EF2 tornado in Stoddard County, Missouri

The tornado first touched down along Highway AD, just north of the interchange with U.S. Highway 60. The tornado then tracked east-southeast across Highways 60 and 25 through the city of Dexter. At least 150 homes were damaged. At least one home sustained major loss of roof decking, and a half dozen or less homes had major damage mainly due to fallen trees. Most damage was loss of shingles and siding and facia. Several mobile homes were heavily damaged or destroyed. One mobile home was flipped on its roof. Several garages were blown from their foundations. A few large buildings sustained major damage, including major loss of roof structures. A hospital sustained major damage with several windows blown in, ceiling panels blown down, and one attached structure blown away from the hospital. Several vehicles at the hospital had their windows blown out or were otherwise damaged from flying debris. Hundreds of trees were uprooted or snapped. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph.

Clusters of thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon hours. Some of the largest clusters were associated with sporadic gusty winds in the 40 to 60 mph range. By early evening, a few tornadic circulations were observed as storms intensified. A significant tornado occurred in southeast Missouri. In fact, this was the strongest tornado in the month of July since 1971 in southeast Missouri. The storms occurred ahead of a mid-level shortwave trough moving southeast into the Missouri Valley, with an associated cold front extending from southwest Kansas into northern and central Missouri. During the late afternoon and evening, steep mid-level lapse rates and ample westerly wind shear resulted in organized severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and an isolated tornado.