• 1880: An estimated F2 tornado moved northeast through the town of Mitchell. Two men were killed when they ran out the back door of saloon in order to reach the cellar entrance. The caulk stone saloon was destroyed along with two homes and several businesses. This tornado was one of the first significant tornadoes on record for the state of South Dakota.
• 1985: During the afternoon hours, thunderstorms developed along the east side of the Black Hills. The storms produced quite a bit of lightning and over the course of 2 hours started 18 small fires in the Black Hills. Fortunately, most of the fires were small and easily contained. One unfortunate fire fighter was struck by lightning as he was helping to extinguish a blaze that burned some 50 acres of grassland and forest. Thankfully, the man lived, but he did suffer several broken bones, burns, and major damage to his ears. The strike was so powerful that a man standing over 150 feet away was dropped to his knees.
• 2008: A rare, large and destructive EF5 tornado created a 43 mile long path across Butler and Black Hawk counties in Iowa. This tornado killed eight people, injuring dozens and causing several millions of dollars worth of destruction. After the initial touchdown, the tornado quickly grew in size and intensity as it approached the town of Parkersburg. The tornado was nearly three quarters of a mile wide as it moved through the southern end of Parkersburg. A third of the town was affected by devastating damage with nearly 200 homes destroyed. This was the first EF5 tornado to strike Iowa since June 13, 1976 and only the third EF5 tornado to occur in the United States in the past 10 years.
• 1896: May 1896 was an extremely active month for tornadoes. On this date the third (estimated) F5 twister of the month struck the thumb of Michigan. There were 47 fatalities, including some entire families. Parts of houses were found 12 miles away.
• 1917: A mile-wide F5 funnel swept away homes and entire farms near Andale and Sedgwick, KS. 23 people were killed and 70 were injured.
• 1953: In 1953, tropical storms began being named after women. Tropical Storm Alice was the first Atlantic cyclone to be named.
• 1955: It was a bad day for Sumner County, KS and adjoining Kay County, OK, as not one but two F5 tornadoes struck. Half the population of Udall, KS was killed (75) or injured (270) as most of the town was destroyed. Blackwell, OK suffered nearly 1,000 destroyed buildings, including 400 homes that were swept clean of their foundations. The two tornadoes killed 100 people.
• 1979: In the 1979 Memorial Tournament, Tom Watson shot a 69 in the second round in rain, freezing temperatures, and 30 mph winds in Dublin, OH. That was 10 strokes better than the average of the rest of the golfers that day. He continued to play well and won the tournament. He said he was used to it since he is from Kansas City.