Tornado outbreak of May 18–21, 2025

A major tornado outbreak occurred across the Great Plains and Mid-South regions of the United States from May 18 to May 21. This event follows another tornado outbreak that occurred just days prior in the Ohio Valley. On May 18, a very narrow but intense EF3 tornado inflicted severe tree damage near Arnett, an EF3 tornado caused severe damage in the town of Grinnell, Kansas across its long path, while an EF1 tornado caused four injuries when it struck Gordon, Texas. After dark, a powerful, cyclic supercell developed in south-central Kansas, eventually producing a long family of five EF3 tornadoes. Two of these prompted tornado emergencies: one as it approached the towns of Greensburg and Brenham, and another that directly hit the small town of Plevna.

Tornado activity shifted towards the Southeast by May 20, and in the evening, another tornado emergency was issued for an EF2 tornado that went through Madison, Alabama, dissipating just before reaching Huntsville. Scattered tornado activity continued into the following day before the outbreak came to an end.