Tornadoes · United States · Missouri · 2005
F1 tornado, Excelsior Spgs, Missouri, November 27, 2005
This F1 tornado ran 11.0 miles across Clay County on November 27, 2005, touching down at 5:44 PM CST and reaching 75 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $1.2 million of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
F040 to 72 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F173 to 112 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2113 to 157 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3158 to 206 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4207 to 260 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5261 to 318 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- F1
- Date
- November 27, 2005
- Touchdown
- 5:44 PM CST (23:44 UTC)
- Path length
- 11.0 miles (17.7 km)
- Path width
- 75 yards (69 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $1.2 million
- County
- Clay County
- Touchdown point
- 39.320, -94.250
- Lift-off point
- 39.450, -94.180
- Record number
- 550
What the Weather Service recorded
Tornado touched down 2 miles south southwest of Excelsior Springs along Highway H near Pratherville at 1744. The tornado moved north-northeast and crossed into Ray county around Lawson at 1759. The most significant damage was located on the west side of Excelsior Springs. At the Magna manufacturing plant a wall suffered damage and there was a partial roof collapse. The plant's conveyor line was also damaged. There was also damage to a car dealership with blown in plate glass windows on the showroom floor. Otherwise...damage was mainly to trees as it moved to the Ray county line. This was the second latest tornado on record within the six county Kansas City metropolitan region.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
0 minutes of warning. NWS EAX issued a tornado warning for this county at 23:44 UTC, 0 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 00:05 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 21:16 UTC and running to 01:40 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21:16 UTC | 01:40 UTC | Tornado Watch | EAX |
| 23:12 UTC | 23:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | EAX |
| 23:44 UTC | 00:05 UTC | Tornado Warning | EAX |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.15 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 19:59 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Topeka, KS (KTOP), 12:00Z
11.7 hours before the tornado, 130 km from the path. November 27, 2005.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -282 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 6 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 666 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 23 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 161 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 157 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.7 K/km
Topeka, KS (KTOP), 00:00Z
0.3 hours after it, 130 km from the path. November 28, 2005.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -55998 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1512 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 54 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 32 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -122 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -116 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.0 K/km
The surface observations
Kansas City/Dntn (MKC), 44 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21:54 UTC | 60 | 54 | 100° 6 kt | 989.8 | ||
| 22:54 UTC | 61 | 54 | 130° 6 kt | 988.8 | ||
| 23:04 UTC | 62.6 | 53.6 | 140° 6 kt | 989.2 | -TSRA | |
| 23:15 UTC | 60.8 | 53.6 | 240° 15 kt | 19 | 990.5 | TSRA |
| 23:21 UTC | 57.2 | 53.6 | 220° 12 kt | 26 | 990.2 | -TSRA |
| 23:54 UTC | 55 | 49 | 4 kt | 989.5 | -TSRA | |
| 00:05 UTC | 55.4 | 48.2 | 5 kt | 988.8 | ||
| 00:54 UTC | 59 | 49 | 150° 9 kt | 16 | 988.8 |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 64 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 23:46 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22:42 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Weston | Platte, MO | ROOFS OFF AND TREES DOWN |
| 22:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sw Dearborn | Platte, MO | |
| 23:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ene Faucett | Buchanan, MO | SIDING RIPPED OFF BUILDING |
| 23:15 UTC | HAIL 1 | Parkville | Platte, MO | NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT PARK UNIVERSITY |
| 23:20 UTC | HAIL 1 | 5 Wnw Easton | Buchanan, MO | |
| 23:32 UTC | TSTM WND GST 75 | 1 S Claycomo | Clay, MO | REPORT FROM WORLDS OF FUN. |
| 23:32 UTC | HAIL 1 | 1 S Claycomo | Clay, MO | REPORT FROM WORLDS OF FUN |
| 23:36 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | 1 Nw Independence | Jackson, MO | REPORTED AT HWY 24 AND STERLING AVE. |
| 23:43 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Ssw Excelsior Springs | Clay, MO | |
| 23:50 UTC | TSTM WND GST 68 | Excelsior Springs | Clay, MO | MEASURED WIND GUST TO 68 MPH AT AWS MESONET SITE. |
| 23:50 UTC | TSTM WND GST 80 | Excelsior Springs | Clay, MO | WINDS OF 75 TO 80 MPH. TREE DAMAGE REPORTED |
| 23:50 UTC | TSTM WND GST 80 | Excelsior Springs | Clay, MO | WINDS ESTIMATED AT 75 TO 80 MPH. TREE DAMAGE ALSO REPORTED. |
| 23:50 UTC | HAIL 1 | Excelsior Springs | Clay, MO | |
| 23:57 UTC | HAIL 1 | Lawson | Ray, MO | |
| 23:57 UTC | TORNADO | Lawson | Ray, MO | DEBRIS REPORTED AT 69 AND D HIGHWAY |
| 23:59 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Excelsior Springs | Clay, MO | TREES DOWN. |
| 00:06 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Polo | Caldwell, MO | PLATE GLASS WINDOW BLOWN OUT OF BUSINESS |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2005 tornado in MissouriEvery tornado in Missouri since 1950Warnings in force in Missouri nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of November 27, 2005
64 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 27 | 1:48 PM CST | F0 | Marion, KS | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 1:48 PM CST | F0 | Marion, KS | 13.0 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 1:50 PM CST | F0 | Marion, KS | 2.0 | 50 | $1,000 | ||
| November 27 | 2:04 PM CST | F0 | Marion, KS | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 2:05 PM CST | F0 | Morris, KS | 0.3 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 2:12 PM CST | F1 | Morris, KS | 20.0 | 400 | $250,000 | ||
| November 27 | 2:32 PM CST | F0 | Dickinson, KS | 1.5 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 2:32 PM CST | F0 | Morris, KS | 6.0 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 2:35 PM CST | F0 | Lyon, KS | 1.0 | 100 | $20,000 | ||
| November 27 | 2:48 PM CST | F0 | Montgomery, KS | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 2:58 PM CST | F0 | Morris, KS | 0.3 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 3:09 PM CST | F1 | Geary, KS | 2.0 | 300 | $900,000 | ||
| November 27 | 3:15 PM CST | F0 | Geary, KS | 0.3 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 3:21 PM CST | F0 | Geary, KS | 2.0 | 150 | $40,000 | ||
| November 27 | 3:28 PM CST | F0 | Riley, KS | 0.3 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 3:32 PM CST | F0 | Riley, KS | 0.3 | 100 | $10,000 | ||
| November 27 | 3:40 PM CST | F1 | Yell, AR | 4.5 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 3:49 PM CST | F0 | Riley, KS | 0.3 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 3:57 PM CST | F0 | Yell, AR | 2.7 | 40 | |||
| November 27 | 4:06 PM CST | F1 | Neosho, KS | 6.0 | 80 | $120,000 | ||
| November 27 | 4:22 PM CST | F0 | Allen, KS | 0.2 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 4:25 PM CST | F1 | Pike, AR | 13.8 | 40 | 1 | ||
| November 27 | 4:42 PM CST | F1 | Montgomery, AR | 3.2 | 40 | |||
| November 27 | 4:49 PM CST | F1 | Montgomery, AR | 4.5 | 40 | |||
| November 27 | 4:56 PM CST | F1 | Garland, AR | 3.5 | 40 | |||
| November 27 | 5:10 PM CST | F1 | Garland, AR | 1.2 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 5:19 PM CST | F0 | Jasper, MO | 0.0 | 75 | |||
| November 27 | 5:20 PM CST | F2 | Hot Spring, AR | 4.2 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 5:23 PM CST | F1 | Van Buren, AR | 2.8 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 5:26 PM CST | F2 | Garland, AR | 13.8 | 100 | 1 | ||
| November 27 | 5:27 PM CST | F1 | Searcy, AR | 2.7 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 5:30 PM CST | F1 | Garland, AR | 2.1 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 5:32 PM CST | F1 | Saline, AR | 6.1 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 5:37 PM CST | F2 | Conway, AR | 3.9 | 250 | |||
| November 27 | 5:41 PM CST | F3 | Perry, AR | 19.0 | 800 | $4.0 million | ||
| November 27 | 5:42 PM CST | F2 | Pope, AR | 2.3 | 250 | |||
| November 27 | 5:45 PM CST | F2 | Conway, AR | 11.8 | 250 | |||
| November 27 | 5:59 PM CST | F1 | Ray, MO | 2.0 | 75 | $30,000 | ||
| November 27 | 6:00 PM CST | F3 | Conway, AR | 2.0 | 150 | |||
| November 27 | 6:09 PM CST | F3 | Conway, AR | 15.0 | 700 | 1 | 8 | |
| November 27 | 6:15 PM CST | F1 | Baxter, AR | 3.7 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 6:25 PM CST | F1 | Perry, AR | 0.8 | 25 | |||
| November 27 | 6:26 PM CST | F1 | Pulaski, AR | 2.2 | 25 | |||
| November 27 | 6:27 PM CST | F2 | Conway, AR | 6.1 | 600 | |||
| November 27 | 6:34 PM CST | F2 | Faulkner, AR | 2.6 | 400 | |||
| November 27 | 6:37 PM CST | F2 | Van Buren, AR | 13.1 | 400 | |||
| November 27 | 6:40 PM CST | F1 | Fulton, AR | 1.3 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 6:42 PM CST | F1 | Ozark, MO | 1.0 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 6:46 PM CST | F1 | Howell, MO | 3.0 | 100 | 2 | $70,000 | |
| November 27 | 6:55 PM CST | F1 | Van Buren, AR | 3.7 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 6:56 PM CST | F1 | Howell, MO | 5.0 | 100 | 2 | $70,000 | |
| November 27 | 6:59 PM CST | F1 | Faulkner, AR | 7.7 | 75 | |||
| November 27 | 7:02 PM CST | F1 | Cleburne, AR | 2.7 | 50 | |||
| November 27 | 7:11 PM CST | F0 | Faulkner, AR | 4.0 | 40 | |||
| November 27 | 7:19 PM CST | F2 | Van Buren, AR | 0.8 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 7:20 PM CST | F2 | Cleburne, AR | 9.2 | 100 | 1 | ||
| November 27 | 7:47 PM CST | F0 | Cleburne, AR | 1.2 | 25 | |||
| November 27 | 7:55 PM CST | F1 | Izard, AR | 5.8 | 150 | |||
| November 27 | 8:01 PM CST | F1 | Sharp, AR | 0.4 | 100 | |||
| November 27 | 8:02 PM CST | F1 | Fulton, AR | 5.8 | 100 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.