Tornadoes · United States · Missouri · 2006

F1 tornado, Tebbetts to Guthrie, Missouri, March 12, 2006

From Tebbetts to Guthrie, this F1 tornado ran 14.0 miles across Osage and Callaway counties on March 12, 2006, touching down at 11:30 PM CST and reaching 150 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 mph

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

  2. F173 to 112 mphthis tornado

    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
F1
Date
March 12, 2006
Touchdown
11:30 PM CST (05:30 UTC)
Path length
14.0 miles (22.5 km)
Path width
150 yards (137 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Counties
Osage and Callaway counties
Touchdown point
38.600, -91.980
Lift-off point
38.720, -91.650
Record number
137

What the Weather Service recorded

The first indication of tornado damage was in extreme southern Callaway County southwest of Tebbetts. A mobile home was flipped onto its side on County Road 4010 about 11:30 pm CST. The tornado tracked northeast across the flood plain and then crossed the Missouri River into into Osage County.

The tornado that formed in southern Callaway County crossed the Missouri River and moved into northern Osage County to the Chamois area at about 11:40 pm CST. Tree damage was found near Main and West Tennessee Street. The tornado traveled northeast where it damaged the roofs of two barns throwing debris approximately 150 yards into an open field. This damage was rated as F1 intensity. Approximately 3 miles northeast of Chamois two sheds were destroyed and another shed and home were damaged. Debris was thrown at least 500 yards into a nearby open field. Numerous trees where damaged just northeast of this location with a damage width of approximately 150 yards wide. This damage was rated as low end F1intensity. The tornado continued northeast crossing the Missouri River again and back into southeast Callaway County.

The tornado that formed in Callaway County at about 11:30 pm CST in southern Callaway County, then moved into Osage County, crossed the Missouri river again into southeast Callaway County. The tornado continued for about a half mile causing tree damage.

A small tornado formed in extreme northeast Osage County just south of the Missouri River causing tree damage. The tornado then crossed the river into southeast Callaway County.

The tornado that formed in northeast Osage County crossed the Missouri River into Callaway County moving northeast and damaged a home along Highway 94 about 2 miles west of the Callaway Montgomery County line. Numerous trees were also either snapped off or uprooted in this area.The tornado then moved into Montgomery County.

A tornado initially formed at approximately 12:30 am CST along County Road 337 about 2 miles northeast of Guthrie. Light tree damaged occurred in this area. The tornado traveled northeast and moderately damaged a home just north of County Road 328 approximately 1.5 miles west of US Highway 54. The home was moved approximately 25 feet off the foundation. Extensive tree damage occurred to the southwest and northeast of this location. Two people were injured at this location and were hospitalized for several days. Another home just to the east suffered roof damage. The damage width in this area was about 100 yards wide and was rated as F2 intensity. The tornado damaged a barn along US Highway 54 approximately 2 miles southwest of Fulton. Debris from the barn was thrown into the highway median. The track continued to the northeast and damaged trees along Highway NN, and damaged outbuildings along Highway C approximately 1.5 miles south of Fulton. The damage in this area was rated as F0 intensity. The tornado track continued northeast crossing Highways O and UU causing tree damage. The tornado dissipated approximately 3 miles east of Fulton along highway JJ. The damage in this area was rated as F0 intensity. The complete tornado track was approximately 13 miles long.

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

The warnings

20 minutes of warning. NWS LSX issued a tornado warning for this county at 05:10 UTC, 20 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 06:00 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 02:49 UTC and running to 09:58 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
16:02 UTC17:50 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WatchLSX
17:50 UTC02:49 UTCTornado WatchLSX
23:13 UTC00:00 UTCTornado WarningLSX
02:49 UTC09:58 UTCTornado WatchLSX
05:10 UTC06:00 UTCTornado WarningLSX
06:30 UTC07:15 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSX
06:35 UTC07:15 UTCTornado 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 High Risk, with a 0.30 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 01:01 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.

Springfield, MO (KSGF), 00:00Z

5.5 hours before the tornado, 262 km from the path. March 13, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 2006-03-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 1549 joules per kilogram, CIN -16, lifted condensation level 1450 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, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 2006-03-13The 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 200 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 61 knots.1939587897Sfc1 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
1549 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-16 J/kg
Surface CAPE
2497 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1450 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
200 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
264 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.5
Supercell composite
13.0
0-3 km lapse rate
7.5 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Springfield, MO (KSGF), 12:00Z

6.5 hours after it, 262 km from the path. March 13, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 2006-03-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -119020, lifted condensation level 2996 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 2006-03-13The 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 -221 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 68 knots.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-119020 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2996 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
68 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-221 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-31 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
4.3 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Jefferson City (JEF), 31 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
03:53 UTC7661180° 11 kt1000
04:26 UTC78.851.8220° 23 kt371000.3VCTS -RA
04:53 UTC7361180° 5 kt999.3VCTS -RA
05:18 UTC66.262.6280° 22 kt451000+TSRA BR
05:29 UTC64.462.6 6 kt21999-TSRA
05:53 UTC6960100° 5 kt997.3
06:25 UTC71.660.8170° 14 kt22997.3VCTS
06:35 UTC71.657.2290° 22 kt27999VCTS
06:46 UTC64.455.4260° 21 kt321000.3VCTS -RA
06:53 UTC6156260° 27 kt331000.7+TSRA
07:05 UTC60.855.4260° 14 kt281001TSRA
07:14 UTC60.855.4260° 16 kt201001.4TSRA

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

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 05:32 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
05:00 UTCTORNADOBrazitoCole, MOREPORTED ALONG HIGHWAY 54.
05:05 UTCHAIL 1.75Jefferson CityCole, MO
05:10 UTCFUNNEL CLOUDJefferson CityCole, MO
05:15 UTCHAIL 0.75Holts SummitCallaway, MO
05:20 UTCHAIL 1Holts SummitCallaway, MO
05:25 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 W TebbettsCallaway, MOMOBLIE HOME BLOWN OVER...NO KNOWN INJURIES.
06:10 UTCHAIL 0.751 W JamestownMoniteau, MO
06:20 UTCHAIL 0.75ColumbiaBoone, MO
06:30 UTCTORNADOJonesburgMontgomery, MO*** 1 INJ *** SEVERAL HOUSES DAMAGED...3 MOBILE HOMES DAMAGED...NUMEROUS SHEDS AND OUTBUILDINGS DESTROYED. 1 INJURY REPORTED BY COUNTY EMA.
06:40 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Sw FultonCallaway, MOBARN BLOWN DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 407.
06:40 UTCTORNADOJonesburgMontgomery, MO*** 1 INJ *** SEVERAL HOUSES DAMAGED...3 MOBILE HOMES DAMAGED...NUMEROUS SHEDS AND OUTBUILDINGS DESTROYED. 1 INJURY REPORTED BY COUNTY EMA.
07:00 UTCFUNNEL CLOUDAuxvasseCallaway, MO
07:25 UTCTORNADOOlneyLincoln, MO

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 March 12, 2006

54 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 1212:41 AM CSTF0Fulton, AR1.525
March 125:31 AM CSTF0Massac, IL0.950$50,000
March 128:20 AM CSTF0Leavenworth, KS1.050$10,000
March 129:12 AM CSTF1Jackson, MO17.0150$40,000
March 129:44 AM CSTF0Carroll, MO9.6100$250,000
March 1210:46 AM CSTF0Randolph, MO10.575
March 1210:57 AM CSTF0Monroe, MO0.150
March 1211:25 AM CSTF0Ralls, MO0.250
March 122:20 PM CSTF0Linn, KS to MO16.4220$400,000
March 123:49 PM CSTF0Pettis, MO28.0150$10,000
March 123:50 PM CSTF1Henry, MO13.0150$100,000
March 124:12 PM CSTF2Pettis, MO11.250016$2.5 million
March 124:25 PM CSTF1Morgan, MO1.0250$10,000
March 124:30 PM CSTF0Cooper, MO1.075
March 124:33 PM CSTF0Howard, MO3.075
March 125:25 PM CSTF0Audrain, MO6.075
March 126:24 PM CSTF0Pike, MO1.050
March 126:25 PM CSTF1Pike, MO5.0125
March 127:04 PM CSTF2Calhoun, IL67.088020
March 127:20 PM CSTF1Greene, IL3.51002
March 127:25 PM CSTF1Greene, IL11.875
March 127:51 PM CSTF0Johnson, MO8.8100
March 127:52 PM CSTF2Bates, MO26.0450113$580,000
March 127:58 PM CSTF1Morgan, IL12.0440
March 128:07 PM CSTF2Pettis, MO20.01506$3.0 million
March 128:24 PM CSTF2Sangamon, IL4.0400
March 128:28 PM CSTF3Saline, MO35.0350$530,000
March 128:32 PM CSTF2Sangamon, IL12.52004
March 128:38 PM CSTF0Saline, MO6.4100
March 128:40 PM CSTF2Johnson, MO12.82004$2.0 million
March 128:47 PM CSTF2Vernon, MO38.030017$1.6 million
March 128:57 PM CSTF2Logan, IL2.5400
March 129:00 PM CSTF2Logan, IL3.5200
March 129:02 PM CSTF0Scotland, MO6.08$10,000
March 129:03 PM CSTF1Macon, IL10.0400
March 129:09 PM CSTF3Cherokee, OK29.04408$3.0 million
March 129:16 PM CSTF1Macon, IL8.0600
March 129:18 PM CSTF3Randolph, MO19.7300426$5.0 million
March 129:18 PM CSTF0Barton, MO57.050
March 129:25 PM CSTF1Newton, MO7.0751$200,000
March 129:36 PM CSTF0Newton, MO0.115$10,000
March 129:37 PM CSTF3Delaware, OK to AR25.070012$5.8 million
March 129:43 PM CSTF4Monroe City tornado, MO29.0500
March 1210:11 PM CSTF2Benton, AR8.0250$10 million
March 1210:15 PM CSTF3Lawrence, MO42.025018$56 million
March 1210:17 PM CSTF3Hickory, MO17.020019$1.0 million
March 1210:20 PM CSTF2Morgan, MO6.01005$850,000
March 1210:50 PM CSTF1Carroll, AR to MO8.0200$40,000
March 1210:56 PM CSTF0Ford, IL2.030
March 1211:03 PM CSTF2Webster, MO7.015013$700,000
March 1211:15 PM CSTF3Webster, MO32.0200$530,000
March 1211:25 PM CSTF0Benton, MO3.020$50,000
March 1211:31 PM CSTF0Morgan, MO6.0100
March 1211:43 PM CSTF0Callaway, MO6.2200

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.