May 1
- 1875 – A major tornado outbreak hit parts of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, killing at least 58 people. The greatest loss of life was from an F3 tornado or tornado family that traveled 70 miles (110 km) across eastern Alabama and western Georgia, killing at least 22 people, including at least 13 (possibly as many as 26) on plantations in Talbot County, Georgia. Another tornado family killed at least 5 people, all in one family, in Chambers County, Alabama and another 10 in Troup and Meriwether Counties, Georgia.
- 1933 – An F4 tornado sounding like "mad lions on a speeding train" devastated Minden, Louisiana, killing 28 people, injuring 400, and damaging or destroying about 500 homes. Six others were killed when another F4 tornado devastated Arcadia, Louisiana. An F2 tornado carried away and destroyed a small house near Magnolia, Arkansas, killing an entire family of six.