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.
Severe flooding swept through southern Tanzania after two days of intense rainfall from May 14 to 15, 2025, displacing over 3 000 people and damaging critical infrastructure. Kyela, Rungwe, and Ileje districts were the most affected, with villages submerged and crops destroyed.
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.
Torrential rains struck northern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, between May 16 and 18, 2025, forcing over 4 100 people to evacuate and leaving several others missing. The storms brought more than 400 mm (16 inches) of rainfall, flooding towns, closing major highways, and disrupting the regional soybean harvest.
A strong eruption occurred at Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano, Indonesia, on April 18, 2025, sending an ash cloud to approximately 9 km (30 000 feet) above sea level. The Aviation Color Code was raised from Orange to Red at 06:29 UTC.
Severe hailstorms struck the Altiplano region of Murcia, Spain, on May 10, 2025, and continued in the following days, causing widespread agricultural damage across nearly 40 000 ha (98 840 acres). The storms caused an estimated €80 million in losses, particularly affecting the municipalities of Yecla and Jumilla.
A violent tornado struck the city of London in Laurel County, Kentucky, at 23:49 LT on May 16, 2025, killing at least nine people and injuring many others. The tornado caused extensive damage along Keavy Road, KY 1006, and Old Whitley Road.
A violent tornado struck south of Marion in Williamson County, Illinois between 18:00 and 19:00 CDT on May 16, 2025, prompting the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a rare tornado emergency for the area. The tornado destroyed homes near Market Road, caused significant structural damage across southern Marion, and formed part of a broader Midwest outbreak that killed at least 16 people.
The first-ever Dust Storm Warning for the Chicago metro area was issued on May 16, 2025, as winds of up to 113 km/h (70 mph) carried dust into the city. The storm reduced visibility to near zero and affected major routes across Chicago and surrounding areas.
