal disaster aid to support long-term recovery. Overall, the outbreak highlighted the need for continued preparedness and rapid response as communities rebuilt after a deadly and costly event.