Alert archive / Missouri / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 14, NWS Springfield, MO
NWS Springfield, MO issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2026, 6:31 PM CDT for St. Clair County, Missouri. It was in force for 44 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 15, 2026, 6:31 PM CDT (23:31 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 15, 2026, 7:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 44 min
- Issued by
- NWS Springfield, MO
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
County St. Clair County, MO
The radar
The Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 91 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:33 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2:31 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 141 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 192 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -57 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 810 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 163 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 148 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
685
WFUS53 KSGF 152331
TORSGF
MOC185-160015-
/O.NEW.KSGF.TO.W.0014.260415T2331Z-260416T0015Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Springfield MO
631 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
The National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northeastern St. Clair County in west central Missouri...
* Until 715 PM CDT.
* At 631 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Lowry City, or 18 miles northeast of El Dorado
Springs, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size 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...
Truman Lake, Osceola, Lowry City, Harper, Iconium, and Monegaw
Springs.
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 3821 9354 3821 9351 3820 9351 3820 9350
3803 9350 3801 9387 3811 9392 3817 9382
3820 9356 3822 9357
TIME...MOT...LOC 2331Z 249DEG 33KT 3808 9380
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Didio2 follow-up statements
651
WWUS53 KSGF 152339
SVSSGF
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Springfield MO
639 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
MOC185-160015-
/O.CON.KSGF.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-260416T0015Z/
St. Clair MO-
639 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY...
At 638 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Lowry City, or 18 miles south of Clinton, moving
east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Truman Lake, Osceola, Lowry City, Harper, and Iconium.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3821 9354 3821 9351 3820 9351 3820 9350
3803 9350 3804 9379 3811 9383 3817 9382
3820 9356 3822 9357
TIME...MOT...LOC 2338Z 249DEG 33KT 3811 9371
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Didio140
WWUS53 KSGF 160006
SVSSGF
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Springfield MO
706 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
MOC185-160016-
/O.EXP.KSGF.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-260416T0015Z/
St. Clair MO-
706 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 715 PM CDT...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning will
be allowed to expire.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for central and
west central Missouri.
&&
LAT...LON 3821 9354 3821 9351 3820 9351 3820 9350
3803 9350 3804 9379 3811 9383 3817 9382
3820 9356 3822 9357
TIME...MOT...LOC 0006Z 249DEG 33KT 3820 9342
$$
DidioWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Springfield, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 15, 5:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Slight (level 2 of 5) severe thunderstorm risk this afternoon into tonight. All modes of severe storms will be possible with the main risks being large hail and damaging wind. Tornado Watch in effect until 9PM for locations west of Highway 65 this evening.
- Thursday afternoon has a low-end Marginal (level 1 of 5) risk of severe thunderstorms in the far eastern Ozarks, with primary hazard being large hail.
- Severe thunderstorms expected again on Friday, with an Enhanced (level 3 of 5) Risk of severe weather beginning in the afternoon and continuing through the overnight hours into early Saturday morning. All modes of severe weather possible.
- Marginal excessive rainfall concerns through the week in areas that see repeated strong storms and/or training precipitation.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 15, 5:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Springfield MO 506 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Slight (level 2 of 5) severe thunderstorm risk this afternoon into tonight. All modes of severe storms will be possible with the main risks being large hail and damaging wind. Tornado Watch in effect until 9PM for locations west of Highway 65 this evening. - Thursday afternoon has a low-end Marginal (level 1 of 5) risk of severe thunderstorms in the far eastern Ozarks, with primary hazard being large hail. - Severe thunderstorms expected again on Friday, with an Enhanced (level 3 of 5) Risk of severe weather beginning in the afternoon and continuing through the overnight hours into early Saturday morning. All modes of severe weather possible. - Marginal excessive rainfall concerns through the week in areas that see repeated strong storms and/or training precipitation. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 131 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026 Synoptic overview and current conditions: Water vapor imagery and upper level analysis show deep southwesterly flow aloft from west Texas into New England. Upper low was located over Nebraska with a trough extending southwest of the low into New Mexico with another low entering the Pacific northwest. Surface front was shifting out of central KS into eastern KS where surface based CAPES were in the 3500-4000 j/kg and no CIN was residing. The morning convection and low clouds have kept some CIN values around 50-100 j/kg in the eastern half of the CWA, but this was slowly eroding and better CAPES were spreading east into the area. 0-6km shear values were around 50kts out of the southwest. Still getting some scattered showers/storms over our eastern CWA with the remnants of this mornings activity. Severe weather this afternoon / tonight: Expecting convection to develop along/ahead of cold front/dryline in eastern KS/OK within the band of higher instability. This activity is expected to initiate slightly west of the CWA with some discrete supercells possible which would include all modes of severe storms. As the upper wave and surface front shift east by late afternoon and early evening, storms may form into clusters or qlcs segments. Damaging wind and an embedded tornado risk will be the main severe weather risks this evening as the qlcs shifts east. While there is some timing differences in the CAMS, the main area of convection should exit the eastern CWA between midnight and 3 am. Thursday/Thursday night: Instability is expected to increase during the afternoon in the wake of any residual precipitation from the today/tonight shortwave. A secondary shortwave is then expected to move through the area during the afternoon and early evening with some of the CAMS generating additional convection over the eastern Ozarks. We are currently in a marginal risk(1 of 5) for this activity, in which the main risk would be with large hail. Anything that develops should move out of the area by the early evening. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 131 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026 Severe weather chances late Friday into Saturday morning: The upper level wave currently entering the Pacific northwest will continue to track east and into the plains during the day on Friday. A strong upper level jet out of the southwest will be southeast of the trough and move into the area late in the day. strong southerly winds in the lower levels will advect Gulf moisture into the area during the day. With temperatures and moisture increasing in the low levels, instability will increase ahead of an eastward moving dry line/cold front which will begin to push into the area during the late afternoon or early evening. Discrete supercells are expected to develop ahead of a dryline over the central/southern plains and dryline. As the upper wave shifts eastward, the cold front will overtake the dryline and storms should begin to form into a qlcs with damaging wind and spin-up tornado risks becoming the more predominant severe weather risks. The storms and front will continue to track east across the CWA during the night and potentially into Saturday morning before ending. This upper wave will finally end our persistent pattern of southwest flow aloft with drier air moving in behind the wave and surface front for the remainder of the weekend into early next week. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 506 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026 Thunderstorms have developed across northeastern Oklahoma, southeastern Kansas, and far southwestern Missouri early this evening. This activity will continue to move east this evening. Some showers and a few embedded thunderstorms will remain possible behind this leading activity into the early overnight hours ending from west to east. There will be the potential for strong to severe storms with this activity, mainly west of Highway 65 this evening. IFR conditions will be likely in the storms within heavy rainfall. Gusty winds will also occur with the storms this evening. Ceilings may could improve to VFR behind the storms, but are expected to drop back to MVFR late tonight into Thursday morning. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 630 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026 Record High Temperatures: April 16: KVIH: 85/2006 April 17: KSGF: 87/1937 KVIH: 86/2004 KUNO: 87/2006 Record High Minimum Temperatures: April 15: KSGF: 63/2006 KJLN: 66/2006 KUNO: 62/2006 KVIH: 63/1976 April 16: KSGF: 66/1963 April 17: KSGF: 66/1976 && .SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. MO...None. && SHORT TERM...Lindenberg LONG TERM...Lindenberg AVIATION...Wise CLIMATE...Camden
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 15, 1:47 PM CDT, 4 hours 44 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Springfield MO 147 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026 KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-161900- Bourbon-Crawford-Cherokee-Benton-Morgan-Miller-Maries-Vernon- St. Clair-Hickory-Camden-Pulaski-Phelps-Barton-Cedar-Polk-Dallas- Laclede-Texas-Dent-Jasper-Dade-Greene-Webster-Wright-Newton- Lawrence-Christian-Douglas-Howell-Shannon-McDonald-Barry-Stone- Taney-Ozark-Oregon- 147 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Weather hazards expected... Slight tornado risk. Slight hail risk. Slight thunderstorm wind damage risk. Elevated lightning risk. Limited excessive rainfall risk Limited non thunderstorm wind risk. DISCUSSION... Strong to severe storms will be possible this afternoon into tonight. All modes of severe storms will be possible with the best chance of severe weather west of a West Plains to Salem line. Hail to the size of golf balls, damaging wind up to 70 mph and a few tornadoes will be possible. Heavy rainfall associated with multiple rounds of thunderstorms could cause localized flooding concerns. Damaging wind gusts up to 35-40 miles per hour will be possible outside of thunderstorms at times today into tonight as well. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. A few strong storms will be possible on Thursday afternoon in the eastern Ozarks with the main risk being hail to the size of quarters. A strong upper level wave and surface front will be the focus for strong to severe weather late Friday into Friday night. All modes of severe storms will be possible with the best severe weather chances northwest of a Joplin to Osage Beach line. Flooding may be possible in areas that receive multiple rounds of heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and tonight for most of the area. && More detailed information can be accessed at: http://www.weather.gov/sgf/dsspacket This product in graphical format...along with other weather... hydrological and climate information...at http://www.weather.gov/sgf Lindenberg
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 15, 4:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
433 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0431 PM Hail Columbus 37.17N 94.84W
04/15/2026 E1.50 Inch Cherokee KS Trained Spotter
Ping Pong size hail, 40mph wind gust,
torrential rainfall.
&&
TGLocal storm report, Apr 15, 4:35 PM CDT, 1 hour 56 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
435 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0431 PM Hail 3 WSW Columbus 37.15N 94.89W
04/15/2026 E1.00 Inch Cherokee KS Fire Dept/Rescue
Quarter size hail.
&&
TGLocal storm report, Apr 15, 4:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
445 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0436 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Columbus 37.17N 94.85W
04/15/2026 Cherokee KS Fire Dept/Rescue
Trees and powerlines down as well as
considerable hail damage.
&&
TGLocal storm report, Apr 15, 5:12 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
512 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0435 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Columbus 37.16N 94.84W
04/15/2026 Cherokee KS Fire Dept/Rescue
Tree down, road closed due to storm damage.
&&
TGLocal storm report, Apr 15, 5:58 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
558 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Crestline 37.18N 94.70W
04/15/2026 Cherokee KS Broadcast Media
Powerlines down.
&&
TGLocal storm report, Apr 15, 6:01 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
601 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0532 PM Flash Flood Columbus 37.17N 94.84W
04/15/2026 Cherokee KS Fire Dept/Rescue
Street flooding in and around Columbus.
&&
TGThe office that day
Everything else NWS Springfield, MO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 12:00 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | McDonald | 45 min |
| Apr 15, 12:21 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | Barton, Jasper | 22 min |
| Apr 15, 12:34 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | SGF | Barry | 26 min |
| Apr 15, 12:42 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | SGF | Newton | 33 min |
| Apr 15, 1:34 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | SGF | Greene, Lawrence | 26 min |
| Apr 15, 4:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | Vernon | 47 min |
| Apr 15, 4:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | Barton, Jasper | 44 min |
| Apr 15, 5:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | Barton, Dade, Jasper | 36 min |
| Apr 15, 5:35 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | SGF | Barton, Jasper | 6 hr |
| Apr 15, 6:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | Barton, Jasper, Newton | 68 min |
| Apr 15, 6:09 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | St. Clair, Vernon | 66 min |
| Apr 15, 6:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | Dallas, Hickory, Polk | 47 min |
| Apr 15, 6:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | Dade, Lawrence | 42 min |
| Apr 15, 6:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF | Benton, St. Clair | 12 min |
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.