Live Coverage: Tornado Touchdowns in St. Louis Region

Multiple Tornado Touchdowns Confirmed

As severe storms plagued the St. Louis area on Friday, meteorologists confirmed at least two tornado touchdowns. The area has been under significant threat due to a fast-moving storm front, leading to widespread warnings in St. Louis City and surrounding counties.

Around 2:45 PM, a tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Clayton, while another tornado followed in northeast Des Arc at approximately 3 PM. The National Weather Service had warned residents to take cover, as tornado warnings were issued throughout the St. Louis region up until about 3:15 PM.

Severe Weather Alerts and Warnings

On Friday, the St. Louis region faced a significant level of threat from severe weather, categorizing it at a level 4 out of 5. Here’s what residents needed to know:

Tornado warnings were in effect for parts of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and beyond.
Additional warnings were issued for areas southwest of St. Louis, including Rolla, St. James, and parts of Crawford County until 2:30 PM.
Large hail was also a major concern, with the prediction of baseball-sized hail causing potential damage.

Local officials informed residents to expect severe weather conditions from 1 PM to 7 PM. The Storm Prediction Center highlighted the possibility of impacts from intense winds, with tornadoes primarily affecting areas southeast of St. Louis.

Impact of the Storms

The aftermath of these storms was significant. Residents reported extensive damage to buildings and widespread power outages impacting tens of thousands. Reports indicated that:

Approximately 30,000 buildings in St. Louis City were reported without power.
An additional 40,000 were powerless in St. Louis County.

Meteorologists explained that this storm system had unique characteristics, and even if some areas experienced rain, many others might remain dry. The unpredictability of the storm’s progression kept the local weather team on alert, closely monitoring developments as they unfolded.

Keeping Residents Informed

The 5 On Your Side Weather Impact Team emphasized consistent updates on the ongoing severe weather threat. They highlighted the following key messages:

“Our primary goal for issuing a Weather Impact Alert is to provide the community with timely information about potentially disruptive weather,” said the team. “While large hail is a significant concern, we cannot rule out strong tornadoes and winds.”

For updates, residents were encouraged to follow local weather stations and check reliable weather apps to stay informed about any changes in conditions.

A Growing Concern

As severe weather continues throughout the day, officials remind residents not to underestimate the threat of tornadoes, particularly as they may pop up suddenly. The situation remains fluid, leaving meteorologists urging preparedness and cautious vigilance.

For the latest radar updates and storm tracking, local resources, like the weather team’s live updates, provide essential information about storm paths.

As the day unfolds, Storm reporters are filing reports to confirm damages while local authorities work to restore power. Stay tuned for more updates as this developing storm system could yield further weather-related incidents in the St. Louis area.

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tornado, St. Louis tornado, severe weather, tornado warning, Clayton tornado, Des Arc tornado, storm damage, baseball-sized hail, Weather Impact Alert, local news