Thunderstorm Wind — Butler, Missouri

2009-05-08 · near Poplar Bluff, Butler, Missouri

Event narrative

A moving vehicle along Highway 53 was destroyed by a very large oak tree that fell on it. Both occupants of the vehicle were killed, probably on impact. A small fire started in the engine compartment after emergency responders arrived. A 40-foot semi-trailer was overturned in the immediate vicinity of the crushed vehicle. The tin roof was lifted off a barn. A portion of a large shed collapsed.

Wider weather episode

A mature, very intense derecho moved rapidly east along a stationary front across the Mid Mississippi Valley into the Lower Ohio Valley. With a very moist and unstable atmosphere, along with strongly veering winds aloft, embedded tornadic supercells were associated with the derecho. Widespread damaging winds were the primary impact. The bowing portion of the system caused extensive damage from the Poplar Bluff area west. The comma head at the northern end of the bow caused locally catastrophic damage along and north of a Marble Hill to Jackson line. Winds were estimated slightly over 100 mph there.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.7108, -90.3729)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 164150. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.