Alert archive / Missouri / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 39, NWS Kansas City, MO

May 16, 20264 counties in Missouri

NWS Kansas City, MO issued this tornado warning at May 16, 2026, 6:34 PM CDT for 4 counties in Missouri. It was in force for 26 min. 6 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 16, 2026, 6:34 PM CDT (23:34 UTC)
Expired: May 16, 2026, 7:00 PM CDT
In force: 26 min
Issued by: NWS Kansas City, MO
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 2.0 in

Counties Grundy County, MO, Linn County, MO, Livingston County, MO, Sullivan County, MO

The radar

The Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 143 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:32 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 16, 6:34 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	6 Wsw Laredo, MO	mPING report of damaged power pole near U.S. Highway 65 and Route Z. Time estimated from radar.
May 16, 6:37 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Sw Laredo, MO	Downed wires and power outages near 60th Street. Time estimated from radar.
May 16, 6:41 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Ese Chula, MO	Picture of tree damage.
May 16, 6:41 PM CDT	HAIL 2.5	Laredo, MO	Social media report. Time estimated from radar.
May 16, 6:43 PM CDT	TORNADO	2 E Chula, MO	NWS Damage Survey team confirmed a shortlived EF0 tornado developed within a severe supercell thunderstorm at 6:43 PM CDT on Saturday 5/16/2026. This tornado began approximately 2 miles east of Chula, MO. The Tornado damaged trees south of Highway K before cro
May 16, 6:55 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	2 E Chula, MO	Social media report. Time estimated from radar.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 16, 4:40 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The text

As transmitted.

925 
WFUS53 KEAX 162334
TOREAX
MOC079-115-117-211-170000-
/O.NEW.KEAX.TO.W.0039.260516T2334Z-260517T0000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
634 PM CDT Sat May 16 2026

The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Linn County in north central Missouri...
  Southeastern Grundy County in north central Missouri...
  Southwestern Sullivan County in north central Missouri...
  Northeastern Livingston County in north central Missouri...

* Until 700 PM CDT.

* At 634 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 9 miles north of Chillicothe, moving east at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* Locations impacted include...
  Chula and Laredo.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3988 9361 4001 9361 4008 9330 3988 9326
TIME...MOT...LOC 2334Z 258DEG 26KT 3992 9352 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

Curtis

1 follow-up statement

481 
WWUS53 KEAX 162347
SVSEAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
647 PM CDT Sat May 16 2026

MOC079-115-117-211-170000-
/O.CON.KEAX.TO.W.0039.000000T0000Z-260517T0000Z/
Linn MO-Grundy MO-Sullivan MO-Livingston MO-
647 PM CDT Sat May 16 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN LINN...SOUTHEASTERN GRUNDY...SOUTHWESTERN SULLIVAN AND
NORTHEASTERN LIVINGSTON COUNTIES...

At 646 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 10 miles north of Wheeling, or 12 miles northeast of
Chillicothe, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Chula and Laredo.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3988 9354 4002 9355 4008 9330 3988 9326
TIME...MOT...LOC 2346Z 258DEG 26KT 3994 9340 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

Curtis

The office that day

Everything else NWS Kansas City, MO issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 16, 9:07 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	EAX	Linn, Livingston	38 min
May 16, 10:18 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	EAX	Daviess, Linn, Macon	27 min
May 16, 4:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	EAX	Grundy	27 min
May 16, 4:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	EAX	Harrison	33 min
May 16, 4:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	EAX	Daviess, Grundy, Harrison	27 min
May 16, 4:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	EAX	Grundy, Sullivan	52 min
May 16, 4:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	EAX	Harrison	13 min
May 16, 4:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	EAX	Grundy, Harrison, Mercer	49 min
May 16, 5:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	EAX	Grundy, Mercer, Sullivan	45 min
May 16, 5:26 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	EAX	Grundy, Harrison, Mercer	8 hr
May 16, 5:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	EAX	Grundy, Linn, Sullivan	47 min
May 16, 5:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	EAX	Grundy, Harrison, Mercer	27 min
May 16, 5:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	EAX	Grundy, Linn, Livingston, Sullivan	46 min
May 16, 6:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	EAX	Grundy	41 min
May 16, 6:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	EAX	Linn, Sullivan	28 min
May 16, 6:39 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	EAX	Grundy, Linn, Livingston, Sullivan	5 hr
May 16, 6:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	EAX	Grundy, Linn, Livingston, Sullivan	65 min
May 16, 6:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	EAX	Grundy, Mercer, Sullivan	48 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Missouri, 2026 Every tornado warning in 2026 Tornadoes in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.