Tornadoes and Hail in Missouri, May 19, 2022

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Missouri, May 19, 2022
Start: 2022-05-19T14:55
End: 2022-05-19T16:20
Location: Missouri

May 19, 2022 · NWS LSX · 16 events in 6 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $308,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 16

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LSX wrote it up.

During the early afternoon of Thursday, May 19, 2022, a complex of thunderstorms expanded and intensified over sections of south-central Missouri. Thunderstorms quickly became strong to severe as the complex tracked east-northeast, impacting east-central Missouri, southeast Missouri, west-central Illinois and southwest Illinois. Numerous thunderstorms embedded within the broad complex exhibited signs of rotation, resulting in nine confirmed tornadoes. Of the nine tornadoes, six tornadoes occurred in Missouri and three occurred in Illinois. In Missouri, five of the six tornadoes were rated EF-0 and one tornado was rated EF-1. In Illinois, two tornadoes were rated EF-0, while the third was rated EF-1. In addition to the nine tornadoes, several locations were impacted by straight-line wind damage. The greatest impact from straight-line winds extended west to east through sections of southeast Missouri into southwest Illinois. The most extensive straight-line wind damage was in a swath from Desloge, MO through Chester, IL. Between the tornadoes and straight-line winds, much of the damage was similar in nature, taking out several trees, damaging outbuildings, machine sheds, and a few grain silos. Some residential homes also suffered damage, largely due to fallen trees, large limbs and/or flying debris. No fatalities nor injuries were reported.

What forecasters said that day

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 St. Louis, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 19, 1:33 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 19, 1:33 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
233 PM CDT Thu May 19 2022

.SHORT TERM...  (Through Late Friday Night)
Issued at 207 PM CDT Thu May 19 2022

MCV will track east across the southern portion of the forecast
area early this evening. Destabilization ahead of it and locally
enhanced low level and overall shear will promote the possibility
of supercells with a threat for tornadoes, damaging winds, and
large hail. This should exit to the east around 7PM with the
remainder of the night being quiet. We remain in a humid air mass
overnight, so lows will only be around 70 or so.

Hot and humid conditions are expected on Friday with temperatures
approaching 90 degrees. A cold front will move into the northwest
part of the area during the afternoon with a shift to northwest
winds and a drop in temperature expected. Although the air mass
ahead of the front will be highly unstable, a strong capping
inversion will make it very difficult to trigger any thunderstorms
along the front Friday afternoon and evening. Friday evening and
overnight, though, there may be a zone of shower and thunderstorm
activity along and behind the front as the surface front undercuts
the warm, moist air mass. Storms in this environment will be
elevated and primarily be a threat for hail and heavy rainfall.
Overall coverage should increase toward Saturday morning as a
shortwave trough tracks through the southwest flow aloft.

Kimble

.LONG TERM...  (Saturday through Next Thursday)
Issued at 207 PM CDT Thu May 19 2022

The front makes a slow push southeast through the area on
Saturday, with the southeast part of our forecast area remaining
in the warm and humid air, reaching 80+ degrees again. Further to
the north, though, clouds, rain, and cooler air will keep
temperatures in the 60s. It's possible that depending on the
slowness of the progression of the surface front and how quickly
the warm nose aloft erodes, we could see surface based
thunderstorms develop ahead of the front on Saturday in the
southern part of the area. If this occurs, they instability and
shear available will be supportive of strong to severe storms.
Again this threat would be pretty conditional on all the right
ingredients lining up. At any rate most of the area should see
rainfall on Saturday into Saturday night as the next wave moves
through and gives the front one final shove to the southeast.

For Sunday we will be entirely post frontal, and despite the
return of sunshine as the day goes on we will only warm into the
60s. Much drier air will also be in place, bringing a break from
the early season humidity.

Expect a gradual warm up Monday into Tuesday as high pressure
shifts east and a return flow brings warmer and more humid air
back into the area. The next trough sets up in the Plains on
Tuesday and will bring our next chance of rainfall. It's unclear
whether we'll get enough instability for strong to severe storms,
but it's always something to watch this time of year. Models
diverge in the long range on how to handle the trough in the
Plains. The GFS continues to show the trough cutting off over the
Southern Plains and bringing multiple days of showers and storms
to the region. Meanwhile most other models keep this trough
progressive and don't even really hint at a cut off scenario,
transitioning us to a dry northwest flow aloft rather quickly. The
GFS solution may be influenced by a good deal of convection
generated as the trough is digging into Texas Tuesday evening
which in turn leads to a deeper trough and a more likely cut off
scenario. Generally see this as less likely and have allowed the
NBM to drive the forecast in this time range.

Kimble

&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 12z TAFs through 12z Friday Morning)
Issued at 230 PM CDT Thu May 19 2022

Primary focus of the TAF is on timing of thunderstorm activity
this evening. Uncertainty exists as to how far north it will
develop and whether it will impact the St Louis area terminals. If
it does so, it is likely between 21 and 00Z. After this, we expect
light winds and VFR conditions overnight. Flow becomes mostly
southerly on Friday with VFR continuing.

Kimble

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...None.
IL...None.
&&

WFO LSX

Hazardous weather outlook, May 19, 1:44 PM CST, 1 hour 11 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
244 PM CDT Thu May 19 2022

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027-
034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-201945-
Adams IL-Audrain MO-Bond IL-Boone MO-Brown IL-Calhoun IL-Callaway MO-
Clinton IL-Cole MO-Crawford MO-Fayette IL-Franklin MO-Gasconade MO-
Greene IL-Iron MO-Jefferson MO-Jersey IL-Knox MO-Lewis MO-Lincoln MO-
Macoupin IL-Madison IL-Madison MO-Marion IL-Marion MO-Moniteau MO-
Monroe IL-Monroe MO-Montgomery IL-Montgomery MO-Osage MO-Pike IL-
Pike MO-Ralls MO-Randolph IL-Reynolds MO-Saint Charles MO-
Saint Clair-Saint Francois MO-Saint Louis City MO-Saint Louis MO-
Sainte Genevieve MO-Shelby MO-Warren MO-Washington IL-Washington MO-
244 PM CDT Thu May 19 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of eastern and
central Missouri as well as west central and southwest Illinois.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Thunderstorms are expected across southeast Missouri and southwest
Illinois this afternoon. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes
are possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Thunderstorm chances return to the northern part of the area Friday
night, with this threat shifting slowly southward through the day
Saturday. The stronger storms could contain large hail.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed through this afternoon.

Kimble

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 19, 1:14 PM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
214 PM CDT THU MAY 19 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1120 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NE PACIFIC            38.51N 90.72W
05/19/2022                   ST. LOUIS          MO   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            REPORT OF A TREE DOWN ON MODEL REALTY RD.

&&

LSJ

Local storm report, May 19, 1:36 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
236 PM CDT THU MAY 19 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1123 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WSW CLARKSON VALLEY   38.62N 90.62W
05/19/2022                   ST. LOUIS          MO   PUBLIC

            PHOTO ON SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWS A TREE DOWN
            ACROSS STRECKER RD.

&&

AE

Local storm report, May 19, 1:55 PM CST, 1 hour before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
255 PM CDT THU MAY 19 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0252 PM     HAIL             6 SW STEELVILLE         37.90N 91.42W
05/19/2022  E0.75 INCH       CRAWFORD           MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PENNY SIZED HAIL REPORTED 6SW OF STEELVILLE.

&&

LSJ

Local storm report, May 19, 2:09 PM CST, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
309 PM CDT THU MAY 19 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0308 PM     HAIL             CUBA                    38.07N 91.40W
05/19/2022  E0.88 INCH       CRAWFORD           MO   EMERGENCY MNGR

            PEA TO NICKEL SIZED HAIL.

&&

JPG

Local storm report, May 19, 2:47 PM CST, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
347 PM CDT THU MAY 19 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0330 PM     TSTM WND GST     STEELVILLE              37.97N 91.36W
05/19/2022  M44 MPH          CRAWFORD           MO   MESONET

            MISSOURI MESONET.

&&

JPG

Local storm report, May 19, 2:55 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
355 PM CDT THU MAY 19 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0350 PM     TSTM WND GST     CUBA                    38.06N 91.40W
05/19/2022  M54 MPH          CRAWFORD           MO   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

JPG

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:55 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 thunderstorm wind, 6 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Jefferson

When: May 19, 2:55 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, 0.58 mi WNW of Dittmer
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 38.334, -90.689

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: May 19, 2:56 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, Leasburg
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.100, -91.300

Thunderstorm winds uprooted a large tree.

Tornado, Franklin

When: May 19, 3:16 PM CST to 3:18 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 0.69 mi WNW of Anaconda to 3.03 mi NNW of Anaconda
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.53 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.305, -91.041

A tornado touched down around 4:16 PM along Anaconda Road approximately 2 miles southwest of St. Clair, MO in Franklin County. The tornado produced tree damage along its path as it headed north-northwest. It dissipated around 4:18 PM just south of Route WW. Overall, the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 2.53 miles and a max path width of 50 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: May 19, 3:21 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 1.42 mi NNE of Anaconda
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.319, -91.020

Thunderstorm winds blew a large tree down onto a house causing moderate roof damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: May 19, 3:21 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 0.27 mi SW of Noser Mill
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.398, -91.184

Thunderstorm winds blew over a power pole as well as numerous tree limbs near Highway 185 just south of Beaufort.

Tornado, Franklin

When: May 19, 3:23 PM CST to 3:25 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 2 mi SW of Greenstreet to 1.82 mi W of Greenstreet
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.27 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.378, -91.224

A brief tornado occurred south of Leslie, MO in Franklin County. The tornado moved north-northwest through wooded areas producing tree damage. Maximum estimated wind speed was 100 mph. Overall, the tornado was rated EF1 with a path length of 1.27 miles and a max path width of 100 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: May 19, 3:26 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 1.12 mi N of Jeffriesburg
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.446, -91.083

Thunderstorm winds blew down several power lines near the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Route AJ.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Francois

When: May 19, 3:28 PM CST to 3:45 PM CST
Where: St. Francois County, 1.12 mi WSW of Iron Mtn to 2.35 mi NNE of Hurryville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.696, -90.640

Widespread wind damage occurred across St. Francois County. In Iron Mountain, a large tree was snapped. On Highway M, about a mile southwest of Frankclay, a large was blown over onto the highway. In Park Hills and Bonne Terre, large trees were blown over onto houses causing moderate roof damage. Otherwise, numerous tree limbs as well as several large trees and power poles were blown down in Farmington, Desloge and Leadwood. No injuries were reported.

Tornado, St. Louis

When: May 19, 3:50 PM CST to 3:51 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, 1.69 mi SE of Times Beach to 1.61 mi S of Sherman
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.14 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.505, -90.575

A brief tornado occurred east of Eureka, MO in St. Louis County. The tornado formed near the entrance of the Bussen Quarry Antire Plant and moved northward, dissipating as it crossed I-44. Maximum estimated wind speed was 70 mph. Overall, the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 0.14 miles and a max path width of 20 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Tornado, St. Louis

When: May 19, 3:58 PM CST to 4:03 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, 0.98 mi W of Webster Groves to 0.53 mi WNW of Brentwood
Rating: EF0
Path length: 3.01 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.582, -90.398

A weak tornado formed off of East Jefferson Avenue in Kirkwood and began moving north/northeastward through the Glendale neighborhood. Here, it produced tree damage, with a tree falling on a house, causing damage to the house. The tornado continued northward, crossing Manchester Road near Bennett Avenue while producing more tree damage. The tornado crossed through Old Warson Country Club and then dissipated as it crossed Litzsinger Road. Overall, the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 3.01 miles and a max path width of 75 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Louis

When: May 19, 3:58 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, 0.43 mi E of Keyes Summit
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 38.581, -90.492

Thunderstorm winds blew down several large tree limbs around the intersection of La Bonne Parkway and La Marite Drive.

Tornado, St. Louis

When: May 19, 4:03 PM CST to 4:04 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, 0.11 mi E of Frontenac to 1.36 mi NNE of Frontenac
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.32 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.630, -90.418

A brief and weak tornado touched down in St. Louis County near the city of Frontenac and moved north for just over a mile. The touchdown occurred 0.4 miles southwest of Frontenac and the tornado lifted 1 mile north of Frontenac. Damage caused by the tornado mainly consisted of downed trees and snapped limbs. Overall, the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 1.32 miles and a max path width of 50 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Tornado, St. Louis

When: May 19, 4:06 PM CST to 4:07 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, 1.08 mi W of Fernridge to 1.47 mi WSW of Tempo
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.79 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 38.679, -90.470

A brief tornado with estimated maximum wind speeds of 80 mph impacted portions of central St. Louis County. The tornado developed around 5:06 p.m. 1.7 miles NW of the center of Creve Coeur, near the intersection of Kram Road and Olive Boulevard. The tornado ran nearly parallel to Timber Run Drive before turning northwest at Markaire Drive and impacted areas just southwest of North High School. The tornado crossed Fee Fee Road as it moved northwest and lifted over Seven Pines Drive at approximately 5:07 p.m. Several trees were damaged, power poles were snapped and a few homes were damaged due to falling limbs. Overall, the tornado was rated EF0 with a path length of 0.79 miles and a max path width of 50 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Louis

When: May 19, 4:06 PM CST to 4:10 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, Olivette to 0.45 mi S of University City
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 38.670, -90.380

A swath of wind damage was reported across Olivette and University City. Numerous reports of large tree limbs blown down as well as several large trees. One tree fell onto a house in Olivette causing moderate roof damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Louis

When: May 19, 4:13 PM CST to 4:15 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, 0.54 mi SSE of Charlack to 0.68 mi SSE of Bel Ridge
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 38.713, -90.346

Thunderstorm winds uprooted a large tree in Endicott Park. Also, several large tree limbs were blown down in Bel-Ridge.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ste. Genevieve

When: May 19, 4:17 PM CST to 4:20 PM CST
Where: Ste. Genevieve County, 2.12 mi SW of St Marys to St Marys
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.849, -89.979

Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees onto Highway Z just southwest of St. Mary. In St. Mary, a tree fell onto an unoccupied car, causing major damage.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Missouri in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Missouri, 2022 Warnings in Missouri, May 2022

Sources

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: 1024235, 1024237, 1024251, 1024306, 1024312, 1024252, 1024316, 1027989, 1024255, 1024256, 1028001, 1024261, 1024266, 1028012, 1028016, 1028046.