Tornadoes · United States · Missouri · 2017
EF0 tornado, Butterfield to Halley, Missouri, March 9, 2017
From Butterfield to Halley, this EF0 tornado ran 0.1 miles across Barry County on March 9, 2017, touching down at 6:42 PM CST and reaching 100 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $25,000 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 mphthis tornado
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 mph
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
- EF0
- Date
- March 9, 2017
- Touchdown
- 6:42 PM CST (00:42 UTC)
- Lifted
- 6:43 PM CST (00:43 UTC)
- On the ground
- 1 minutes
- Path length
- 0.1 miles (0.2 km)
- Path width
- 100 yards (91 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $25,000
- County
- Barry County
- Touchdown point
- 36.766, -93.872
- Lift-off point
- 36.766, -93.870
- Record number
- 1703091842-01
The damage survey
3 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS SGF, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 85 mph.
- Multiple uprooted trees and trees snapped.
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
Severe thunderstorms producing numerous reports large hail along with scattered wind damage and a couple of tornadoes impacted Missouri Ozarks and southeastern Kansas Thursday, March 9, 2017.
A National Weather Service survey determined that a tornado damaged a home to the east northeast of Butterfield. Estimated peak wind speed was 75 mph.
A National Weather Service survey determined that an EF-0 tornado uprooted and snapped multiple trees about 6 miles southwest of Jenkins, Missouri. Estimated peak wind speed was 85 mph.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
35 minutes of warning. NWS SGF issued a tornado warning for this county at 00:07 UTC, 35 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 01:00 UTC.
The county was under a severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 17:10 UTC and running to 02:45 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17:10 UTC | 02:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SGF |
| 00:03 UTC | 00:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | SGF |
| 00:07 UTC | 01:00 UTC | Tornado Warning | SGF |
| 00:28 UTC | 01:15 UTC | Tornado Warning | SGF |
| 00:42 UTC | 01:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | SGF |
| 01:12 UTC | 01:49 UTC | Tornado Warning | SGF |
| 01:31 UTC | 02:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF |
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 Enhanced Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 22:29 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 radar
The Springfield radar (KSGF), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 00:44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23:25 UTC | HAIL 1.25 | 1 Nnw Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | QUARTER TO HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. TIME WAS ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 23:25 UTC | HAIL 1.25 | 1 N Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | QUARTER TO HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. TIME WAS ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 23:32 UTC | HAIL 2.5 | 1 N Stotts City | Lawrence, MO | TENNIS BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. TIME WAS ESTIMATED. |
| 23:34 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | 2 N Fidelity | Jasper, MO | TAKEN FROM THE JASPER COUNTY 911 CENTER SOUTH OF CARTHAGE MO. TIME BASED ON RADAR ESTIMATE. |
| 23:47 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | 3 N Fidelity | Jasper, MO | NICKEL HAIL AT MM 50.6 ON I-49. |
| 23:50 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | 2 S Fidelity | Newton, MO | BETWEEN DIAMOND AND FIDELITY MO AT APPROX 5:50 PM. VIA FACEBOOK PICTURE. |
| 23:50 UTC | TORNADO | 5 E Reeds Spring | Taney, MO | BRIEF EF-0 TORNADO DESTROYED A WOODEN FRAMED STRUCTURE AND DAMAGED ROOFS TO 3 HOMES. . |
| 00:00 UTC | HAIL 0.25 | 4 Se Hoberg | Lawrence, MO | HAIL (1.00) -- -- SPOTTER IS 5 MILES N OF VERONA, MO. |
| 00:01 UTC | TORNADO | 6 Sw Jenkins | Barry, MO | EF-0 TORNADO WITH MAX ESTIMATED WINDS OF 85 MPH UPROOTED AND SNAPPED SEVERAL TREES. |
| 00:02 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 4 Ssw Sarcoxie | Newton, MO | SPOTTER HAD OBSERVED FUNNEL CLOUD...HAS SINCE DISSIPATED. |
| 00:05 UTC | HAIL 2.75 | Wentworth | Newton, MO | BASEBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. MULTIPLE REPORTS OF DAMAGE TO CARS IN THE AREA. TIME WAS ESTIMATED. |
| 00:22 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | Purdy | Barry, MO | FUNNEL CLOUD INDICATED NW OF PURDY. |
| 00:22 UTC | HAIL 1 | Monett | Barry, MO | 1.00 HAIL. . |
| 00:22 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 1 S Monett | Barry, MO | GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. TIME WAS ESTIMATED. |
| 00:24 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Aurora | Lawrence, MO | AURORA PD REPORTING RURAL FIRE TRUCK AND PASSENGER VEHICLE BLOWN OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A DITCH ON ROUTE K NORTH OF AURORA AT FARM ROAD 2167. |
| 00:34 UTC | HAIL 1 | Monett | Barry, MO | QUARTER SIZED HAIL...MONETT WALMART PARKING LOT 634PM. |
| 00:39 UTC | HAIL 1 | Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | QUARTER SIZED HAIL SW OF SARCOXIE...639PM S OF I44. |
| 00:43 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Ene Butterfield | Barry, MO | NWS STORM SURVEY REVEALED A TORNADO DAMAGED A HOME EAST OF BUTTERFIELD. MAXIMUM WINDS ESTIMATED AT 75 MPH. |
| 00:59 UTC | TORNADO | 3 E Butterfield | Barry, MO | DAMAGE TO A HOME 3 EAST OF BUTTERFIELD. NOT CONFIRMED. . |
| 00:59 UTC | TORNADO | 3 E Butterfield | Barry, MO | DAMAGE TO A HOME 3 EAST OF BUTTERFIELD. NOT CONFIRMED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. |
| 01:04 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 3 S Racine | Newton, MO | GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. . |
| 01:10 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Cassville | Barry, MO | GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR CASSVILLE REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. TIME WAS ESTIMATED. |
| 01:11 UTC | HAIL 1 | Neosho | Newton, MO | QUARTER SIZED HAIL WORNALL AND SOUTH STREET IN SOUTH CENTRAL NEOSHO. OTHER REPORTS ALSO OF 1.00 HAIL FROM THE PUBLIC. |
| 01:15 UTC | HAIL 1.25 | 1 S Neosho | Newton, MO | HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. TIME WAS ESTIMATED |
| 01:15 UTC | HAIL 1.25 | 1 S Neosho | Newton, MO | HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. TIME WAS ESTIMATED. |
| 01:20 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | Goodman | Mcdonald, MO | PING PONG SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. TIME WAS ESTIMATED. |
| 01:35 UTC | HAIL 0.25 | Golden | Barry, MO | GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR GOLDEN REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. TIME WAS ESTIMATED. |
| 01:35 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 3 Se Shell Knob | Barry, MO | GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR VIOLA, MISSOURI. PICTURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME WAS ESTIMATED |
| 01:35 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 3 Se Shell Knob | Barry, MO | GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR VIOLA, MISSOURI. PICTURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME WAS ESTIMATED. |
| 01:35 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Golden | Barry, MO | GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR GOLDEN REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH A PICTURE. TIME WAS ESTIMATED. |
| 01:40 UTC | HAIL 1 | Blue Eye | Stone, MO | |
| 01:40 UTC | HAIL 1 | Blue Eye | Carroll, AR | |
| 01:42 UTC | HAIL 1 | Noel | Mcdonald, MO | QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN NOEL PER LAW ENFORCEMENT. |
| 01:52 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Ene Golden | Stone, MO | HOUSE DAMAGE....REPORTS OF WINDOWS BLOWN OUT....CENTRAL CROSSING FIRE RESPONDING. |
| 02:13 UTC | HAIL 1 | 2 Ssw Pineville | Mcdonald, MO | QUARTER SIZE HAIL ON HWY 71 JUST SOUTH OF PINEVILLE. |
| 02:25 UTC | HAIL 1 | 6 Se Pineville | Mcdonald, MO | QUARTER SIZE HAIL NEAR JANE, MISSOURI. PICTURE WAS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA AND TIME WAS ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2017 tornado in MissouriEvery tornado in Missouri since 1950Warnings in force in Missouri nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of March 9, 2017
16 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 9 | 6:25 PM CST | EF2 | Ripley, MO | 9.6 | 600 | $30,000 | ||
| March 9 | 6:32 PM CST | EF1 | Butler, MO | 6.3 | 100 | $25,000 | ||
| March 9 | 6:50 PM CST | EF0 | Taney, MO | 0.1 | 75 | $20,000 | ||
| March 9 | 7:00 PM CST | EF0 | Barry, MO | 0.1 | 100 | |||
| March 9 | 7:03 PM CST | EF1 | Stoddard, MO | 2.3 | 75 | $75,000 | ||
| March 9 | 7:06 PM CST | EF0 | Taney, MO | 1.9 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| March 9 | 7:14 PM CST | EF1 | Butler, MO | 2.7 | 200 | $500,000 | ||
| March 9 | 7:28 PM CST | EF1 | Stoddard, MO | 11.2 | 250 | $400,000 | ||
| March 9 | 8:00 PM CST | EF0 | Stoddard, MO | 0.7 | 100 | $20,000 | ||
| March 9 | 8:10 PM CST | EF1 | New Madrid, MO | 1.1 | 150 | $50,000 | ||
| March 9 | 8:26 PM CST | EF2 | Fulton, MO to KY | 9.7 | 250 | $270,000 | ||
| March 9 | 8:41 PM CST | EF2 | Fulton, KY to TN | 10.2 | 250 | $1.3 million | ||
| March 9 | 9:13 PM CST | EF1 | Calloway, KY | 5.6 | 150 | $75,000 | ||
| March 9 | 9:54 PM CST | EF0 | Carroll, TN | 1.0 | 150 | $30,000 | ||
| March 9 | 11:32 PM CST | EF0 | Marshall, TN | 3.1 | 100 | $25,000 | ||
| March 9 | 11:55 PM CST | EF1 | Moore, TN | 4.2 | 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.