Tornado outbreak of May 15–16, 2025

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/tornado-outbreak-sequence-of-may-15-16--2025

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the total confirmed tornadoes?60 tornadoes
2. What is the maximum tornado intensity?EF4 (violent)
3. What caused the big tornado outbreak on May 15-16, 2025?Warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico met cooler, drier air from the northwest, creating instability and strong wind shear that helped tornadoes form.
4. How many tornadoes happened during the outbreak?There were 60 tornadoes confirmed during the event.

Negatively-Tilted Trough: A dip in the jet stream that moves eastward, often associated with strong storm development and severe weather.
Vertical Wind Shear: A change in wind speed and direction with height in the atmosphere, crucial for organizing thunderstorms and producing tornadoes.
Mesocyclone: A rotating column of air within a supercell thunderstorm that can lead to tornado formation.
Outbreak Intensity Score (OIS): A numerical system used by meteorologists to quantify the severity and impact of tornado outbreaks.