Alert archive / Missouri / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 21, NWS St. Louis, MO

April 17, 2026Callaway County, Cole County, Osage County, Missouri

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this tornado warning at Apr 17, 2026, 8:30 PM CDT for Callaway County, Cole County, Osage County, Missouri. It was in force for 45 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Apr 17, 2026, 8:30 PM CDT (01:30 UTC)
Expired
Apr 17, 2026, 9:15 PM CDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Callaway County, MO, Cole County, MO, Osage County, MO

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 118 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:33 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 17, 3:31 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 00:00Z, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 235 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 2026-04-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 404 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 2026-04-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 232 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
404 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-169 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1486 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
232 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
418 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
6.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

668 
WFUS53 KLSX 180130
TORLSX
MOC027-051-151-180215-
/O.NEW.KLSX.TO.W.0021.260418T0130Z-260418T0215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service St Louis MO
830 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Callaway County in central Missouri...
  Southeastern Cole County in central Missouri...
  Osage County in central Missouri...

* Until 915 PM CDT.

* At 830 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado
  were located along a line from near Taos to 8 miles south of St.
  Thomas, or along a line from near Jefferson City to 22 miles south
  of Jefferson City, moving east at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  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.

* This tornado will be near...
  Taos, Jefferson City, Wardsville and St. Thomas around 835 PM CDT.
  Westphalia around 840 PM CDT.
  Freeburg around 845 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by the tornado include Osage City, Schubert,
Wainwright, Meta, Osage Bend, Bonnots Mill, Argyle, Loose Creek,
Koeltztown and Tebbetts.

This includes the following State Parks...
Clarks Hill/Norton Historic Site.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from 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.

Tornadoes are difficult to observe at night. Take cover now!

&&

LAT...LON 3833 9227 3842 9224 3852 9223 3881 9164
      3871 9165 3870 9165 3870 9164 3829 9164
      3829 9220 3834 9219 3833 9223 3832 9225
TIME...MOT...LOC 0130Z 262DEG 40KT 3856 9211 3845 9211 3825 9217

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN

$$

Elmore
3 follow-up statements
054 
WWUS53 KLSX 180149
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
849 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

MOC051-180159-
/O.CAN.KLSX.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260418T0215Z/
Cole MO-
849 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN COLE COUNTY...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT Friday for a
portion of central Missouri.

&&

LAT...LON 3856 9204 3859 9209 3881 9164 3876 9165
      3870 9165 3870 9164 3829 9164 3829 9203
      3838 9198 3854 9200 3855 9202 3856 9202
      3856 9200 3857 9201
TIME...MOT...LOC 0130Z 262DEG 40KT 3856 9211 3845 9211 3825 9217

$$


MOC027-151-180215-
/O.CON.KLSX.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260418T0215Z/
Callaway MO-Osage MO-
849 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CALLAWAY AND OSAGE COUNTIES...

At 849 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado
were located along a line from over Chamois to near Freeburg, or
along a line from 15 miles north of Linn to 11 miles south of Linn,
moving east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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.

This tornado will be near...
  Chamois, Linn, Rich Fountain and Freeburg around 850 PM CDT.
  Bland around 900 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by the tornado include Steedman, Mokane,
Frankenstein, Portland and Morrison.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from 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.

Tornadoes are difficult to observe at night. Take cover now!

&&

LAT...LON 3856 9204 3859 9209 3881 9164 3876 9165
      3870 9165 3870 9164 3829 9164 3829 9203
      3838 9198 3854 9200 3855 9202 3856 9202
      3856 9200 3857 9201
TIME...MOT...LOC 0130Z 257DEG 47KT 3863 9209 3846 9209 3826 9215

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN

$$

BRC
372 
WWUS53 KLSX 180203
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
903 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

MOC027-151-180215-
/O.CON.KLSX.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260418T0215Z/
Callaway MO-Osage MO-
903 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL CALLAWAY AND NORTHEASTERN OSAGE COUNTIES...

At 903 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado
were located along a line from 8 miles northeast of Chamois to 5
miles south of Chamois, or along a line from 13 miles west of Hermann
to 9 miles northeast of Linn, moving east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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.

This tornado will be near...
  Chamois around 905 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by the tornado include Portland and
Morrison.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from 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.

Tornadoes are difficult to observe at night. Take cover now!

&&

LAT...LON 3863 9185 3868 9184 3881 9164 3879 9164
      3876 9165 3870 9165 3870 9164 3860 9164
      3860 9174 3861 9183
TIME...MOT...LOC 0149Z 257DEG 47KT 3872 9189 3862 9195 3856 9201

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN

$$

BRC
459 
WWUS53 KLSX 180211
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
911 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

MOC027-151-180221-
/O.EXP.KLSX.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260418T0215Z/
Callaway MO-Osage MO-
911 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 915 PM CDT FOR EAST CENTRAL
CALLAWAY AND NORTHEASTERN OSAGE COUNTIES...

The storms which prompted the warning have weakened below severe
limits, and have exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning will
be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for a portion of
central Missouri.

&&

LAT...LON 3863 9185 3868 9184 3881 9164 3879 9164
      3876 9165 3870 9165 3870 9164 3860 9164
      3860 9174 3861 9183
TIME...MOT...LOC 0203Z 257DEG 47KT 3876 9166 3866 9172 3860 9178

$$

BRC

The office that day

Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 17, 7:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXMarion, Monroe, Pike, Ralls54 min
Apr 17, 7:42 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXBoone, Callaway, Cole, Moniteau48 min
Apr 17, 7:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXBoone, Callaway, Cole, Moniteau, Osage63 min
Apr 17, 8:17 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXBoone, Callaway, Cole, Moniteau43 min
Apr 17, 8:45 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXAudrain, Callaway, Montgomery45 min
Apr 17, 8:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCallaway, Franklin, Gasconade, Montgomery, Osage, Warren48 min
Apr 17, 9:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln, Montgomery, Pike52 min
Apr 17, 9:29 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXLincoln, Montgomery, Warren31 min
Apr 17, 9:36 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedLSXWarren20 min
Apr 17, 9:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXLincoln, Saint Charles, Warren48 min
Apr 17, 9:50 PM CDTTornado WarningLSXLincoln25 min
Apr 17, 10:02 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningLSXLewis12 days
Apr 17, 10:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Charles31 min
Apr 18, 12:52 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLSXLewis11 hr
Apr 18, 6:04 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLSXOsage15 hr
Apr 18, 9:59 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLSXMarion10 hr
Apr 18, 10:49 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLSXCole63 hr
Apr 18, 12:05 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningLSXMarion21 days
Apr 18, 12:05 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningLSXMarion9 hr
Apr 18, 5:05 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningLSXReynolds16 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Missouri, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.