EF1 tornado in Franklin County, Missouri

A brief tornado occurred south of Leslie, MO in Franklin County. The tornado moved north-northwest through wooded areas producing tree damage. Maximum estimated wind speed was 100 mph. Overall, the tornado was rated EF1 with a path length of 1.27 miles and a max path width of 100 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.

During the early afternoon of Thursday, May 19, 2022, a complex of thunderstorms expanded and intensified over sections of south-central Missouri. Thunderstorms quickly became strong to severe as the complex tracked east-northeast, impacting east-central Missouri, southeast Missouri, west-central Illinois and southwest Illinois. Numerous thunderstorms embedded within the broad complex exhibited signs of rotation, resulting in nine confirmed tornadoes. Of the nine tornadoes, six tornadoes occurred in Missouri and three occurred in Illinois. In Missouri, five of the six tornadoes were rated EF-0 and one tornado was rated EF-1. In Illinois, two tornadoes were rated EF-0, while the third was rated EF-1. In addition to the nine tornadoes, several locations were impacted by straight-line wind damage. The greatest impact from straight-line winds extended west to east through sections of southeast Missouri into southwest Illinois. The most extensive straight-line wind damage was in a swath from Desloge, MO through Chester, IL. Between the tornadoes and straight-line winds, much of the damage was similar in nature, taking out several trees, damaging outbuildings, machine sheds, and a few grain silos. Some residential homes also suffered damage, largely due to fallen trees, large limbs and/or flying debris. No fatalities nor injuries were reported.