Tornadoes · United States · Missouri · 2025
EF0 tornado, Boston to Milford, Missouri, April 20, 2025
From Boston to Milford, this EF0 tornado ran 19.8 miles across Barton County on April 20, 2025, touching down at 2:29 PM CDT and reaching 300 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $3.4 million 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
- April 20, 2025
- Touchdown
- 2:29 PM CDT (19:29 UTC)
- Lifted
- 2:50 PM CDT (19:50 UTC)
- On the ground
- 21 minutes
- Path length
- 19.8 miles (31.8 km)
- Path width
- 300 yards (274 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $3.4 million
- County
- Barton County
- Touchdown point
- 37.390, -94.370
- Lift-off point
- 37.610, -94.140
- Record number
- 2504201329-01
The damage survey
13 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.
- Small debris on south and east face of home.
- Metal barn roofing also scattered northward
- Roofing thrown northeast with nearby trees uprooted north
- Roof and attached deck torn off, trees uprooted. Home owner reported heavy rain falling at time of tornado
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
A strong storm system moved through the area on Sunday April 20th, 2025. This system brought tornadoes, damaging wind, large hail and heavy rain. The heavy rainfall led to flooding as the area had already received heavy rainfall from storms earlier in the week. Multiple area rivers reached minor to moderate flood stage due to heavy runoff.
An EF-0 tornado touched down in south-central Barton County in Missouri at 2:29 PM on April 20, 2025, tracking northeast through the city of Lamar before finally lifting northeast of Milford at 2:50 PM. The majority of damage from this tornado was in the city of Lamar, where it caused light to moderate damage to around 200 homes and businesses. Eyewitness accounts report a rain-wrapped tornado, and much of the debris field left behind consisted of light debris like leaf litter pressed to multiple sides of impacted structures by the rain. Straight line wind damage was also found to the east of the path in Lamar.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
8 minutes of warning. NWS SGF issued a tornado warning for this county at 19:21 UTC, 8 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 19:45 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 17:03 UTC and running to 20:33 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15:39 UTC | 23:58 UTC | Flood Advisory | SGF |
| 17:03 UTC | 20:33 UTC | Tornado Watch | SGF |
| 17:55 UTC | 00:00 UTC | Flood Advisory | SGF |
| 18:54 UTC | 20:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF |
| 19:04 UTC | 23:56 UTC | Flash Flood Warning | SGF |
| 19:21 UTC | 19:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | SGF |
| 19:37 UTC | 20:17 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SGF |
| 19:42 UTC | 19:59 UTC | Tornado Warning | SGF |
| 23:54 UTC | 06:00 UTC | Flood Advisory | 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 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 16:29 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 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
4.5 hours after it, 78 km from the path. April 21, 2025.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -82932 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 8 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1255 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 71 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 29 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -143 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -93 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.0 K/km
The radar
The Springfield radar (KSGF), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 19:25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:57 UTC | FLOOD | 2 Wsw Boston | Barton, MO | MO 126 closed from I 49 to SW 15th Ln at the North Fork Spring River westbound and eastbound due to flooding. |
| 19:06 UTC | FLOOD | 3 E Stockton | Cedar, MO | State Highway M closed due to flooding. |
| 19:07 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Carl Junction | Jasper, MO | A large 20x30 pavilion collapsed. |
| 19:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ne Carl Junction | Jasper, MO | A row of power poles snapped at Ivy and County Road 275 in Carl Junction. |
| 19:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne Carl Junction | Jasper, MO | A roof off a house on County Lane 265 and highway 96. |
| 19:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Carl Junction | Jasper, MO | Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from Carl Junction. Early reports coming in of several trees and powerlines down in Carl Junction. Some building damage as well. Possible tornado. |
| 19:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Carl Junction | Jasper, MO | Early reports coming in of several trees and powerlines down in Carl Junction. Some building damage as well. Possible tornado. |
| 19:20 UTC | TSTM WND GST 51 | 1 Ne Airport Drive | Jasper, MO | ASOS station KJLN Joplin ASOS measured a 51mph wind gust. |
| 19:23 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Nne Neck City | Jasper, MO | Trees downed and a damage to a barn. |
| 19:24 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Se Nashville | Jasper, MO | House and barn damage on County Road 210 between thorn road and redbud road. |
| 19:24 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 W Jasper | Jasper, MO | barn is down west of Jasper at Highway H and Highway O. |
| 19:25 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 S Oakton | Barton, MO | Barn destroyed and multiple power lines down. Tornado possible. |
| 19:29 UTC | TORNADO | 5 Ssw Oakton | Barton, MO | An EF 0 tornado touched down in south-central Barton County in Missouri at 229 PM on April 20, 2025, tracking northeast through the city of Lamar before finally lifting northeast of Milford at 250 PM. The majority of dam |
| 19:38 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Lamar | Barton, MO | Early reports coming in of trees and powerlines down in Lamar. Damage assessment ongoing. Power out in town. Damage extends to the northeast of town. Possible tornado. |
| 19:39 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 E Lamar | Barton, MO | Large tree and branches down on a house. Powerlines down. Tornado possible. |
| 19:39 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ese Lamar | Barton, MO | Roofs off storage buildings in East Lamar. Possible tornado. |
| 19:39 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Se Lamar | Barton, MO | Tornado siren was blown down. Tornado possible. |
| 19:39 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Se Lamar | Barton, MO | Trees uprooted, power poles down and broken, 3 inch limbs broken. Tornado possible. |
| 19:50 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Milford | Barton, MO | Trees and powerlines down. Tornado possible. |
| 19:53 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nw Jerico Springs | Cedar, MO | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Damage to outbuilding structure and uprooted trees. |
| 19:53 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Nne Milford | Vernon, MO | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Roof removed from barn or outbuilding. |
| 19:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. 4 to 6 inch diameter tree limbs broken. |
| 19:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Tree 2 ft diameter uprooted, tree limbs 4 to 6 inches in diameter broken and penetrated through roof into home. |
| 19:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Tree limbs of unknown diameter broken. |
| 19:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wsw Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. 8 to 10 inch diameter tree limbs broken and fallen to the north. |
| 19:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Delayed report, time estimated by radar. 4 to 6 inch diameter tree limbs broken, porch roof damage. |
| 19:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. 10 to 12 inch diameter tree limbs broken. |
| 19:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Trampoline flipped. |
| 19:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Tree roughly 2 ft in diameter uprooted. |
| 19:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Uprooted tree around two feet in diameter. Tree fell to the east. Delayed report, time estimated from radar. |
| 19:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Fence blown in, fallen to the northwest. Delayed report, time estimated by radar. |
| 19:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Tree roughly 2 feet in diameter snapped at base, fallen to the east. EM reports neighbor stated tree swirled then fell. Delayed report, time estimated from radar. |
| 19:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wsw Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Delayed report. 8 to 10 inch diameter tree limbs damaged, fallen to north. Time estimated from radar. |
| 19:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wsw Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Tree limb 8 to 10 inches in diameter broken, fallen to the east. Delayed report, time estimated from radar. |
| 19:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wsw Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | Tree limbs 10 to 12 inches in diameter snapped. Delayed report, time estimated from radar. |
| 19:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Sarcoxie | Jasper, MO | 6 to 8 inch diameter tree limbs snapped and fallen to the east. Delayed report, time estimated by radar. |
| 19:57 UTC | HAIL 1 | 2 Ssw Wentworth | Newton, MO | Up to quarter size hail just south of Wentworth. |
| 20:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ssw Olympia | Cedar, MO | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Outbuildings and barns damaged, with metal debris scattered across property. |
| 20:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Olympia | Cedar, MO | Uprooted trees at state highway 97 and state highway cc. |
| 20:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Olympia | Cedar, MO | Barn/shed destroyed. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2025 tornado in MissouriEvery tornado in Missouri since 1950Warnings in force in Missouri nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of April 20, 2025
39 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 20 | 1:24 AM CDT | EF0 | Love, OK | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| April 20 | 1:31 PM CDT | EF2 | Callaway, MO | 2.6 | 100 | 1 | $125,000 | |
| April 20 | 1:57 PM CDT | EF1 | Cherokee, KS to MO | 24.1 | 250 | $1.0 million | ||
| April 20 | 2:41 PM CDT | EF1 | Washington, AR | 3.0 | 250 | $750,000 | ||
| April 20 | 4:21 PM CDT | EF0 | Christian, MO | 1.3 | 50 | $15,000 | ||
| April 20 | 4:30 PM CDT | EF0 | Morgan, MO | 0.7 | 75 | $20,000 | ||
| April 20 | 4:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Douglas, MO | 2.8 | 50 | $100,000 | ||
| April 20 | 4:46 PM CDT | EF0 | Webster, MO | 1.1 | 30 | $100,000 | ||
| April 20 | 4:59 PM CDT | EF0 | Wright, MO | 1.8 | 50 | $25,000 | ||
| April 20 | 5:08 PM CDT | EF1 | Wright, MO | 2.1 | 400 | |||
| April 20 | 5:18 PM CDT | EF1 | Boone, MO | 3.3 | 100 | |||
| April 20 | 5:21 PM CDT | EF1 | Perry, AR | 7.7 | 350 | |||
| April 20 | 5:33 PM CDT | EF1 | Boone, MO | 2.3 | 100 | $22,000 | ||
| April 20 | 5:56 PM CDT | EF1 | Audrain, MO | 0.3 | 50 | $60,000 | ||
| April 20 | 6:01 PM CDT | EF0 | Shannon, MO | 1.5 | 250 | |||
| April 20 | 6:19 PM CDT | EF0 | Pike, MO | 0.3 | 25 | $15,000 | ||
| April 20 | 6:48 PM CDT | EF0 | Adams, IL | 4.2 | 25 | $20,000 | ||
| April 20 | 6:55 PM CDT | EF1 | Faulkner, AR | 14.2 | 500 | |||
| April 20 | 7:04 PM CDT | EF0 | Adams, IL | 8.2 | 100 | $120,000 | ||
| April 20 | 7:37 PM CDT | EF1 | McDonough, IL | 7.0 | 150 | $6,000 | ||
| April 20 | 7:45 PM CDT | EF0 | Mercer, IL | 0.9 | 25 | |||
| April 20 | 7:47 PM CDT | EF1 | McDonough, IL | 3.0 | 100 | $16,000 | ||
| April 20 | 7:57 PM CDT | EF0 | Warren, IL | 4.0 | 25 | |||
| April 20 | 8:00 PM CDT | EF1 | Monroe, IL | 7.3 | 100 | $75,000 | ||
| April 20 | 8:13 PM CDT | EF1 | Monroe, IL | 0.3 | 100 | $15,000 | ||
| April 20 | 8:14 PM CDT | EF0 | Saint Clair, IL | 0.8 | 100 | $10,000 | ||
| April 20 | 8:25 PM CDT | EF1 | Randolph, IL | 1.3 | 75 | $10,000 | ||
| April 20 | 8:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Henry, IL | 2.2 | 75 | $1,000 | ||
| April 20 | 8:39 PM CDT | EF1 | Knox, IL | 16.5 | 150 | |||
| April 20 | 8:41 PM CDT | EF1 | Knox, IL | 4.4 | 120 | |||
| April 20 | 8:49 PM CDT | EF1 | Tazewell, IL | 14.5 | 100 | |||
| April 20 | 8:54 PM CDT | Unrated | Henry, IL | 0.3 | 10 | |||
| April 20 | 8:57 PM CDT | EF0 | Henry, IL | 0.2 | 50 | |||
| April 20 | 8:58 PM CDT | EF0 | Henry, IL | 1.1 | 50 | |||
| April 20 | 8:58 PM CDT | EF1 | Henry, IL | 7.3 | 25 | $1,000 | ||
| April 20 | 8:58 PM CDT | EF1 | Henry, IL | 7.2 | 100 | |||
| April 20 | 9:12 PM CDT | EF0 | Rock Island, IL | 0.7 | 50 | $1,000 | ||
| April 20 | 9:26 PM CDT | EF1 | Bureau, IL | 1.0 | 50 | $8,000 | ||
| April 20 | 9:42 PM CDT | EF1 | Jackson, IL | 1.7 | 25 | $125,000 |
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.