Severe thunderstorms, excessive rainfall, critical fire weather are all in the outlook today and into this last weekend of April. Very large hail, severe wind gusts, and a couple strong tornadoes will all be possible across the central and southern Plains today. Flash flooding also possible for portions of the Plains and Mississippi Valley. Critical fire weather conditions for Southern High Plains Read More >
Note: The original news item was issued in June 2005, but was last edited in October 2015.
For the first time since official records began in 1950, no tornadoes were reported in the state of Oklahoma in the month of May 2005.
Prior to 2005, the record lowest number of reported tornadoes in May was two, in 1988.
Up until 2005, May was the only month of the year that always had at least one tornado. Every other month has two or more years with no tornadoes in the records.
The most tornadoes ever recorded in May occurred in 2010, when 91 tornadoes were reported. The previous high total for May occurred in 1999, when 90 tornadoes were documented.
May typically marks the peak of tornado season in Oklahoma. During the period from 1950 to 2013, an average of 22 tornadoes have been reported in the month of May. May typically brings about 39 percent of the year's annual average tornado total of 56.
Other years with low May totals include:The months of May in 1952, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1978, and 1987 each saw only five tornadoes.
An average of 39 tornadoes occur for the 5-month period from January through May.
The most tornadoes ever recorded during the January through May time frame occurred in 1999, when 116 tornadoes were tallied.
The lowest January-May totals include:
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