Tornadoes · United States · Missouri · 2006

F0 tornado, Mexico to Laddonia, Missouri, June 22, 2006

From Mexico to Laddonia, this F0 tornado ran 3.5 miles across Audrain County on June 22, 2006, touching down at 1:25 PM CDT and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody.

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.

  1. F040 to 72 mphthis tornado

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. F173 to 112 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. F4207 to 260 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. 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.

  7. 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
F0
Date
June 22, 2006
Touchdown
1:25 PM CDT (18:25 UTC)
Path length
3.5 miles (5.6 km)
Path width
50 yards (46 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Audrain County
Touchdown point
39.270, -91.630
Lift-off point
39.270, -91.580
Record number
671

What the Weather Service recorded

A severe storm with downburst winds, hail and several tornadoes moved through Audrain County. The third of four tornadoes in Audrain County briefly touched down 6.0 miles north of Mexico, about 1.2 miles east of Route 15. A grain bin was destroyed and several large trees were topped along the quarter of a mile path. No injuries were reported.

A severe storm with downburst winds, hail and several tornadoes moved through Audrain County. The last of four tornadoes in Audrain County touched down 1 mile northeast of Laddonia, in an open field. As it traveled to the northeast it moved into the southwest portions of Farber. It blew down several large trees and numerous tree limbs in town. One tree severely damaged the roof of a home in Farber. The tornado lifted and dissipated about six tenths of a mile northeast of Farber, near U.S. Route 54. No injuries were reported.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

26 minutes of warning. NWS LSX issued a tornado warning for this county at 17:59 UTC, 26 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 18:30 UTC.

The county was under a severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 16:37 UTC and running to 21:30 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
16:37 UTC21:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WatchLSX
17:52 UTC18:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSX
17:59 UTC18:30 UTCTornado WarningLSX
18:28 UTC19:06 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSX

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 Slight Risk, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 15:48 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.

Lincoln, IL (KILX), 12:00Z

6.4 hours before the tornado, 275 km from the path. June 22, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2006-06-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 1783 joules per kilogram, CIN -75, lifted condensation level 1138 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2006-06-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 10 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 28 knots.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1783 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-75 J/kg
Surface CAPE
1037 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1138 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.7
0-3 km lapse rate
4.1 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Lincoln, IL (KILX), 00:00Z

5.6 hours after it, 275 km from the path. June 23, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2006-06-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 332 joules per kilogram, CIN -26, lifted condensation level 1175 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2006-06-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -19 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 29 knots.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
332 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-26 J/kg
Surface CAPE
549 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1175 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
4 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-19 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
14 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1
0-3 km lapse rate
6.7 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Columbia (COU), 73 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
16:54 UTC8368130° 11 kt1019.3
17:54 UTC7765350° 14 kt231019
18:09 UTC75.264.4350° 13 kt1019
18:54 UTC756310° 10 kt1018.6
19:23 UTC73.466.260° 7 kt1018.6-RA
19:35 UTC73.466.220° 7 kt1018.6-RA
19:43 UTC73.466.2260° 11 kt1019-RA
19:54 UTC7167300° 3 kt1019-RA

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 18:25 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)ReportWhereCountyRemark
17:55 UTCDOWNBURST7 Wnw MexicoAudrain, MOSEVERAL LARGE TREE LIMBS AND A FEW LARGE TREES DOWN. CORN FIELD SEVERELY DAMAGED BY PENNY TO NICKLE SIZE HAIL.
18:05 UTCDOWNBURST4 Nnw MexicoAudrain, MOA SWATH OF DOWNBURST WINDS 3 MILE LONG...1.5 MILES WIDE DAMAGED NUMEROUS TREES AND LARGE TREE LIMBS 3.5 TO 5.0 MILES NORTH OF MEXICO. CORN FIELDS WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED DUE TO THE HIGH WIND AND HAIL. HAIL WAS THE SIZE OF
18:05 UTCTORNADO4 Nnw MexicoAudrain, MODAMAGE TO SEVERAL TREES AND LARGE TREE LIMBS. MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ROOF AND SIDE OF A HOME. MINOR DAMAGE TO A MACHINE SHED. DAMAGE LENGTH 200 YARDS LONG 40 YARDS WIDE. F0 DAMAGE.
18:07 UTCTORNADO3 Nnw MexicoAudrain, MOTORNADO DAMAGED A LARGE MACHINE SHED 0.75 MILES EAST OF HIGHWAY 15. DEBRIS FROM THE MACHINE SHED WAS DISPLACED 300 YARDS TO THE EAST. SEVERAL TREES WERE DAMAGE ALONG THE PATH OF THE TORNADO INCLUDING A 50 YARD SWATH OF T
18:10 UTCTORNADO4 N MexicoAudrain, MOA BRIEF TORNADO DESTROYED A GRAIN BIN ON A FARMSTEAD AND SEVERAL TREES WERE TOPPED EAST OF SUNRISE ROAD. APPROXIMATE DAMAGE PATH WAS 1.4 MILE LONG AND 40-50 YARDS WIDE.
18:25 UTCHAIL 0.75LaddoniaAudrain, MOPOWER POLES SNAPPED IN HALF...12 TO 14 INCH LIMBS DOWN.
18:25 UTCTORNADO1 Ene LaddoniaAudrain, MOA TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN 1.5 MILES ENE OF LADDONIA IN AN OPEN FIELD AND MOVED OVER THE TOWN OF FARBER. THE TORNADO CAUSED TREE DAMAGE MAINLY IN THE TOWN OF FARBER. WITNESES FROM THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS OF
18:40 UTCHAIL 0.75LaddoniaAudrain, MOPOWER POLES SNAPPED IN HALF...12 TO 14 INCH LIMBS DOWN.
19:10 UTCHAIL 0.753 Nw New HartfordPike, MO
19:15 UTCTORNADOAshleyPike, MOA FEW TREES DOWN..SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS DOWN. MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE TO THE ASHLEY COMMUNITY CENTER.
19:20 UTCTSTM WND DMGAshleyPike, MONUMEROUS TREES UPROOTED. BUILDINGS DAMAGED AROUND THE CITY.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2006 tornado in MissouriEvery tornado in Missouri since 1950Warnings in force in Missouri nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of June 22, 2006

22 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 228:13 AM CDTF0Tazewell, IL0.130
June 221:05 PM CDTF0Audrain, MO0.140
June 221:07 PM CDTF1Audrain, MO1.050
June 221:10 PM CDTF0Audrain, MO0.350
June 222:38 PM EDTF0Van Wert, OH0.125$20,000
June 222:43 PM EDTF1Van Wert, OH0.125$10,000
June 222:58 PM EDTF0Van Wert, OH0.125$10,000
June 223:00 PM EDTF0Mercer, OH0.230$20,000
June 222:15 PM CDTF0Pike, MO0.350
June 223:18 PM EDTF1Allen, OH0.150$20,000
June 221:30 PM MDTF0Douglas, CO0.150
June 223:30 PM EDTF0Auglaize, OH0.120$10,000
June 221:32 PM MDTF1Elbert, CO0.1100
June 222:45 PM MDTF0Elbert, CO0.150
June 223:20 PM MDTF0Elbert, CO0.150
June 225:30 PM EDTF2Holmes, OH6.0100$750,000
June 225:45 PM EDTF1Stark, OH4.075$1.5 million
June 225:47 PM EDTF1Tuscarawas, OH3.050$50,000
June 225:58 PM EDTF1Stark, OH3.550$500,000
June 225:28 PM MDTF0Prowers, CO1.0100
June 228:00 PM CDTF0Seward, KS0.320
June 228:04 PM CDTF0Stafford, KS0.320

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.