Springfield, MO EF1 Tornado - June 19, 2008

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was in affect this afternoon when a Tornado Warning was issued at 3:06 PM. The storm blew up north of Springfield and moved south causing damage along 65 highway. Fortunately I haven't heard any reports of injuries. The NWS has confirmed that this was an EF1 tornado.

AN EF1 TORNADO ALONG WITH THE STORMS REAR FLANK DOWNDRAFT DAMAGED SEVERAL STRUCTURES AND UPROOTED NUMEROUS TREES ON EITHER SIDE OF HIGHWAY 65 BETWEEN KEARNEY AND SUNSHINE
STREETS.

Initial reports suggested the storm would go more over near Strafford and then the Rogersville area. I work in the area of Republic Road and Glenstone, and we made the decision to set off the internal tornado alarm once it was obvious the storm was moving more south along 65 and staying in the Springfield area. We already had given a heads up and verbally moved people to the halls, but when reports were coming in about a funnel and confirmed damage on 65, we took it to the next step and sounded the alarms to make sure everyone was aware to move to the designated areas. It's the first time I remember working there over the last 13 years that we actually sounded them.

Ironically enough, I was in a car with 3 others driving down 65 in the area the tornado hit just an hour before. Guess what we were talking about when we drove by the buildings that later took damage? Yep. Storm spotting/chasing, and the dangers of severe weather. Weird.

I'll post more information about the storms when I have it available. Until then, you can view some great viewer photos at the KY3 site.