Tornadoes · United States · Missouri · 2018

EF0 tornado, Boyer, Missouri, December 1, 2018

This EF0 tornado ran 0.3 miles across Wright County on December 1, 2018, touching down at 1:37 AM CST and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody.

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 mphthis tornado

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

  2. EF186 to 110 mph

    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
EF0
Date
December 1, 2018
Touchdown
1:37 AM CST (07:37 UTC)
Lifted
1:38 AM CST (07:38 UTC)
On the ground
1 minutes
Path length
0.3 miles (0.5 km)
Path width
50 yards (46 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Wright County
Touchdown point
37.319, -92.568
Lift-off point
37.322, -92.565
Record number
1812010137-01

The damage survey

5 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 90 mph.

  • Large branches broken off of hardwood trees.
  • Roof heaviliy damaging on out building.

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 and tornadoes developed within a Quasi-Linear Convective System that moved across the region during the late evening of November 30th and continued into the early morning of the 1st. The parent storm system intensified over the southern Plains and tracked northeast into northern Missouri. Widespread severe wind gusts between 60 and 80 mph, hail and isolated tornadoes occurred. Seven tornadoes were confirmed over southwest and south central Missouri. The tornadoes were rated EF-0 to EF-1 based on NWS Storm Surveys. Unfortunately, there was one fatality that occurred in Aurora, Missouri when a tornado struck a local motel.

A brief EF-0 tornado tracked for approximately one quarter of a mile and broke several large tree branches.

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

The warnings

7 minutes of warning. NWS SGF issued a tornado warning for this county at 07:30 UTC, 7 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 08:00 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 03:52 UTC and running to 08:51 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
03:52 UTC08:51 UTCTornado WatchSGF
07:24 UTC08:04 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGF
07:30 UTC08:00 UTCTornado 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 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

7.6 hours before the tornado, 119 km from the path. December 1, 2018.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 2018-12-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 202 joules per kilogram, CIN -93, lifted condensation level 687 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 2018-12-01The 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 241 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 57 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
202 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-93 J/kg
Surface CAPE
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
687 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
57 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
241 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
266 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.6
0-3 km lapse rate
5.0 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Springfield, MO (KSGF), 12:00Z

4.4 hours after it, 119 km from the path. December 1, 2018.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 2018-12-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 13 joules per kilogram, CIN -181, lifted condensation level 1035 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 12:00Z on 2018-12-01The 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 247 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 82 knots.1939587897117Sfc1 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
13 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-181 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1035 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
82 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
247 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
284 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
4.9 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Lebanon (LBO), 37 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
05:55 UTC53.653.680° 9 kt161000.7-TSRA
06:15 UTC53.653.670° 11 kt999.7+RA
06:35 UTC53.653.680° 10 kt17999.3+TSRA
06:55 UTC53.653.650° 10 kt17998+RA
07:15 UTC53.653.680° 7 kt15998.3+TSRA
07:35 UTC53.653.690° 10 kt996.3TSRA
07:55 UTC53.653.6190° 10 kt19998.3RA
08:15 UTC51.851.8270° 24 kt421000.7RA
08:35 UTC5050270° 14 kt231000.3RA
08:55 UTC5050350° 8 kt18995.9-RA
09:15 UTC5050340° 4 kt996.3
09:35 UTC5048.250° 4 kt995.9

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

The radar

The Springfield radar (KSGF), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 07:36 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
07:02 UTCTSTM WND DMGRomeDouglas, MOTWO UPROOTED TREES NEAR ROME, MO. TIME BASED ON RADAR. DELAYED REPORT.
07:07 UTCTSTM WND DMGRogersvilleWebster, MOPOWER LINES DOWN.
07:18 UTCTSTM WND DMGSeymourWebster, MOPOWER LINES DOWN.
07:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Nnw MarshfieldWebster, MOPOWER LINES DOWN MARSHFIELD.
07:21 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Se ElklandWebster, MOA PORTION OF A GARAGE ROOF WAS PEELED OFF AND LANDED ON A PARKED TRUCK. SEVERAL TREES WERE REPORTED DOWN OR DAMAGED. DELAYED REPORT.
07:22 UTCTORNADO2 Nne SeymourWebster, MOAN EF-1 TORNADO FORMED 2 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF SEYMOUR AND TRACKED NORTHEAST AND DISSIPATED APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF SEYMOUR. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO BARNS ALONG WITH UPROOTED TREES.
07:24 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Se GentryvilleDouglas, MOMULTIPLE LARGE TREES DOWNED EAST OF STATE RD 95, MOSTLY ALONG COUNTY RD 347. DELAYED REPORT. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
07:24 UTCTSTM WND DMGAvaDouglas, MOREPORTS OF TREES DOWN. DELAYED REPORT.
07:24 UTCTSTM WND DMGElklandWebster, MOPOWER LINES DOWN.
07:34 UTCTSTM WND GST 703 Nne FooseDallas, MOTREE LIMBS DOWN. HIGHWAY 65 SOUTH OF BUFFALO.
07:37 UTCTORNADO5 Nw HartvilleWright, MOA BRIEF EF-0 TORNADO TRACKED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER OF A MILE AND BROKE SEVERAL LARGE TREE BRANCHES.
07:38 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Ne OdinWright, MOMULTIPLE LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWNED AND TRASH DUMPSTERS DISPLACED. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
07:39 UTCTSTM WND GST 705 Ene VanzantDouglas, MOFIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS ESTIMATED 70 MPH WINDS AT HIGHWAY 76 AND EE. POWER OUTAGES REPORTED.
07:41 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 N Fair GroveGreene, MOFAIR GROVE POLICE DEPARTMENT UTILITY POLE WITH ATTACHED CITY INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT SNAPPED IN HALF AT 70 EAST WILLOW STREET, FAIR GROVE. POLE BLOWN DOWN TOWARDS THE NORTH.
07:49 UTCTSTM WND GST 60NorwoodWright, MOESTIMATED 60 PLUS WINDS HIT NORWOOD AROUND 1:49 AM. DELAYED REPORT.
07:50 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Wnw NianguaWebster, MOSEMI BLOWN OFF INTERSTATE 44 AT MILE MARKER 106.
07:52 UTCTSTM WND GST 612 N Mountain GroveWright, MOMISSOURI AG STATION.
08:00 UTCTSTM WND DMGHoustonTexas, MOIN HOUSTON TREE LIMBS DOWN ON POWER LINES. TIME BASED ON RADAR. DELAYED REPORT.

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

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2018 tornado in MissouriEvery tornado in Missouri since 1950Warnings in force in Missouri nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of December 1, 2018

39 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
December 112:15 AM CSTEF0Barry, MO0.150$90,000
December 112:30 AM CSTEF1Lawrence, MO0.5501$250,000
December 112:40 AM CSTEF0Christian, MO2.140$190,000
December 112:41 AM CSTEF1Christian, MO1.275$150,000
December 112:47 AM CSTEF1Greene, MO2.560$175,000
December 11:22 AM CSTEF1Webster, MO4.275$90,000
December 11:25 AM CSTEF1Hempstead, AR8.575$300,000
December 11:47 PM CSTEF0Bay, FL2.450
December 11:54 PM CSTEF1Pike, IL1.625
December 12:29 PM CSTEF0Pike, IL0.125
December 12:34 PM CSTEF0Perry, AL0.375
December 12:40 PM CSTEF1Pike, IL0.6110
December 13:00 PM CSTEF1Schuyler, IL1.4100$12,000
December 13:01 PM CSTEF0Morgan, IL1.750
December 13:09 PM CSTEF0Cass, IL0.650$35,000
December 13:18 PM CSTEF0McDonough, IL0.115
December 13:25 PM CSTEF1Cass, IL4.2200$200,000
December 13:41 PM CSTEF0McDonough, IL0.115
December 13:44 PM CSTEF0Mason, IL1.725
December 13:49 PM CSTEF0Autauga, AL0.3100
December 13:51 PM CSTEF1Schuyler, IL15.6450$610,000
December 13:59 PM CSTEF1Macoupin, IL1.450
December 14:09 PM CSTEF1Montgomery, IL8.075
December 14:16 PM CSTEF2Montgomery, IL6.8100
December 14:32 PM CSTEF1Montgomery, IL2.050
December 14:45 PM CSTEF0Fulton, IL5.525$20,000
December 14:47 PM CSTEF0Montgomery, IL3.1200$140,000
December 14:53 PM CSTEF1Mason, IL11.7250$65,000
December 15:01 PM CSTEF3Christian, IL12.590022$119 million
December 15:34 PM CSTEF0Tazewell, IL0.150$80,000
December 15:34 PM CSTEF2Christian, IL8.4400$3.3 million
December 15:53 PM CSTEF1Macon, IL4.3250$325,000
December 16:03 PM CSTEF0Macon, IL0.450$25,000
December 16:16 PM CSTEF1Sangamon, IL4.6100$225,000
December 16:31 PM CSTEF1Macon, IL1.1320$150,000
December 17:06 PM CSTEF1McLean, IL0.250$75,000
December 17:18 PM CSTEF2McLean, IL2.4100$75,000
December 17:21 PM CSTEF0McLean, IL0.125$30,000
December 17:42 PM CSTEF1McLean, IL0.575$110,000

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.