EF1 tornado in Jefferson County, Missouri

A tornado formed northeast of Festus, MO along Old A Highway just after 6:30pm CDT on April 15. It moved northeastward through a subdivision off of Old A Highway and west of West City Park, producing sporadic minor structural damage. As the tornado moved into West City Park, it increased in strength, snapping and uprooting several trees. As it moved over Horine Road, it reached peak strength and produced significant damage to a home. The tornado weakened slightly as it continued on to Interstate 55, producing minor damage to homes, outbuildings, and trees as it did so. As the tornado crossed I-55, it overturned a southbound semi causing minor injuries to the driver. After crossing Interstate 55, the tornado turned more northeasterly and crossed McNutt Street and Lake Drive in Herculaneum, continuing to produce additional minor structural and tree damage. The tornado then turned more easterly and tracked along Joachim Avenue and just south of Herculaneum High School, where it produced minor roof damage to a church and knocked over light poles. As it entered the Dunkin and Fletcher Memorial Park it weakened and dissipated. Overall the tornado was rated EF1 with a max wind speed of 100 mph. The path length was 3.97 miles with a max path width of 360 yards. One injury was reported, but no fatalities.

Several strong to severe thunderstorms moved into eastern Missouri in the afternoon hours of April 15th. These storms were initially producing copious large hail, but rapidly transitioned into tornadic storms. The first tornado was associated with a supercell ahead of a congealing line of convection moving rapidly toward the Mississippi River. A portion of this line of storms rapidly surged eastward, resulting in numerous tornadoes in Jefferson county in Missouri, and Monroe, Madison, St. Clair, and Washington counties in Illinois. In total, 12 tornadoes have been identified, including 3 EF-1s, 6 EF-0s, and 3 tornadoes of unknown intensity that produced no damage.