EF3 tornado in Cole County, Missouri

A tornado crossed from Miller County (WFO Springfield's County Warning Area) into Cole County at 1120 PM. As the tornado tracked to the northeast it crossed Lake Carmel and tore the roof off of a one story home on the northeast shore of the lake. Numerous trees were either snapped off or uprooted in the area as well. Damage to the home was rated EF2. Further northeast another one story home lost its roof on Highway D just northwest of intersection with Cole Brook Lane. Damage to this home was rated EF2. The tornado strengthened from an EF-2 to an EF-3 as it moved into a subdivision off of Heritage Highway just west of U.S. Highway 54, indicated by the complete collapse of a home and complete destruction of a double wide manufactured home. As the tornado moved northeast into the Jefferson City area it destroyed or greatly damaged a warehouse and car dealership, where at least 750 cars were totaled. As it moved into downtown Jefferson City, it caused severe damage to well made residential structures. The tornado crossed the Missouri River and entered Callaway County just to the east-northeast of Jefferson City. The tornado was rated EF3 in Cole County with a path length of 17.08 miles and a max path width of 1500 yards. Thirty two people sustained injuries in Cole County. At least 516 residential buildings, 82 commercial buildings and 30 government buildings sustained moderate to major damage from the tornado in Cole County with another 500 buildings sustaining only minor damage. Overall the tornado was rated EF3 with a path length of 32.63 miles and a max path width of 1500 yards.

A persistent pattern set up over the Mid Mississippi River Valley during May 21-23. Upper level winds were consistently southwesterly, providing large scale lift and moisture to the area. Converging air along frontal boundaries at the surface provided sufficient low level lift to initial storms each night. During the afternoon of May 22, 2019 specifically, a warm front was moving north into southern Missouri, increasing low level moisture. At the same time a cold front was approaching from the west. Storms developed along the cold front as it pushed southeastward through Missouri. The significant low level wind produced storms favorable for hail and tornadoes.