EF1 tornado in Wayne County, Missouri

The tornado entered a heavily forested area of Wayne County after forming just over the county line in Carter County. The tornado produced a swath of tree destruction up to 300 yards wide. The tornado paralleled Highway A for about a mile or so. The only structural damage was observed where the tornado crossed Highway A. One garage suffered minor roof damage by a falling tree. The tornado caused shingle damage to a house located along Highway A. Where the tornado crossed Highway 49, the most intense tree damage was observed. This is where peak winds were estimated near 110 mph and where acres of trees were flattened. The tree damage swath became narrow and much less intense east of Highway 49 in hilly forested terrain.

A cyclic supercell moved northeast from Arkansas, producing two tornadoes in southeast Missouri. Both tornadoes occurred in heavily forested areas. The second tornado struck a small community called Glenallen, located near Marble Hill in Bollinger County. Several fatalities were associated with this significant tornado. The supercell was the product of a favorable environment for tornadic storms. Moderate instability and strong deep-layer wind shear coincided over the region. Mixed-layer capes were between 1000 and 1500 j/kg in the presence of effective bulk shear around 55 knots. A surface low tracked from central Kansas into Iowa, resulting in a large unstable warm sector over Missouri and Illinois. Strong low-level south to southwest winds brought unseasonably warm late-night temperatures in the mid 70's and dew points in the 60's. The onset of storms was delayed by capping in the warm sector and pockets of dry low-level air. Wind fields strengthened throughout the night and capping weakened, leading to nocturnal supercell tornadoes.