Summary
A supercell thunderstorm tracked from extreme southeast Kansas into far southwest Missouri late Sunday afternoon and evening (May 22nd). This storm produced a strong tornado over Joplin Missouri resulting in devastating damage. This storm generated other tornadoes and wind damage along its path as it moved east southeast across far southwest Missouri.
Spotty wind damage also occurred across the remainder of far southern Missouri as the storms moved east. Additionally, these storms produced torrential rainfall and flash flooding across far southwest Missouri particularly in McDonald and Barry Counties.
Joplin Missouri Tornado - May 22, 2011
Severe storms producing tornadoes affected Southwest Missouri (NWS Springfield County Warning Area) during the afternoon and evening of May 22, 2011. Large portions of Joplin Missouri were severely damaged. Results of damage assessed yielded a rating of an EF5 (greater than 200 mph).
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Latest reports from Tuesday evening 5/24 indicate an estimated 122 fatalities and several hundred injured in the Joplin MO area. The Joplin tornado is the deadliest since modern recordkeeping began in 1950 and is ranked 8th among the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history.
The tornado surpassed the June 8, 1953, tornado that claimed 116 lives in Flint, Mich., as the deadliest single tornado to strike the U.S. since modern tornado recordkeeping began in 1950. The deadliest tornado on record in the U.S. was on March 18, 1925. The “Tri-State Tornado” (MO, IL, IN) had a 291-mile path, was rated F5 based on a historic assessment, and caused 695 fatalities.
The U.S. tornado death toll through the month of May this year is the highest since modern record keeping began in 1950. Also, 2011 is already ranked 8th among the deadliest tornado years in U.S. history.
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Warning Information:
The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning at 5:17 pm CDT, 5/22 ,which included the city of Joplin. The tornado was reported to have developed directly over Joplin with the first report of the tornado in Joplin at 5:41 pm CDT, 5/22. Lead time = 24 minutes.
Data: National Weather Service
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