...1894... Portland, Oregon had its latest freeze when the temperature fell to 32 degrees. This is the only May freeze in Portland's history.

...1926... It was the latest opening of navigation on record at Buffalo, New York.

...1927... A major tornado outbreak occurred from Texas to Michigan. There were 28 tornadoes rated F2 or greater. 9 separate tornadoes killed 5 or more people making this day one of the worst tornado days in U.S. history. Popular Bluff, Missouri was devastated by a tornado rated F4 on the Fujita scale. 98 people were killed and 300 were injured. 31 business and residential blocks were destroyed in the city. Strong, Arkansas was leveled by another F4 tornado with 24 people killed.

...1933... A tornado, rated F4 on the Fujita scale, moved through Monroe, Cumberland, and Russell Counties in Kentucky. 36 people were killed.

...1956... At Newport, Rhode Island the temperature fell to a chilly 29 degrees, breaking the record of 35 degrees that was set in 1947; it also marked the latest temperature below freezing for the season at the station.  The wind chill was 25 degrees, which was later tied in 1977.

...1957... The high temperature climbed to 83 degrees, breaking the record of 78 degrees that was set in 1952.

...1958... The wind gusted to 52 miles per hour at Newport, Rhode Island, breaking the record of 48 miles per hour set in 1902.

...1962... The dew point dipped to 8 degrees at Newport, Rhode Rhode, breaking the record of 20 degrees that was set in 1950 and the humidity was a dry 13%, breaking that record of 19% that was held in 1957.

...1966... Record snows fell in the northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, including 3.1 inches at Pittsburgh PA and 5.4 inches at Youngstown OH. Snow also extended across parts of New York State, with eight inches reported in the southern Adirondacks.

...1977... A late season snowstorm hit parts of Pennsylvania, New York State, and southern and central New England. Heavier snowfall totals included 27 inches at Slide Mountain NY and 20 inches at Norwalk CT. 1.7 inches fell at Newport, Rhode Island, setting the record as the only measurable snow for the month of May and the lastest for the season.   At Boston it was the first May snow in 107 years of records. The heavy wet snow caused extensive damage to trees and power lines. The homes of half a million persons were without power following the storm. (9th-10th)

...1985... Lightning struck some trees about 150 yards away from a home in Alabama, and followed the driveway to the home. The charge went through the house and burned all the electrical outlets, ruined appliances, and blasted a hole in the concrete floor of the basement.

...1987... Unseasonably warm weather spread from the Pacific Northwest to the Upper Mississippi Valley. Fifteen cities reported record high temperatures for the date. It was the fourth day of record warmth for Eugene OR and Salem OR.

...1988... A massive cyclone in the central U.S. produced severe thunder- storms from eastern Texas to the Upper Ohio Valley. A strong (F-3) tornado ripped through Middleboro KY causing more than 22 million dollars damage. Thunderstorms in east central Texas produced hail three and a half inches in diameter at Groesbeck, and near Fairfield.

...1989... Thunderstorms developing ahead of a cold front in the south central U.S. produced golf ball size hail and wind gusts to 62 mph at Mira LA, and during the morning hours drenched Stuttgart AR with five inches of rain.

...1990... Thunderstorms produced severe weather in the central U.S. during the evening hours, mainly from southeastern Missouri to southwestern Indiana. Severe thunderstorms spawned four tornadoes, including two strong (F-2) tornadoes in southern Illinois. Strong thunderstorm winds gusted to 85 mph at Orient IL, and to 100 mph at West Salem. Thunderstorms drenched northeastern Illinois with up to 4.50 inches of rain.