Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
A rare May nor’easter brought widespread flooding and significant tree damage across Massachusetts on Thursday and Friday, May 22 and 23, 2025. The storm disrupted travel across multiple regions and led to several rescue operations for motorists stranded in rising waters.
At least 56 people died across 24 districts in Uttar Pradesh as severe storms swept through the state from Wednesday night into Thursday, May 21 and 22, 2025. The storms brought strong winds, hail, and heavy rain, causing widespread damage, including a significant fire at a mentha oil factory in Badaun.
The Jaw Fire and Democrat Fire in California’s Kern County have scorched approximately 1 657 ha (4 095 acres) of land as of May 21, 2025. Jaw Fire, the larger of the two, rapidly expanded on May 20, burning over 1 295 ha (3 200 acres) since its ignition on May 19. Meanwhile, the Democrat Fire has consumed about 362 ha (895 acres) since it started on May 18.
A tornado touched down near Jackson, Tennessee, on May 20, 2025, ripping the roof off a warehouse and damaging infrastructure near the Jackson Regional Airport. The event was part of a larger outbreak that produced multiple tornadoes across Tennessee.
A Tornado Emergency was issued for Huntsville, Madison, and Athens in northern Alabama on May 20, 2025, after a large tornado was observed near Athens. The emergency affected nearly 500 000 people across the region.
A tornado destroyed the Blanco Fire Department and at least 10 homes in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, on Monday, May 19, 2025. The event was part of a broader outbreak that produced over a dozen tornado reports across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Nebraska, leading to widespread structural damage and power outages affecting more than 30 000 customers.
Over a dozen tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Nebraska on Monday, May 19, 2025, destroying multiple homes and leaving over 100 000 customers without power as it downed trees and power lines in the affected areas.
At least 9 fatalities have been reported following flash floods and landslides triggered by prolonged heavy rainfall in Vietnam’s Bắc Kạn and Lai Châu provinces since Friday, May 16, 2025.
Nearly 30 tornadoes were reported across five states on Sunday, May 18, 2025, with Kansas and Colorado experiencing the most significant damage. Multiple homes and structures were destroyed as tornadoes overturned vehicles, downed power lines, and scattered debris, prompting emergency alerts in several areas.
At least 27 people were killed as major tornado outbreak struck Kentucky, Missouri, and Virginia late on May 16, 2025. Nearly 800 000 customers lost power across the central and eastern United States, affecting an estimated 2 million people. In Kentucky alone, at least 7 tornadoes were confirmed, and over 100 000 customers were left without electricity as the storms moved eastward.
