A strong system moved across the Midwest and brought a round of severe storms to the Ozarks late on the 28th and early on the 29th of February. A squall line with embedded bows and super cellular type storms produced large hail and very strong damaging winds along with several deadly and destructive tornadoes.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS SGF wrote it up.
A strong system moved across the Midwest and brought a round of severe storms to the Ozarks late on the 28th and early on the 29th of February. A squall line with embedded bows and super cellular type storms produced large hail and very strong damaging winds along with several deadly and destructive tornadoes.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Feb 28, 5:30 AM CST, 5 hours 56 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 530 AM CST TUE FEB 28 2012 ...UPDATE TO AVIATION... .DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 320 AM CST TUE FEB 28 2012/ CURRENTLY...RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES REGION HAS TENUOUS CONTROL OF OUR WEATHER REGIME. WINDS HAVE BEGUN TO SHIFT TO THE SOUTHEAST AS THIS AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE MOVES TO THE EAST. STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL JET OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS HAS RESULTED IN INCREASING MOISTURE ADVECTION AND A RATHER RAPID EXPANSION OF STRATUS ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE NATION. CLOUDS WILL REMAIN ON THE INCREASE ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA THIS MORNING WITH TEMPERATURES STEADYING OFF... RANGING FROM THE UPPER 30S IN CENTRAL MO TO AROUND 50 NEAR THE MO/KS STATE LINE. TODAY...LEE CYCLOGENESIS WILL QUICKLY RAMP UP ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO. INCREASING PRESSURE GRADIENT AND INCREASING LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL SEND A WARM FRONT NORTHWARD THROUGH THE AREA. CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW SHOWERS ALONG THE WARM FRONT...BUT AN OVERALL LACK OF DEEP MOISTURE WILL RESULT IN ANY ACTIVITY BEING ISOLATED IN COVERAGE AND LIGHT IN NATURE THIS MORNING. IN SPITE OF WIDESPREAD CLOUD COVERAGE...STRONG WARM AIR ADVECTION IS ANTICIPATED THIS AFTERNOON. HIGHS WILL BE WELL INTO THE 60S IN MOST LOCATIONS. BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON...ELEVATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EASTERN KANSAS WILL CLIP THE NORTHWESTERN THIRD OF THE OUTLOOK AREA...NOT EXPECTING MUCH OF A SEVERE RISK WITH THIS ACTIVITY. TONIGHT...RATHER COMPLEX FORECAST AS THERE WILL BE MANY PLAYERS IN OUR RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS. LARGE SCALE LIFT WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE THIS EVENING AS THE LEFT ENTRANCE REGION OF A 120KT UPPER LEVEL JET NOSES INTO THE REGION FROM THE SOUTHWEST AND STRONG MID LEVEL HEIGHT FALLS SPREAD ACROSS MUCH OF THE MIDWEST. CIN ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELEVATED MIXED LAYER SHOULD DECREASE RAPIDLY DURING THE EVENING HOURS AND THERE WILL BE TWO MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS THAT WILL BE OF CONCERN TO OUR AREA. THE FIRST IS THUNDERSTORM INITIATION ALONG A PREFRONTAL TROUGH BENEATH AN INCREASING SOUTHWESTERLY LOW LEVEL JET ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA. STRONG DEEP LAYER SHEAR (0-6KM OF 65KT) AND LOW LEVEL SHEAR (0-1KM OF 40KT TO 50KT AND 0-1 SRH OF AROUND 500 M2/S2) WILL BE IN PLACE IN THE PRESENCE OF AROUND 1000 J/KG OF MLCAPE. INITIAL MODE OF SUPERCELLS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS ACTIVITY MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF ARKANSAS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT FAR SOUTHERN AND SOUTH CENTRAL MISSOURI. PRESENT INDICATIONS FROM SHORT RANGE MODEL OUTPUT SUGGESTS THAT MLCAPE OF 500-1000 J/KG WILL BE AVAILABLE ACROSS COUNTIES ADJACENT TO THE MO/ARK STATE LINE. AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM BRANSON TO WILLOW SPRINGS TO EMINENCE WILL BE PRONE TO OBSERVING THIS ACTIVITY DURING THE 03Z TO 09Z TIME FRAME. THE 5% TOR OUTLOOK FROM THE INITIAL DAY 1 SPC FORECAST LOOKS TO BE WELL PLACED AND WILL FOLLOW ACCORDINGLY WITH THE MORNING HWO. WIND DAMAGE RISK WILL ALSO BE QUITE PREVALENT...AND PERHAPS BECOMING THE MAIN RISK WITH TIME AS DISCRETE CELLS MAY MORPH INTO LINE SEGMENTS. THE SECOND AREA OF CONCERN WILL BE ALONG THE DRY LINE/COLD FRONT ITSELF. INSTABILITY ACROSS THE OZARKS WILL DECREASE AS YOU GO TO THE NORTH...THOUGH VALUES AROUND 500 J/KG (GIVE OR TAKE) SHOULD BE COMMON AHEAD OF THE FRONT. STRONG DEEP LAYER FORCING ALONG THE BOUNDARY SHOULD RESULT IN A LINEAR SYSTEM THAT WILL ACCELERATE ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA FROM WEST TO EAST DURING THE LATE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER RISK WITH THIS LINE WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. WHILE INSTABILITY WILL NOT BE ROBUST...STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL WINDS IN THE LOW LEVELS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO MIX DOWN. CAPE/SHEAR PROFILES IN THE 0-3KM LAYER STILL LEND SUPPORT FOR MESOVORT DEVELOPMENT...AND WILL MAINTAIN A LIMITED RISK FOR SPIN UP TORNADOES. ALL ACTIVITY SHOULD EXIT STAGE EAST BY DAYBREAK WEDNESDAY. AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED THE PAST FEW DAYS...COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL BE LIMITED BEHIND THE BOUNDARY WEDNESDAY. DRY AIR ADVECTION WILL BE RATHER STOUT AND WITH STRONG WESTERLY WINDS EXPECTED...FIRE WEATHER REMAINS A CONCERN. WILL REFINE THIS RISK WITH THE COMING MODEL RUNS. 00Z SUITE OF MODEL OUTPUT REMAINS CONSISTENT WITH ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM PASSING THROUGH THE REGION ON FRIDAY. WHILE TIMING IS AGREED UPON...THERE REMAINS SPREAD WITH THE TRACK OF THE ASSOCIATED SFC LOW PRESSURE. BLURRING ONES EYES...THE APPROXIMATE TRACK LOOKS TO BE RIGHT ALONG THE I-44 CORRIDOR. HAVE CONTINUED TO USE A CONSENSUS APPROACH..INCREASING POPS WELL INTO THE CHANCE CATEGORY...PARTICULARLY SOUTHEAST OF THE I-44 CORRIDOR. WILL NEED TO WATCH FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR A FEW STRONG STORMS IN THIS AREA AS WELL. DECENT BOUT OF COLD AIR ADVECTION IS EXPECTED FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND AS AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DEVELOPS ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR AVERAGE FOR EARLY MARCH. UPPER RIDGING LOOKS TO BUILD ACROSS THE MIDWEST DURING THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT WEEK BRINGING A RETURN TO ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES. RAIN CHANCES LOOK MINIMAL FROM SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. GAGAN && .AVIATION... FOR THE 12Z TAFS...STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE AREA LATER TONIGHT. VFR CONDITIONS THIS MORNING WILL GIVE WAY TO MVFR CEILINGS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS STRATUS DECK LOWERS. SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL GUSTS UP TO 25 KNOTS TODAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY AFTER 00Z THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA. STORMS AND COLD FRONT WILL START CLEARING FROM WEST TO EAST BY 12Z TOMORROW MORNING. HAVE INCLUDED SOME LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR DUE TO STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL JET LATER THIS EVENING. GRIFFIN && .SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. KS...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 506 AM CST TUE FEB 28 2012 KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-291115- 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- 506 AM CST TUE FEB 28 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE MISSOURI OZARKS AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED... LIMITED NON THUNDERSTORM WIND RISK. SIGNIFICANT LIGHTNING RISK. ELEVATED THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE RISK. ELEVATED HAIL RISK. LIMITED TORNADO RISK. DISCUSSION... SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL GUST TO 30 MPH TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING ACROSS WESTERN MISSOURI AND EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL AFFECT EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI LATE THIS AFTERNOON. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED WITH THIS ACTIVITY. A FEW ROUNDS OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THE FIRST ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN AND SOUTH CENTRAL MISSOURI DURING THE EVENING HOURS...GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM BRANSON...TO WILLOW SPRINGS...TO EMINENCE. SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHERN ARKANSAS AND MOVE TO THE EAST NORTHEAST. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH AND A FEW TORNADOES. ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS EASTERN KANSAS ALONG A COLD FRONT THIS EVENING. THIS ACTIVITY WILL QUICKLY MOVE WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA FROM LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THE PRIMARY RISK WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH AND A LIMITED RISK FOR A FEW BRIEF...WEAK TORNADOES EMBEDDED WITHIN THE LINE OF STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. GUSTY WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AND DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY...RESULTING IN AN ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER RISK. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AS THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT TONIGHT FOR THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA. && THIS PRODUCT IS NOW AVAILABLE IN GRAPHICAL FORMAT...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION...AT HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/SGF(ALL LOWERCASE) GAGAN
The Springfield radar (KSGF), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:25 UTC.
24 thunderstorm wind, 13 tornado, 10 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Three airport hangers were damaged in addition to damage to power lines.
Hail fell at the Fairgrounds.
An EF-1 rated tornado with a maximum wind speed of 85 to 90 mph tracked 16 miles from 5 miles south southeast of Mindenmines to one mile northwest of Lamar crossing Highway 71. The tornado damaged five barns along with uprooting trees and damaging the roof of a farm house and garage. The path width was 200 yards.
Windows were blown out of a house and a barn was destroyed.
An EF-1 rated tornado with a maximum wind speed of 90 to 100 mph tracked across eastern Dade County and continued into Polk County from three miles north northwest of Greenfield to two miles east southeast of Aldrich. The tornado damaged or destroyed a total of 10 barns and outbuildings along with causing roof damage to two homes as it tracked from central Dade County into southwestern Polk County. The tornado crossed both the Big Sac and Little Sac arms of the Stockton Lake.
Jasper county emergency management reported roof damage to a trailer.
This is a continuation of the EF-1 rated tornado that touched down in eastern Dade County at 23:26 and continued into Polk County west of Aldrich before lifting two miles southeast of Aldrich. The tornado damaged or destroyed a total of 10 barns and outbuildings along with causing roof damage to two homes. Most of this damage was in Dade County. The tornado crossed both the Big Sac and Little Sac arms of the Stockton Lake.
Emergency management reported roof damage to a trailer and significant damage to a shed.
A barn was destroyed along Highway 215 on the east side of Morrisville. A house sustained partial roof damage and debris was blown into trees.
A NWS survey indicated that an EF-1 tornado touched down near the Polk and Dallas county line near the intersection of Highway EE and South 245th Road. Additional details of the track and damage will be in the Dallas County portion of this report as only tree damage occurred for the Polk County portion of the tornado track.
This is a continuation of the EF-2 rated tornado that touched down in Polk County at 23:58 and moved into Dallas County from one mile north northwest of Foose to two miles east of Buffalo. In Dallas County, two frame home and six mobile homes were damaged or destroyed, three turkey barns were damaged along Wildlife Road and numerous power poles and trees were downed. One fatality occurred in a mobile home.
The McDonald County newspaper reported large limbs fell down on power lines which caused power outages.
An EF-1 tornado tracked from 2 miles northwest of Philipsburg to 1 mile southeast of Lebanon. Several frame homes had roof damaged, one mobile home was destroyed, damage occurred to the roof of the Tracker Marine Boat Plant, the Lowe's Garden Center was severely damaged and numerous trees were uprooted. Several other businesses were damaged.
A brief EF1 tornado touchdown damaged 20 recreational vehicles, a pole barn and numerous trees. An antique shop and two homes also received minor roof damage.
The public estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph.
An off duty NWS employee reported wind gusts up to 65 mph.
An off duty NWS employee estimated wind gusts up to 65 mph.
A business sign was blown down.
An EF-2 rated tornado with a maximum wind speed of 120 mph tracked across northwestern portions of the city of Cassville. The tornado destroyed four mobile homes and one frame home. Another frame home was significantly damaged. This tornado also flipped over a tractor trailer as it crossed Highway 37. The tornado killed one person in a mobile home. There were four other injuries.
The public measured wind gusts at 53 knots.
The public reported a large tree blown down at the intersection of Nicholas and McKenzie Way.
The public estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph.
The public estimated wind gusts up to 65 mph.
A ham radio operator reported a 60 mph wind gust.
An amateur radio operator estimated wind gusts up to 75 mph.
An EF-1 rated tornado with a maximum wind speed of 90 to 95 mph tracked four miles from just northwest of Edgar Springs to the northeast, crossed into northwest Dent County just west of the Richard F. Clement Memorial State Forest and Wildlife Area, then crossed back into Phelps County before lifting to the northeast of Seaton north of YY. The overall track of the tornado was 19 miles.
An amateur ham radio operator reported a 60 mph wind gust.
This is a continuation of the EF1 rated tornado that touched down in Phelps County at 01:06 CST. The tornado crossed into northwest Dent County just west of the Richard F. Clement Memorial State Forest and downed trees before moving back into Phelps County before lifting to the northeast of Seaton, north of Highway YY.
An EF-2 tornado tracked from near Kimberling City near Joe Bald Road to 1.5 miles west of Branson where it crossed the county line into Taney County. Estimated maximum wind speeds were from 120 to 130 mph. Maximum path width was 400 yards. Path in Stone County was nearly eight miles and the overall length was approximately 22 miles. Damage was reported to 30 homes in Kimberling City, as well as the Joe Bald, Indian Point, Compton Ridge and Gobbler's Mountain areas. Significant damage occurred to the Kimberling Inn. At the Port of Kimberling Marina, four large boat docks were damage or destroyed and nearly 150 boats were damaged though only one was sunk. The tornado track continued into Taney County and struck Branson, Missouri.
This is a continuation of the EF-1 rated tornado that touched down in Phelps County at 01:06 CST, crossed into northwest Dent County, then back into Phelps County before lifting to the northeast of Seaton north of YY. The overall track of the tornado was 19 miles with damage limited to downed trees.
This is a continuation of the EF-2 rated tornado that touched down in Stone County at 01:13 CST then tracked into western Taney County west of Branson. The path length in Taney County was near 16 miles and the overall path length was approximately 22 miles. While mostly rated EF1 in Taney County, there was evidence of EF2 damage as well. The tornado caused 37 injuries as it tracked down the business district of Branson, heavily damaging 14 theaters and attractions, 25 restaurants and 21 hotels down the Branson Strip. Additional damage also occurred to several other small businesses and two shopping centers. The tornado skipped through residential areas in unincorporated portions of the county and in portions of Branson severely damaging or destroying around 100 homes including several mobile homes. The tornado then heavily damaged the Branson Landing including Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel Complex before moving into more rural areas east of Branson and lifting near Kissee Mills. Nearly 70 percent of the windows of the Hilton were blown out or damaged.
A trained spotter reported multiple large limbs blown down.
The Mountain Grove Police Department reported power lines down.
An amateur ham radio operator estimated 60 to 70 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.
An amateur ham radio operator estimated 60 mph wind gusts.
Emergency management estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph.
The public reported a power pole down.
The public estimated wind gusts up to 60 mph.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado, Dallas | 2012-02-28 | 42 | Female | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
| Tornado, Barry | 2012-02-29 | 70 | Male | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Missouri, 2012Warnings in Missouri, February 2012
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 362639, 359129, 363338, 359130, 362696, 363339, 362721, 359111, 363340, 362742, 359131, 362748, 364185, 364186, 362759, 364183, 364184, 360291, 360292, 359112, 359113, 359132, 360299, 362767, 363341, 360296, 362766, 360293, 360294, 359114, 360301, 360295, 364189, 360300, 364191, 364194, 364192, 364196, 362765, 362768, and more.