Description

Hi All,

For May 2025, the main weather/climate stories were the continued pattern of severe weather impacting Tennessee as well as Chattanooga recording their wettest May in the 147-year weather history of the city. Starting with the record rainfall in Chattanooga, the Chattanooga airport weather station recorded a total of 12.02-inches of rainfall over May 2025, 8.08-inches above normal and 0.02-inches above the previous record wettest May in 1929. Many other areas of East Tennessee and the Cumberland Plateau also had well above normal rainfall this month, but they were emerging out of a drought from last fall and winter so minimal flooding issues were reported despite the heavy rainfall. Over the previous 12 months (June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025) Chattanooga is still reporting below normal precipitation, with a deficit of 6.43-inches compared to normal precipitation.

Looking at severe weather in May and so far through 2025, Tennessee has seen an active year for storms across the state. May 2025 had 10 days with severe storm reports in Tennessee, producing a total of 8 tornado reports, 131 severe thunderstorm wind damage reports, and 78 reports of severe hail (1-inch diameter or larger). So far this year there have been a total of 47 surveyed tornado paths that have impacted some part of Tennessee, with two EF3 tornadoes, seven EF2 tornadoes, 20 EF1 tornadoes, and 18 EF0 tornadoes. With such a high number of tornadoes, 2025 is already tied for the 4th most tornadoes in Tennessee in a year since 1950. Historically, the majority of tornadoes in Tennessee occur from January to May but they can still occur through the summer and early fall months with a slight uptick again in November and December.

Stay safe everybody and enjoy the last few days of spring!

Andrew & Wil

Tennessee Climate Office
East Tennessee State University
Department of Geosciences

Publication Date

5-2025

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