A shortwave trough and an associated cold front pushed through the Missouri Ozarks during the late evening of May 6, 2024 and into the early morning hours of May 7, 2024. Thunderstorms developed along the front west of the Ozarks, quickly growing upscale to a linear storm mode by the time they reached southwest Missouri.
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 shortwave trough and an associated cold front pushed through the Missouri Ozarks during the late evening of May 6, 2024 and into the early morning hours of May 7, 2024. Thunderstorms developed along the front west of the Ozarks, quickly growing upscale to a linear storm mode by the time they reached southwest Missouri. This line of thunderstorms pushed through the area, causing widespread wind damage, flash flooding, and several 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 May 6, 6:25 PM CST, 3 hours 50 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Springfield MO 725 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe thunderstorms are likely tonight with the highest risk areas along and west of Highway 65. Primary hazard is damaging wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph. Additional hazards include frequent lightning, a few short- lived tornadoes and half dollar sized hail. Severe storms will move into the area after 9pm and continue overnight. - Localized flooding is also a concern tonight across southeast Kansas and western Missouri where localized pockets of 1-2 inches of rain will occur. - Additional strong to severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. Exact hazards remains in question, but very large hail, damaging, and a conditional tornado threat are all in play. SPC has a hatched Enhanced Risk (3/5) for most of the area. && .MESOSCALE... Issued at 725 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024 Storms have developed across a front across central Kansas and Oklahoma this evening. This activity will continue to move east this evening into tonight as an upper level trough moves east into the plains. The high res models continue to be in good agreement that these storms developing into a line and move into the far western portions of the area by 11pm then moving east across the area through the overnight hours exiting the area to the east by early Tuesday. Damaging winds of 60 to 80 mph winds remain the main threat with these line of storms especially along and east of Highway 65. Low level shear will also support a brief tornado risk within the line of storms with any surges to the east/northeast. Locally heavy rainfall and localized flooding will also be possible with the best potential across far southern Missouri. A few of the stronger updrafts will be capable of hail up to the size of half dollars. Storms have developed across north central Kansas into Nebraska early this evening with another area of storms across central Oklahoma into south central Kansas. The activity across northern Kansas and Nebraska are forming into line segments and should continue to move off to the northeast. The storms across central Oklahoma into south central Kansas are currently supercells in nature, but a cold pool should develop with these storms as they move east which should allow these storms to form into a line. Once the storms across Oklahoma and southern Kansas form into a line they will move off the east/northeast at 30 to 40kts. An unstable air mass will be in place across the area with 1500 to 2200 J/kg of MLCAPE in place west of Highway 65, with values of 1200 to 1700 J/kg to the east overnight. Damaging straight line winds will occur with the line of segments with gusts up to 80mph possible with the bowing segments. The 00Z SGF sounding is showing down draft CAPES over 1000 J/kg which is also supports strong down drafts. Low level shear will also increase tonight. 0-3KM shear vectors are currently at 26kt across the area and should increase to around 40kt to the northeast across of the line of storms. This will support a QLCS tornado risk with the line of storms with surges in the line to the northeast. There are some indications that the the southern part of the line of storms will become outflow dominate across southern MO/northern Arkansas and the outflow become parallel with the 0-3km shear vectors and could lead to the potential for some training of storms and a localized flooding risk tonight. Will have to watch exactly where this will form. The storms will push east to the I-49 corridor by 9 to 11 PM to the Highway 65 corridor by 12 to 2 AM, then to Highway 63 by 2 to 4 AM and the main line of storms should push east of the area by 6AM, though some linger storms could occur across south central Missouri until closer to 8 AM. Again damaging straight line winds will be the main risk across the entire area with wind gusts up to 80 mph possible and a few short lived tornadoes mainly along and west of Highway 65. Hail up to half dollars and localized flash flooding will also be possible tonight. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 100 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024 Current Conditions and Synoptic Pattern: Water vapor and upper air analysis shows a strong upper level shortwave trough across Wyoming and Colorado with a 120kt upper level jet across Arizona and New Mexico. Surface low pressure continues to deepen across South Dakota with a secondary low across Kansas. A warm front was in the process of lifting north through the area at this time. A dry line was located across western Kansas and western Oklahoma with storms already initiating across northern Kansas. 12z KSGF sounding showed a stable airmass in place (north of the warm front) however soundings south of the warm front measured a moist and unstable airmass. Visible satellite showed breaks in the clouds across the area which should allow the warm front to continue lifting north. A few showers were occuring however many areas were dry with temps in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Dewpoints were also creeping up into the lower 60s. This Afternoon through early evening (1pm-8pm): The warm front will continue lifting north through the area and temps will continue warming up into the 70s which will increase instability. While a few showers and even a thunderstorm may develop, upper level forcing will still be to the west therefore many areas will remain dry. All eyes will be on developing supercells in a High Risk severe environment across southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. These storms will begin to evolve into a line with time. Tonight (After 9pm): High res ensembles continue to be in good agreement that a line of severe storms will approach far southeast Kansas in that 9-10pm timeframe. RAP forecast soundings across southeast Kansas and western Missouri indicate around 1500j/kg of ML CAPE (potentially up to 2000j/kg) with 40kts of 0-6km shear (this will increase further with time). The 120kt 300mb jet will be nosing into the area tonight. Also of note is that 1.4-1.5in PW values which indicates a very moist airmass. All this leads to high confidence that storms will remain severe as they approach the area. Given the expected linear mode and high instability/shear combo, damaging winds of 60-80mph will be the most likely risk as highlighted in the SPC Moderate/Enhanced risk areas. That being said, any bowing segments to the east- northeast or northeast could cause brief tornadoes. We believe that the threat for supercells and significant tornadoes will remain just west of the area however if storms were slower to morph into a line then this expectation would change. Southeast Kansas will need to closely monitor storm mode tonight. The hail threat looks lower with this system given the linear mode however hail up to the size of half dollars will be possible. As the line moves further east (between I-49 and Highway 65), the damaging wind threat (60-80mph winds) and brief tornado threat will continue. Latest RAP sounding for Springfield between 11pm-1am still shows 1000-1500j/kg of ML CAPE with 40kts of shear. PW values are also in the 1.4-1.5in range which supports heavy rainfall rates. While it does look like storms will gradually weaken as they move east of Highway 65, the instability/shear combo will remain high enough to keep the damaging wind/brief tornado threat going however perhaps not as high a threat as areas further west. In general, the line of storms will likely be clearing the area by 5-7am. Overall a busy overnight period is expected with the increasing potential for widespread damaging winds. We will continue to heavily message safety information for this night time severe event. Contemplated a Flood Watch for areas west of Springfield tonight however given the progressive nature of this line, flooding will remain localized and brief. 12z HREF does show a few pockets of 1-2 inches of rainfall across far southeast Kansas therefore we will be monitoring this risk. Tuesday: The airmass will likely be worked over from overnight storms and combined with mid level height rises we should see low precip chances (less than 20 percent). Winds will turn southwesterly during the day with skies clearing and temps reaching the upper 70s. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Issued at 100 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024 Wednesday: Another shortwave trough will move through the southern Plains with a surface front moving through the area during the afternoon or early evening. Strong instability will be available with the NBM mean showing between 2000-2500j/kg of surface based CAPE along and southeast of the I-44 corridor. This instability and unidirectional shear could produce supercell thunderstorms and the area is in a Enhanced Risk on Wednesday. There still remains uncertainty with frontal timing and since we are not in the window of time yet for the high res guidance it is urged to stay up on the forecast for Wednesday. Thursday into the Weekend: The overall trend during this time period is drier conditions and cooler temps. This is likely due to a pattern shift with northwest flow aloft causing north surface winds. Friday looks to be the coolest day with highs in the 60s in many locations. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 532 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024 Gusty southeasterly winds will continue this evening, some MVFR ceilings could occur, but mainly VFR conditions will occur. A few isolated showers and maybe a thunderstorms may be possible this evening but most locations will remain dry through 9PM. Storms have developed across central Oklahoma and Kansas early this evening. These storms will continue to move east and developing into a line or lines of storms. This activity will move into the area western portions of the area late this evening and through the rest of the area overnight. These storms will have the potential for damaging winds, frequent lightning and brief heavy rain. IFR to LIFR conditions will occur with the storms. The storms will move east from west to east overnight into early Tuesday morning. Winds will turn to more southwesterly behind the storms and remain gusty on Tuesday. && .SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. MO...None. && MESOSCALE... SHORT TERM...Burchfield LONG TERM...Burchfield AVIATION...Wise
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Springfield MO 749 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024 KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-080100- 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- 749 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Weather hazards expected... Elevated tornado risk. Limited hail risk. Significant thunderstorm wind damage risk. Significant lightning risk. Elevated excessive rainfall risk. DISCUSSION... Severe thunderstorms remain likely tonight as a line of thunderstorms approaches far southeast Kansas by 11pm and then moves east through southwest Missouri overnight. The line of storms will likely be out of the area by sunrise Tuesday. Widespread damaging winds of 60 to 80 mph is the most likely risk, especially along and west of Highway 65. However, there will be the potential for brief, short lived tornadoes. Large hail up to the size of half dollars and frequent lightning will also be a concern. A localized flooding risk overnight will also occur overnight with the greatest potential likely across southern Missouri. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Additional strong to severe thunderstorms are possible on Wednesday. Exact hazards remains in question, but very large hail,damaging, and a conditional tornado threat are all in play. SPC has an Enhanced Risk (level 3 out of 5) for most of the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed tonight for southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri. && 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 Wise
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Springfield MO
1107 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024
KSZ073-097-MOZ066-077-070515-
Bourbon KS-Crawford KS-Vernon MO-Barton MO-
1107 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BOURBON...NORTHEASTERN
CRAWFORD...NORTHWESTERN BARTON AND VERNON COUNTIES THROUGH 1215 AM
CDT...
At 1107 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles north of Uniontown to near Redfield to
near Girard. Movement was northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Nevada, Fort Scott, Marmaton, Arcadia, Uniontown, Walker, Bronaugh,
Fulton, Redfield, Hepler, Moundville, Richards, Milo, Mapleton,
Deerfield, Metz, Stotesbury, Harding, Petersburg, and Farlington.
This includes Interstate 49 between mile markers 78 and 107.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for southeastern
Kansas...and southwestern and west central Missouri.
&&
LAT...LON 3804 9495 3804 9461 3806 9461 3806 9449
3805 9424 3802 9423 3805 9421 3804 9419
3806 9413 3768 9424 3750 9498 3775 9498
3800 9503
TIME...MOT...LOC 0407Z 241DEG 58KT 3796 9495 3777 9485 3753 9491
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
WiseThe Springfield radar (KSGF), 99 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:14 UTC.
45 thunderstorm wind, 10 tornado, 6 flash flood, 3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Social media report of several trees uprooted and large branches down.
Report of a roof blown off a new construction house on Highway 43 and Elm St.
NWS storm survey found a EF-1 tornado with an intermittent damage path across the southeast and east side of Joplin into Duquesne. Maximum winds were estimated at 95 mph. Numerous tree limb damage and uprooted trees along with powerline damage were reported.
Report of a handful of power lines and trees down across the Joplin area.
Social media report of trees down and trunks snapped at the base. There was partial roof damage on a barn and a small house nearby.
Report of tree limbs broken and shingles blown off.
Report of several uprooted trees and snapped branches.
Report of a large tree toppled over.
Report of a tree that fell on a house.
Report of a roof torn off.
Social media report of several large trees uprooted with a base of approximately 10-15 feet.
NWS storm survey found an EF-1 tornado path just west of Carthage. Maximum winds were estimated at 95 mph. Trees were uprooted, powerlines were snapped, and several roofs were damaged.
Report of widespread tree and powerline damage.
Report of a huge tree down in a backyard.
A NWS storm survey found widespread 70-80 mph winds across Carthage with numerous tree limbs down and trees uprooted.
Report of broken tree limbs and power poles.
Report of tree limbs and power poles broken.
Report of a roof blown off of a house and damage to its walls.
Report of tree limbs and power poles broken.
NWS storm survey team determined that a brief EF-0 tornado touched down near E Dade 96. Maximum wind speeds of 80 mph caused several trees to be uprooted.
Social media report of multiple trees down, knocking down power lines. Half of a barn roof was blown off with the roll-up door bent and ripped out of the track.
Report of a large limb down.
Report of tree limbs broken and shingles blown off.
Report of two power poles down.
Report of large branches broken off a tree.
A NWS storm survey determined a short lived EF-0 tornado touched down in this location. Maximum winds of 70-75 mph caused trees to be down in multiple directions. The storm continued to produce non-tornadic wind damage as it moved east of Highway 13.
Social media report of straight line wind damage that resulted in damage to the side of a home and a destroyed barn.
Multiple trees uprooted and snapped. The roof of an outbuilding was collapsed.
Report of tree limbs broken and shingles blown off.
A tree with a base of 10-12 inches in diameter fell across Humansville Rd. in Osceola.
A NWS storm survey team determined that an EF-0 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 80 mph touched down in Greene County and continued tracking northeast. The tornado both uprooted trees and downed large limbs out of numerous other trees, and damaged or destroyed several outbuildings along an intermittent path extending from Greene Hills Country Club northwest of Willard across northern Greene County before reaching the Greene/Polk County line. Two homes were damaged by falling trees, with one injury reported in one of these homes. The tornado continued to track into Polk and Dallas counties.
Trees down near the intersection of Highway H and Farm Road 26.
The Springfield Airport ASOS measured a 60 mph wind gust.
Social media report of a roof that was already blown off from a previous tornado on April 1, 2024 moved 15-20 feet and took out the fence line.
This is a continuation of an EF-0 tornado that touched down in Greene County. Once the tornado crossed into Polk County, it continued it's intermittent path northeast, intermittently uprooting trees and causing limb damage for 3.7 miles before crossing into Dallas County.
Social media report of a tree that was uprooted and fell on a truck.
This is a continuation of an EF-0 tornado that touched down in Greene County and intermittently tracked northeast into Polk and Dallas counties. Once the tornado crossed into Dallas County, it continued for 0.97 miles, uprooting trees and snapping large limbs, before dissipating.
Report of tree limbs broken and shingles blown off.
Two large oak trees were reported down along with a portable building blown over.
Report of trees snapped along with many branches down. A tornado that extended from Greene County northeast into Dallas County lifted just before causing wind damage at this location.
Report of trees down and minor barn damage west of Goodhope off of Highway T.
Report of multiple trees down.
Report of tree limbs broken and shingles blown off.
Report of tree limbs broken and shingles blown off.
Report of tree limbs broken and shingles blown off.
Report of tree limbs broken and shingles blown off.
Report of tree limbs broken and shingles blown off.
Report of tree limbs broken and shingles blown off.
Mesonet station GW3917 in Versailles measured a 50 knot wind gust.
A NWS Employee measured a 56 knot wind gust.
Multiple trees down on County Road 401 south of Ava, and a section of a barn was damaged.
NWS survey found an intermittent EF-0 tornado with maximum winds of 80 mph. The tornado touched down 6 miles south of Dixon near the Gasconade River and tracked to the northeast, uprooting several trees and snapping large limbs along its intermittent path. The tornado then continued its path into far northwest Phelps County and later Maries County.
This is a continuation of an EF-0 tornado that touched down in Pulaski County and tracked through far northwest Phelps County. As the tornado continued its northeastward track, it caused intermittent tree limb damage along the 0.48 miles of the Phelps County portion of the track before moving into Maries County.
This is a continuation of the EF-0 tornado that touched down in Pulaski County and tracked northeast into far northwest Phelps County and finally into Maries County. Once it crossed the Phelps/Maries County line, it continues its intermittent path for 1.07 miles, uprooting a few trees before lifting 5 miles northeast of Dixon.
Four large trees toppled or split.
Route C Westbound and eastbound due to flooding of Little Flat Creek.
Route U Westbound and Eastbound closed due to flooding.
Route U Northbound and Southbound closed due to flooding.
Route YY closed due to flooding.
Route YY closed due to flooding.
Route CC Westbound and Eastbound closed due to flooding of Indian Creek.
Route CC Westbound and Eastbound closed due to flooding of Indian Creek.
Route BB closed due to flooding of Gabriel Creek.
Route BB closed due to flooding of Gabriel Creek.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Missouri, 2024Warnings in Missouri, May 2024
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: 1172589, 1167578, 1167423, 1167580, 1167581, 1167586, 1172613, 1172615, 1167583, 1167582, 1172593, 1167418, 1167591, 1172595, 1172596, 1167584, 1167588, 1167612, 1167619, 1172685, 1172620, 1172627, 1167593, 1172628, 1172630, 1167436, 1172623, 1172633, 1167620, 1172634, 1172695, 1172651, 1172650, 1172656, 1172697, 1172657, 1172699, 1167592, 1172659, 1167617, and more.