Tornadoes and Hail in Missouri, May 22 to 23, 2011

A storm spotter measured a 75 mph wind gust.

This is the beginning of the EF-5 tornado that impacted a large portion of the city of Joplin.

This tornado started in the very extreme northern portions of Newton County initially touching down one half mile southwest of the intersection of JJ Highway and Newton Road in Newton County. Several large trees were toppled before the tornado crossed into Jasper County and portions of south Joplin.

National Weather Service survey teams rated the tornado that tracked across the southwest through east central portion of Joplin, Missouri, as an EF5 tornado. Maximum winds were estimated to have exceeded 200 miles per hour. The tornado had a maximum width of one mile and an overall path length of nearly 21.6 miles, nearly nine miles of which occurred in Jasper County.

The tornado killed 158 directly, three indirectly, and injured over 1150 people. Sadly, on May 24 a police officer who was volunteering from another department, was struck by lightning while serving in the response efforts and later died. Equally, a 56 year old man who had been included as a direct fatality was later determined to have died of a heart attack. Over 10,200 people filed for disaster assistance following the tornado.

The EF-5 rating (greater than 200 mph wind speeds) was mainly arrived at by the total destruction of vehicles, including some vehicles tossed several blocks and semi trucks thrown a quarter of a mile. Parking stops weighing over 300 pounds and re-barred into asphalt were uprooted and tossed. Other factors in the rating included damage to reinforced concrete structures, and that St. John’s Hospital building structure was compromised.

Seven thousand homes were severely damaged or destroyed and another 900 damaged. Other substantial buildings damaged or destroyed included the Joplin High School and Technical Center along with five other city schools. Numerous retailers including Home Depot, Sports Academy, Dillons, and Walmart were also destroyed. The most substantial building impacted was St John's hospital which will be razed due to the tornado. It was calculated that 2 million cubic yards of debris is attributable to the storm across its relatively short length on the ground.

The tornado initially touched down one half mile southwest of the intersection of JJ Highway and Newton Road in Newton County where several large trees were toppled.

The tornado rapidly intensified as it moved toward the intersection of Country Club Drive and 32nd Street where it crossed into Jasper County. Damage became more widespread as the tornado crossed Maiden Lane, breaking nearly all windows on three sides of St. Johns Hospital as well as damage to the roof and exterior walls on several floors. Two patients on oxygen were indirectly suffocated when the generator and a backup generator were damaged after power was cut off. Three additional patients may have succumbed similarly though sufficient data as to the cause of death was not available. An additional indirect fatality occurred due to psychological trauma.

The tornado further intensified as it destroyed homes and businesses to the immediate east and north of the hospital. A church school was completely destroyed with the exception of a portion of the sanctuary. Significant damage to the Greenbriar Nursing Home resulted in the death of 20 mostly elderly patients.

The tornado continued to destroy hundreds of frame homes between 32nd and 20th Streets, leading to nearly a fifth of the deaths. Three story apartment complexes had the top two floors removed; other two story complexes were partially leveled. Fourteen deaths occurred in apartments along the track. Eleven additional deaths occurred in churches along this path. There were two fatalities in a mobile home (Joplin has a city ordinance prohibiting mobile home parks).

Well built structures that were heavily damaged or destroyed along this area included the Joplin High School, Franklin Technical Center and Irving Elementary, all of which were free of students due to the weekend. The tornado also damaged three additional elementary schools. A bank was totally destroyed with the exception of the vault. A large grocery store was also destroyed.

The tornado crossed Rangeline Road near 20th Street. Damage included significant to complete damage to several restaurants and large long-span retail buildings; including Home Depot, Sports Academy and Walmart in this area. Twenty deaths occurred indoors or in the parking lots of these structures. Semi trucks on the back side of Walmart were thrown more than a quarter mile.

The tornado continued to move eastward along and south of 20th Street destroying numerous warehouse style facilities, a portion of Joplin East Middle School, and residences through Duquesne Road.

The tornado continued destroying numerous homes as it began weakening. It turned southeast toward Interstate 44 where it threw several semi trucks as it crossed the interstate and moved into Newton County at 32nd Street just west of Kodiak Road.

The public reported a measured wind gust of 60 mph at 7th and Florida street.

This is the continued path of the devastating EF-5 tornado that hit the city of Joplin.

The tornado crossed back into northern Newton County while slowly weakening to an EF-2. As the tornado weakened it damaged several structures including a warehouse, several homes and outbuildings. Significant tree damage was also noted.

The National Weather Service storm survey team determined that an EF-2 tornado touched down 5 miles east northeast of Diamond, Missouri. It remained on the ground for approximately 17 miles, seven of which was in Newton County before it crossed into Lawrence County. The maximum wind speeds were estimated at 120 miles per hour. The tornado damage path had a maximum width of one half mile. There were numerous trees uprooted, three mobile homes suffered considerable damage or were destroyed west of Wentworth. Numerous power poles were blown down along Highway J along a nearly four mile stretch. In Wentworth, numerous tress were uprooted and one outbuilding had its roof removed. The tornado crossed into Lawrence County as an EF-1 just north of Douglas Fir Road along Lawrence County Avenue.

This is the continuation of the National Weather Service storm survey of the EF-2 tornado touched down five miles east northeast of Diamond, Missouri. After the tornado crossed into Lawrence County it remained on the ground for approximately seven miles of its 17 mile long track and lifted approximately three miles north of Monett. The maximum wind speeds were estimated at 120 miles per hour. The tornado damage path had a maximum width of one half mile. There were numerous trees uprooted, one mobile home was destroyed, half of a machine shop building was destroyed several outbuildings were destroyed and several homes had significant roof damage. One home had a garage door collapse along with siding damage and a separate garage had collapsed walls.

Tornado damage was first indicated on Cave Springs Road where trees were snapped and twisted. EF-0 damage was indicated at this point. The tornado then traveled east, partially damaging a mobile home and destroying another mobile home on Highway AA, near the intersection with Camp Clark Hill Road. Damage at this location was rated EF-1. Several turkey barns were then damaged along Horse Creek Road with EF-2 damaged noted. EF-0 damage to trees and a roof were noted along Johnson Rowe Road. EF-1 damage occurred along Bass Hollow Road where damage to a house and outbuildings occurred. This tornado continued into Taney County with maximum wind speeds estimated up to 120 mph at its peak and a maximum path width of 200 yards.

Trees were blown down on Highway 413 west of Crane.

The public measured a 72 mph wind gust and quarter size hail.

A storm survey concluded that an EF-3 tornado crossed into McDonald County from adjacent Delaware County, Oklahoma. The tornado crossed Stateline Road 2.8 miles north of Southwest City, Missouri at 7:26 pm and destroyed a single family resident and vehicles near the residence. The vehicles rolled up to 200 yards away from the house. Several trees were uprooted along the path of the tornado as it tracked southeast towards chicken houses near the intersection of Highway 43 and Farm Road 4385. The tornado lifted right before reaching Highway 43 about 2.2 miles north northeast of Southwest City. Maximum wind speeds were estimated between 150 and 160 mph. The maximum width of the path was estimated at a quarter of a mile wide.

This is the continuation of the tornado that touched down in Stone County. The damage path continued across northeastern Taney County north of Reno Springs Road to just east of Highway 65 south of the community of Saddle Brooke. EF-1 damage was indicated to trees, outbuildings and a tower along its path in Taney County.

Numerous trees were blown down about 10 miles north of Rogersville and 6805 Highway KK.

Emergency management reported golf ball size hail on Highway 43 about 3 miles north of Southwest City.

Several trees blown down on a home and cars near Highway AD and County Road 6420.

Several trees were uprooted near Pottersville.

Sixty to seventy mph wind gust were reported by spotter.

Law enforcement estimated 60 mph wind gust.

A large tree was reported down in Eldon.

A tree was blown down across State Route E just north of the Route E and Route A intersection.

Dime to quarter sized hail was reported near State Route B and the intersection of County Road 1060.

A metal carport was blown onto the road.

An EF-0 tornado touched down 4 miles east northeast of Moody. Large limbs were broken and one home had minor roof damage. An unsecured carport was thrown 150 yards through the air. One small tree was uprooted.

Emergency management officials relayed to the NWS that two law enforcement officers were struck by lightning while aiding in the recovery efforts from the EF-5 tornado in Joplin. Both officers were injured and taken to the hospital. One of the officers later died on June 2nd at the hospital from injuries he suffered from the lightning strike.