Tornadoes · United States · Missouri · 2017

EF1 tornado, Stotts City to Miller, Missouri, May 19, 2017

From Stotts City to Miller, this EF1 tornado ran 4.2 miles across Lawrence County on May 19, 2017, touching down at 3:42 PM CDT and reaching 300 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $50,000 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.

  1. EF065 to 85 mph

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

  2. EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado

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

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

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

  6. 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.

  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
EF1
Date
May 19, 2017
Touchdown
3:42 PM CDT (20:42 UTC)
Lifted
3:46 PM CDT (20:46 UTC)
On the ground
4 minutes
Path length
4.2 miles (6.8 km)
Path width
300 yards (274 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$50,000
County
Lawrence County
Touchdown point
37.055, -93.959
Lift-off point
37.093, -93.900
Record number
1705191442-01

The damage survey

7 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS SGF, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 96 mph.

  • Multiple large barns damaged to destroyed, trees uprooted.
  • Baseball stadium also bent

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

Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms over a two day period produced numerous weak tornadoes and wind damage reports across the Missouri Ozarks. Training of storms led to localized heavy rainfall and minor flooding reports.

An EF-1 tornado touched down southwest of Mount Vernon. The tornado damaged a few outbuildings and crossed I-44. At least one car was blown off the interstate near mile marker 43. The car had a large piece of wood flown through the windshield but the driver was not injured. Several trees were uprooted. Estimated maximum winds were up to 95 mph.

An EF-0 tornado touched down on the north side of Miller. There were a couple outbuildings damage and several trees were uprooted. Estimated maximum winds were up to 85 mph.

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

The warnings

29 minutes of warning. NWS SGF issued a tornado warning for this county at 20:13 UTC, 29 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 21:00 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 20:11 UTC and running to 02:48 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
04:06 UTC06:33 UTCTornado WatchSGF
07:47 UTC09:08 UTCFlash Flood WatchSGF
20:11 UTC02:48 UTCTornado WatchSGF
20:13 UTC21:00 UTCTornado WarningSGF
20:23 UTC21:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGF
20:40 UTC21:30 UTCTornado WarningSGF
02:48 UTC04:44 UTCTornado WatchSGF
03:18 UTC09:15 UTCFlash Flood WarningSGF

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 0.05 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.

Springfield, MO (KSGF), 12:00Z

8.7 hours before the tornado, 22 km from the path. May 19, 2017.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 2017-05-19Temperature 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 -80475, lifted condensation level 968 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°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 2017-05-19The 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 -97 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 35 knots.19395878Sfc1 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
-80475 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
968 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-97 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
118 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

Springfield, MO (KSGF), 00:00Z

3.3 hours after it, 22 km from the path. May 20, 2017.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 2017-05-20Temperature 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 -71392, lifted condensation level 1427 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°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 2017-05-20The 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 -186 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 55 knots.19395878Sfc1 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
-71392 J/kg
Surface CAPE
37 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1427 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-186 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-113 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
4.5 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Monett (HFJ), 20 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
18:50 UTC73.468150° 8 kt1012.9
19:10 UTC73.468150° 8 kt1012.9
19:30 UTC73.468120° 6 kt1012.5
19:50 UTC71.668130° 7 kt1012.5VCTS
20:10 UTC71.668140° 8 kt1012.2TSRA
20:30 UTC6864.4230° 29 kt351014.6TSRA
20:50 UTC62.660.8250° 8 kt121013.5TSRA
21:10 UTC62.660.8120° 6 kt1013.9-VCTSRA
21:30 UTC60.860.860° 6 kt1012.9-VCTSRA
21:50 UTC60.860.890° 7 kt1011.5-RA
22:10 UTC62.662.6130° 6 kt1011.9-VCTSRA
22:30 UTC62.662.6120° 7 kt1012.2

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

The radar

The Springfield radar (KSGF), 50 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 20:40 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
20:10 UTCTORNADONeoshoNewton, MOAN EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ALONG US HIGHWAY 60 ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF NEOSHO. THE DAMAGE PATH WAS ABOUT 4 MILES LONG AND 300 YARDS WIDE WITH ESTIMATED WINDS OF 95 MPH. NUMEROUS TREES WERE DAMAGED ALONG THE PATH.
20:11 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 N NeoshoNewton, MOMULTIPLE REPORTS OF TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ACROSS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF NEOSHO. SOME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE ALSO REPORTED.
20:11 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 N NeoshoNewton, MOPOWERLINES DOWN ALONG N. HIGH STREET.
20:11 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Nnw NeoshoNewton, MOPOWERLINES DOWN ALONG N. HIGH STREET.
20:11 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Nw NeoshoNewton, MOTREES AND POWERLINES DOWN.
20:11 UTCTORNADONeoshoNewton, MOA TORNADO LIKELY OCCURRED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF NEOSHO BASED ON NUMEROUS DAMAGE REPORTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. AN OFFICIAL STORM SURVEY TO ESTABLISH TORNADO STRENGTH/RATING WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY
20:35 UTCTSTM WND DMGPierce CityLawrence, MOESTIMATED 60 MPH WINDS.
20:40 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Sse La RussellLawrence, MOREPORT OF A HOME HEAVY DAMAGED NEAR EXIT 33 ON I-44.
20:42 UTCTORNADO3 N FreistattLawrence, MOAN EF-1 TORNADO WITH ESTIMATED WINDS OF 95 MPH TOUCHED DOWN SOUTHWEST OF MOUNT VERNON. THE TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 4 MILES AND WAS ABOUT 300 YARDS WIDE. A COUPLE OF OUTBUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED AND SEVERAL TREES
20:42 UTCTORNADO3 S Stotts CityLawrence, MOAN EF-1 TORNADO WITH ESTIMATED WINDS OF 95 MPH TOUCHED DOWN SOUTHWEST OF MOUNT VERNON. THE TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 4 MILES AND WAS ABOUT 300 YARDS WIDE. A COUPLE OF OUTBUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED AND SEVERAL TREES
20:44 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 S Stotts CityLawrence, MOMULTIPLE BUILDINGS DAMAGED NEAR 39.8 MM ALONG I-44 PER MERCY EMS SUPERVISOR.
20:45 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Nne HobergLawrence, MOCAR BLOWN OFF OF I-44 NEAR 43 MM ALONG I-44.
20:49 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Wnw Mount VernonLawrence, MOREPORT OF A BARN IN THE ROADWAY ALONG OO HIGHWAY 1/4 MILE WEST OF 39 HIGHWAY.
20:55 UTCTSTM WND DMGMillerLawrence, MOSOCIAL MEDIA PICTURE OF BLEACHERS THROWN INTO NETTING AT THE MILLER BALLPARK. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
20:57 UTCTORNADO1 Nnw MillerLawrence, MOAN EF-0 RATED TORNADO OCCURRED NORTH-NORTHWEST OF MILLER, WITH ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS OF 85 MPH. THE TORNADO HAD A PATH LENGTH OF 1 MI WITH AN APPROXIMATE WIDTH OF 100 YARDS. THE TORNADO CAUSED DAMAGE TO NUMEROUS TREES, AS
21:00 UTCTSTM WND DMGLockwoodDade, MOSEVERAL LIMBS DOWN IN EVERTON AND LOCKWOOD.
21:05 UTCTORNADO3 Se EvertonDade, MOA BRIEF EF-0 RATED TORNADO OCCURRED 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF EVERTON IN DADE COUNTY ALONG DADE RD 231. MULTIPLE TREES WERE DAMAGED ALONG A PATH IN THE AREA. THE PATH WAS APPROXIMATELY 0.83 MILES LONG, WITH AN ESTIMATED PEAK
21:12 UTCTORNADO2 Ene EvertonDade, MOA BRIEF EF-0 RATED TORNADO OCCURRED 2 MILES ENE OF EVERTON. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO SEVERAL TREES ON EITHER SIDE OF E DADE RD 152. THE PATH WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE LONG WITH AN ESTIMATED PEAK WIND SPEED OF 80 MPH.
21:19 UTCTORNADO3 Wnw Walnut GrovePolk, MOAN EF0 TORNADO OCCURRED ALONG THE GREENE/POLK COUNTY LINE WNW OF WALNUT GROVE ON THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 15. DAMAGE INCLUDED SEVERAL UPROOTED TREES AND DAMAGE TO AN OUTBUILDING JUST INSIDE POLK COUNTY. THE TORNADO HAD A PAT
21:19 UTCTORNADO3 Wnw Walnut GrovePolk, MOAN EF0 TORNADO OCCURRED ALONG THE GREENE/POLK COUNTY LINE WNW OF WALNUT GROVE ON THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 19. DAMAGE INCLUDED SEVERAL UPROOTED TREES AND DAMAGE TO AN OUTBUILDING JUST INSIDE POLK COUNTY. THE TORNADO HAD A PAT
21:24 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Wnw Walnut GrovePolk, MOMULTIPLE TREES DOWN, GARAGE DAMAGED.
21:24 UTCHAIL 1.25RepublicGreene, MOQUARTER TO HALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL PER PICTURE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

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 May 19, 2017

43 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 191:04 AM CDTEF0Barry, MO0.1100$50,000
May 191:28 AM CDTEF0Taney, MO0.3751$10,000
May 191:30 AM CDTEF1Taney, MO8.7200
May 191:54 AM CDTEF0Greene, MO2.5200$100,000
May 192:00 AM CDTEF0Christian, MO3.0500$100,000
May 192:15 AM CDTEF1Webster, MO2.0300$10,000
May 193:00 AM CDTEF0Wright, MO0.350$5,000
May 193:12 AM CDTEF0Oregon, MO0.8300$50,000
May 194:15 AM CDTEF1Callaway, MO1.650
May 194:23 AM CDTEF0Montgomery, MO4.075
May 192:55 PM CDTEF1McDonald, MO2.010$50,000
May 193:10 PM CDTEF0Newton, MO4.1300$50,000
May 194:22 PM EDTEF1Crawford, IN0.250$250,000
May 193:23 PM CDTUnratedRunnels, TX0.030
May 193:37 PM CDTEF0Barber, KS0.450
May 193:53 PM CDTEF0Barber, KS3.0150
May 193:57 PM CDTEF0Lawrence, MO1.0100$5,000
May 194:05 PM CDTEF0Dade, MO0.9100
May 194:11 PM CDTEF0Pratt, KS2.250
May 194:12 PM CDTEF0Dade, MO0.575
May 194:14 PM CDTEF0Pratt, KS4.575
May 194:19 PM CDTEF0Polk, MO0.6100$5,000
May 194:22 PM CDTEF0Kingman, KS0.250
May 194:53 PM CDTEF0Kingman, KS0.350
May 195:10 PM CDTEF0Kingman, KS0.350
May 195:32 PM CDTEF0Reno, KS0.750
May 195:37 PM CDTEF0Reno, KS0.650
May 196:00 PM CDTUnratedArcher, TX0.550
May 196:27 PM CDTEF1Cole, MO0.975
May 197:15 PM CDTEF0Clay, KS0.020
May 197:22 PM CDTUnratedCarter, OK0.250
May 197:24 PM CDTUnratedCarter, OK0.250
May 197:27 PM CDTUnratedColeman, TX0.125
May 197:31 PM CDTUnratedCarter, OK0.250
May 197:47 PM CDTUnratedCarter, OK2.0400
May 197:48 PM CDTEF0Chase, KS0.250
May 198:09 PM CDTEF0Morris, KS0.025
May 198:25 PM CDTEF1Chase, KS0.860
May 198:38 PM CDTEF0Lyon, KS0.025
May 199:32 PM CDTUnratedJohnston, OK1.550
May 199:44 PM CDTUnratedJohnston, OK2.050
May 199:56 PM CDTUnratedJohnston, OK6.050
May 1910:13 PM CDTUnratedCoal, OK3.050

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.