On the afternoon of April 24, 2020 scattered convection formed across central Missouri. Early in the storm formation period one of these storms produced a brief landspout that was photographed by some passers-by.
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The episode as NWS EAX wrote it up.
On the afternoon of April 24, 2020 scattered convection formed across central Missouri. Early in the storm formation period one of these storms produced a brief landspout that was photographed by some passers-by. No damage was reported with this tornado.
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 Kansas City, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 24, 10:47 AM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO 1147 AM CDT Fri Apr 24 2020 .Discussion... Issued at 344 AM CDT FRI APR 24 2020 Message of the Day: Scattered to widespread showers and storms are expected throughout the day today. A few stronger storms are possible in our far southern counties this evening, with strong winds up to 60 mph and hail up to 1 inch being the main concerns. Storms move out west to east overnight tonight. Our set up for today consists of a shortwave trough moving southeast through the Midwest, a north-south oriented LLJ over KS and MO, and a surface low over OK/AR that is nosing north into the area with a cold front behind it. So far, we are experience a line of showers moving east through the area on the nose of the 850 mb LLJ, which is currently over eastern KS. As we move through the morning hours, warm air and moisture advection will increase over the area. This will allow for the showers to become widespread and CAPE to increase, developing embedded storms. No severe weather is expected during the morning hours. This afternoon, we will likely see a brief break from the storms for areas south of I-70, where the surface low is nosing in. That will allow instability to increase in our far southern counties before the frontal passage. The cold front and the entire low pressure system is then expected to move through the area this evening. As it does so, it will bring a line of storms with it, which will have developed earlier in the day in KS. This line of storms will be a little more feisty than the morning convection due to the increased instability. SB CAPE will range from 1000-2000 J/kg south of I-70 and up to 1000 J/kg north of I-70. Deep layer shear will be around 25 kts across the entire area. Most storms should stay sub-severe, with the exception of those in our far southern counties. These areas could see a strong to severe storm or two due to their closer proximity to the surface low and the higher instability. If a stronger storm does develop, winds up to 60 mph and hail up to 1 inch is possible. PWAT values will also range from 1-1.25 inches today, resulting in some periods of moderate to heavy rain. Therefore some localized flooding is also possible later today, mainly south of the MO River, where 1.25-1.75 inches of rain is expected. Areas north are likely to see an inch or less. This system and its storms will move out west to east tonight, leaving everyone dry by late tomorrow morning. Behind the surface front, northerly winds will be gusting up to 25 mph, making for a breezy Saturday. Temperatures will also be on the cool side with highs in the low to mid 60s. The afternoon should be a dry for most with clearing skies, but can't rule out the chance for a storm or two developing over northwest MO in the afternoon as a shortwave trough moves overhead with a weak convergence boundary at the surface. No severe weather is anticipated though due to weak instability and deep layer shear. Sunday, surface high pressure and upper level ridging will move in, making for a mostly sunny day with highs in the mid 60s to low 70s. The pattern becomes more active again starting on Monday. We will transition into the warm sector of a developing surface low while multiple shortwave troughs move through the region. Monday, we have a quick chance at some showers and storms as a shortwave trough move through. Then the main low pressure system will move through Tuesday and Wednesday bringing more widespread showers and storms. Finally, for the second half of the week, it looks like a rather broad upper level ridge starts to take shape. && .Aviation...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday Afternoon) Issued at 1145 AM CDT FRI APR 24 2020 Showers and isolated thunderstorms likely through a good part of the afternoon. Visibility will drop to 3 to 6 miles in heavier showers. By this evening steady rain will develop with lowering ceilings to MVFR and possibly IFR around midnight. Winds will also increase overnight out of the N to NE. At the end of TAF period clouds will begin to lift and become MVFR to VFR. && .EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. MO...NONE. && Discussion...Atkins Aviation...Christensen
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO 448 AM CDT Fri Apr 24 2020 KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040- 043>046-053-054-251000- Atchison KS-Miami-Linn KS-Doniphan-Leavenworth-Wyandotte-Johnson KS- Atchison MO-Nodaway-Worth-Gentry-Harrison-Mercer-Putnam-Schuyler- Holt-Andrew-De Kalb-Daviess-Grundy-Sullivan-Adair-Buchanan-Clinton- Caldwell-Livingston-Linn MO-Macon-Platte-Clay-Ray-Carroll-Chariton- Randolph-Jackson-Lafayette-Saline-Howard-Cass-Johnson MO-Pettis- Cooper-Bates-Henry- 448 AM CDT Fri Apr 24 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest...north central and west central Missouri...as well as extreme eastern Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A few rounds of thunderstorms will be possible today. A few thunderstorms this afternoon and evening may be strong with gusty winds 30 to 50 mph and small hail possible across east central Kansas and west central Missouri. These storms will also be capable of producing heavy rain which may lead to isolated flooding. More detailed information can be accessed at... https://www.weather.gov/eax/hwo .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Thunderstorms will be possible Monday and Tuesday however, severe weather is not expected at this time. More detailed information can be accessed at... https://www.weather.gov/eax/hwo
The Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:08 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A landspout formed near Malta Bend. After the office received a couple reports of a funnel cloud underneath new convection some photos were sent to the office via Twitter of a broad dust swirl that extended upward to the cloud base. No damage occurred as a result of this weak and brief landspout.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Missouri, 2020Warnings in Missouri, April 2020
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: 878298.