Tornadoes · United States · Missouri · 2012
EF3 tornado, Asherville to Bell City, Missouri, February 29, 2012
From Asherville to Bell City, this EF3 tornado ran 20.0 miles across Stoddard County on February 29, 2012, touching down at 4:00 AM CST and reaching 700 yards wide. It killed 1 person, and did $150,000 of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 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.
EF3136 to 165 mphthis tornado
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 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
- EF3
- Date
- February 29, 2012
- Touchdown
- 4:00 AM CST (10:00 UTC)
- Lifted
- 4:20 AM CST (10:20 UTC)
- On the ground
- 20 minutes
- Path length
- 20.0 miles (32.1 km)
- Path width
- 700 yards (640 m)
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $150,000
- County
- Stoddard County
- Touchdown point
- 36.900, -90.189
- Lift-off point
- 37.030, -89.866
- Record number
- 1202290400-01
What the Weather Service recorded
A squall line with embedded sustained supercells crossed southeast Missouri. The embedded supercells raced east-northeast at 60 to 70 mph, while the line moved southeast at a slower rate. The storms strengthened as they encountered richer low-level moisture, with surface dew points around 60 degrees spreading rapidly north-northeastward up the Mississippi Valley. Intense low to mid-level wind fields maintained the intensity of tornadic storms despite weak instability due to lack of solar heating. A south-southwesterly low level jet from 60 to 70 knots veered to west-southwest around 75 knots at 500 mb.
Over 50 structures were damaged, almost half of which were completely destroyed. Most of the structures were mobile homes, barns, and outbuildings. Houses sustained mainly minor damage, but one site-built home was seriously damaged and another was destroyed. Peak winds were estimated near 140 mph. The average path width was 550 yards.
The deaths
1 direct deaths are recorded for this tornado, each with what Storm Data knows of it.
| Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | M | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down. One was issued for the county at another hour that day.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 07:15 UTC and running to 12:15 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:15 UTC | 12:15 UTC | Tornado Watch | PAH |
| 09:40 UTC | 10:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH |
| 10:14 UTC | 10:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | PAH |
| 10:21 UTC | 10:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH |
| 10:35 UTC | 11:00 UTC | Tornado Warning | PAH |
| 10:39 UTC | 11:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH |
| 10:51 UTC | 11:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH |
| 11:07 UTC | 11:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PAH |
| 11:23 UTC | 11:40 UTC | Tornado Warning | PAH |
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 General Thunderstorms Risk. The outlook in force was issued at 05:51 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.
Little Rock, AR (KLZK), 00:00Z
10.0 hours before the tornado, 238 km from the path. February 29, 2012.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 61 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -316 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 578 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 70 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 335 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 421 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 3.2
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.0 K/km
Little Rock, AR (KLZK), 12:00Z
2.0 hours after it, 238 km from the path. February 29, 2012.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1168 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -5 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 1234 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 535 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 64 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 289 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 292 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 2.3
- Supercell composite
- 8.5
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.7 K/km
The radar
The Paducah radar (KPAH), 112 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 10:01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:11 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 W Marquand | Madison, MO | *** 1 INJ *** 3 HOMES DAMAGED... AT LEAST ONE WITH A ROOF MISSING AND THE OTHERS WITH SIDING REMOVED. ANOTHER ROOF REMOVED FROM BARN. SEVERAL TREES DOWNED WITH DIAMETERS IN EXCESS OF 16 INCHES. |
| 09:11 UTC | TORNADO | 2 W Marquand | Madison, MO | *** 1 INJ *** 3 HOMES DAMAGED... AT LEAST ONE WITH A ROOF MISSING AND THE OTHERS WITH SIDING REMOVED. ANOTHER ROOF REMOVED FROM BARN. SEVERAL TREES DOWNED WITH DIAMETERS IN EXCESS OF 16 INCHES. DAMAGE RATED AT EF1. |
| 09:25 UTC | TORNADO | Patton | Bollinger, MO | 6-8 HOMES HAVE ROOF DAMAGE ALONG HIGHWAY 72. 10 LARGER BARNS DESTROYED OVER A 5 MILE AREA. TREE DAMAGE IS WIDESPREAD. NUMEROUS POWER POLES DOWN. |
| 09:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 E Ellsinore | Wayne, MO | ANTENNA RIPPED OFF OF HOME. LATE REPORT. |
| 09:33 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | Ellsinore | Carter, MO | PING PONG SIZE HAIL ALONG HIGHWAY V IN TOWN. WIND GUST 30 TO 40 MPH ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORM. |
| 09:41 UTC | HAIL 2.5 | Sedgewickville | Bollinger, MO | POWER OUTAGES REPORTED AS WELL |
| 09:49 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Se Sedgewickville | Bollinger, MO | BARN BLOWN AWAY ALONG HIGHWAY 72 NEAR THE BOLLINGER AND CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY LINE. |
| 09:57 UTC | TSTM WND GST 0 | Sedgewickville | Bollinger, MO | OUT BUILDINGS DAMAGED. |
| 09:59 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Oak Ridge | Cape Girardeau, MO | NUMEROUS HOME STUCTURE DAMAGE. WIDESPREAD TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN. DAMAGE OBSERVED BY FIRE RESCUE TEAMS AND RELAYED TO E0C. POSSIBLE TORNADO. NO INJURIES REPORTED AT THIS TIME. |
| 10:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Oak Ridge | Cape Girardeau, MO | *** 1 INJ *** EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTING WIDESPREAD DAMAGE ACROSS THE NORTHERN THIRD OF CAPE GIRADEAU COUNTY. MANAGER IS ASKING FOR NO ONE TO ENTER THE AREA TO ALLOW EMERGENCY SERVICES TO REPSOND. POSSIBLE TORNADO. 1 MA |
| 10:00 UTC | TORNADO | 1 W Asherville | Stoddard, MO | NWS STORM DAMAGE SURVEY REVEALS AN EF3 TORNADO THAT STARTED .5 MILES WEST OF ASHERVILLE TO 2 MILES WEST OF BELL CITY. SEE PNSPAH FOR DETAILS. |
| 10:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Brownwood | Stoddard, MO | EM REPORTS PATH OF DAMAGE BETWEEN OTTAWILD AND BROWNWOOD.LATE REPORT. |
| 10:18 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Oak Ridge | Cape Girardeau, MO | LINE OF DAMAGE FROM OAK RIDGE TO POCAHANTAS MISSOURI. NUMEROUS STRUCTURAL AND TREE DAMAGE. POWER OUTAGES. NO INJURES REPORTED AT THIS TIME. POSSIBLE TORNADO. |
| 10:24 UTC | TORNADO | 1 E Bell City | Stoddard, MO | NWS STORM SURVEY REVEALS AN EF1 TORNADO WHICH STARTED JUST EAST OF BELL CITY IN STODDARD COUNTY TO 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BENTON IN SCOTT COUNTY. DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN PNSPAH |
| 10:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Dexter | Stoddard, MO | NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES WITH LARGE AMOUNT OF TREE DEBRIS. WINDS ESTIMATED 55 MPH. |
| 10:41 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Neelyville | Butler, MO | GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR THE COMMUNITY OF NEELYVILLE. |
| 10:50 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 E Benton | Scott, MO | POSSIBLE TORNADO. BARN AND CHICKEN FARM DESTROYED. HOUSE DAMAGED. WIDESPREAD TREE AND POWER LINE DAMAGE ALONG HIGHWAY 408 NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 403. LATE REPORT. |
| 11:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Oak Ridge | Cape Girardeau, MO | EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTING WIDESPREAD DAMAGE ACROSS THE NORTHERN THIRD OF CAPE GIRADEAU COUNTY. MANAGER IS ASKING FOR NO ONE TO ENTER THE AREA TO ALLOW EMERGENCY SERVICES TO REPSOND. POSSIBLE TORNADO. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2012 tornado in MissouriEvery tornado in Missouri since 1950Warnings in force in Missouri nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of February 29, 2012
31 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 29 | 12:18 AM CST | EF1 | Laclede, MO | 11.0 | 150 | 5 | $750,000 | |
| February 29 | 12:22 AM CST | EF1 | Laclede, MO | 0.3 | 75 | $500,000 | ||
| February 29 | 12:42 AM CST | EF2 | Barry, MO | 1.7 | 400 | 1 | 4 | $575,000 |
| February 29 | 1:06 AM CST | EF1 | Phelps, MO | 18.0 | 75 | |||
| February 29 | 1:13 AM CST | EF2 | Stone, MO | 24.3 | 400 | 47 | $21 million | |
| February 29 | 2:55 AM CST | EF2 | Madison, MO | 31.9 | 800 | 1 | $100,000 | |
| February 29 | 3:34 AM CST | EF2 | Bollinger, MO | 7.7 | 120 | $170,000 | ||
| February 29 | 3:47 AM CST | EF2 | Cape Girardeau, MO to IL | 31.9 | 300 | 1 | $350,000 | |
| February 29 | 4:24 AM CST | EF1 | Scott, MO | 15.7 | 75 | $250,000 | ||
| February 29 | 4:26 AM CST | EF2 | Williamson, IL | 14.9 | 300 | $100,000 | ||
| February 29 | 4:51 AM CST | EF4 | Harrisburg–Ridgway tornado, IL | 26.1 | 325 | 8 | 108 | $3.0 million |
| February 29 | 5:00 AM CST | EF2 | Pulaski, IL to KY | 22.7 | 150 | 5 | $250,000 | |
| February 29 | 5:35 AM CST | EF2 | Massac, IL | 2.4 | 150 | $50,000 | ||
| February 29 | 5:57 AM CST | EF1 | Henderson, KY | 1.3 | 150 | 2 | $80,000 | |
| February 29 | 6:03 AM CST | EF1 | Warrick, IN | 2.4 | 150 | $250,000 | ||
| February 29 | 6:40 AM CST | EF0 | Hopkins, KY | 0.5 | 30 | $10,000 | ||
| February 29 | 8:45 AM CST | EF1 | Muhlenberg, KY | 0.1 | 30 | $30,000 | ||
| February 29 | 8:45 AM CST | EF2 | Muhlenberg, KY | 5.5 | 200 | 1 | $100,000 | |
| February 29 | 9:55 AM EST | EF2 | Hardin, KY | 5.0 | 250 | $200,000 | ||
| February 29 | 9:42 AM CST | EF2 | Grayson, KY | 2.0 | 200 | 1 | $50,000 | |
| February 29 | 11:05 AM EST | EF2 | Larue, KY | 2.5 | 200 | $200,000 | ||
| February 29 | 11:12 AM EST | EF2 | Larue, KY | 0.9 | 100 | $20,000 | ||
| February 29 | 1:42 PM EST | EF2 | Morgan, KY | 6.3 | 400 | $100,000 | ||
| February 29 | 12:47 PM CST | EF1 | Metcalfe, KY | 1.0 | 150 | $10,000 | ||
| February 29 | 1:22 PM CST | EF2 | Russell, KY | 7.2 | 150 | $210,000 | ||
| February 29 | 2:53 PM EST | EF1 | Pulaski, KY | 1.5 | 60 | $50,000 | ||
| February 29 | 3:46 PM CST | EF1 | DeKalb, TN | 14.8 | 300 | 1 | $700,000 | |
| February 29 | 4:02 PM CST | EF0 | White, TN | 2.2 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| February 29 | 4:30 PM CST | EF2 | Cumberland, TN | 11.1 | 1,000 | 2 | 7 | $1.0 million |
| February 29 | 7:30 PM EST | EF0 | Blount, TN | 0.8 | 100 | $25,000 | ||
| February 29 | 12:32 AM EST | EF0 | Washington, VA | 0.6 | 70 | $50,000 |
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.