Bollinger County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Missouri Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Bollinger County is about the same as Missouri average and is lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Bollinger County is about the same as Missouri average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #14
| Bollinger County | 0.86 |
| Missouri | 0.70 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Bollinger County | 0.0000 |
| Missouri | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #33
| Bollinger County | 221.29 |
| Missouri | 214.01 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 11,114 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Bollinger County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 5 | Cold: | 75 | Dense Fog: | 69 | Drought: | 66 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,531 | Hail: | 3,517 | Heat: | 192 | Heavy Snow: | 91 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 47 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 99 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 4,635 | Tropical Storm: | 1 | Wildfire: | 5 | Winter Storm: | 152 | Winter Weather: | 74 |
| Other: | 555 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Bollinger County.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 5 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Bollinger County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 30.7 | 1965-08-15 | 5.1 | N/A | 37.37 | -89.47 |
| 47.8 | 1965-08-14 | 5 | N/A | 37.1 | -89.2 |
| 42.9 | 1963-03-03 | 4.5 | N/A | 36.7 | -90.1 |
| 24.1 | 1967-07-21 | 3.9 | N/A | 37.5 | -90.4 |
| 35.3 | 1976-12-13 | 3.5 | 5 | 37.8 | -90.24 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 102 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Bollinger County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 5.4 | 2002-04-27 | 3 | 37°13'N / 90°04'W | 37°16'N / 90°01'W | 4.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 16 | 4.0M | 0 | Bollinger |
| Brief Description: This strong tornado with peak winds near 180 MPH touched down in a rural area southwest of Marble Hill. A total of 19 residences were severely damaged, and 6 were destroyed. Approximately 10 of the residences were mobile homes and 15 were single-family homes. Another 50 outbuildings, such as barns and sheds, were destroyed or damaged. Seven people were inside a house that was demolished. One of the victims, a 12-year-old boy, was thrown about 50 yards from the house and fatally injured. Several others in the immediate area, possibly the other occupants of the house, were thrown into a nearby lake and swam to safety. Of the 16 people injured in the tornado, four were air lifted to hospitals with serious injuries. Cars were stacked atop cars. Several residents were trapped inside the debris of their homes for up to 3 hours. The large number of trees down across roads delayed the arrival of rescue teams. M12PH | |||||||||||
| 5.8 | 2003-05-06 | 2 | 37°16'N / 90°07'W | 37°16'N / 90°06'W | 0.80 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 40K | 0 | Bollinger |
| Brief Description: A mobile home, a house, and a barn was destroyed. Most of the damage was on County Road 702. Peak winds were estimated around 130 MPH. A supercellular severe thunderstorm tracked northeast across Bollinger and Cape Girardeau Counties, producing several tornadoes and hail up to golf ball size. Other severe thunderstorms north of the supercell's path produced damaging wind gusts and large hail. | |||||||||||
| 7.5 | 1968-04-03 | 2 | 37°25'N / 90°05'W | 2.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Bollinger | |
| 10.7 | 1977-06-30 | 2 | 37°10'N / 89°59'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Bollinger | |
| 11.0 | 1973-05-26 | 2 | 37°25'N / 90°11'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Madison | |
| 11.4 | 2004-04-24 | 2 | 37°17'N / 89°51'W | 37°20'N / 89°47'W | 5.40 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10K | 0 | Cape Girardeau |
| Brief Description: Several barns were damaged, and one was destroyed. Two houses had roof damage. The most intense damage was in a forest, where hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted. Peak winds were estimated at 130 MPH. The damage began on Highway RA, just south of Lake Girardeau, and continued northeast to about 2 miles west of Tilsit. A warm front extending across southeast Missouri was the focus for tornadic thunderstorms. The storms developed during the warmth of the afternoon and produced a few tornadoes, isolated dime size hail, and several reports of flash flooding. | |||||||||||
| 13.6 | 2002-04-24 | 2 | 37°25'N / 90°18'W | 37°26'N / 90°10'W | 9.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Madison |
| Brief Description: A tornado hit Madison County, first causing damage about 9 miles south of Fredericktown along Highway 67. A mobile home was destroyed and a frame house lost its roof. The tornado moved east through a heavily wooded area uprooting and damaging trees. The tornado reached Marquand, a small town of about 400 people, about 4 pm and caused considerable damage. Large trees were uprooted or snapped off and nearly every structure in a 3 to 4 block area was damaged. The Fire Station was completely destroyed as was a restaurant that was next to it. Several other frame buildings lost all or parts of their roofs. A State Emergency Management Agency damage assessment reported that 6 homes were destroyed, 12 homes suffered major damage, and 22 homes had minor damage. There were 3 minor injuries reported. | |||||||||||
| 14.0 | 1957-05-21 | 2 | 37°23'N / 89°50'W | 37°25'N / 89°45'W | 5.10 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cape Girardeau |
| 14.4 | 1957-12-18 | 2 | 37°24'N / 89°52'W | 37°27'N / 89°44'W | 8.00 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Cape Girardeau |
| 14.8 | 1955-04-22 | 2 | 37°13'N / 89°50'W | 37°11'N / 89°46'W | 4.10 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Cape Girardeau |
| 15.9 | 1952-03-18 | 2 | 37°22'N / 89°47'W | 37°27'N / 89°44'W | 6.20 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cape Girardeau |
| 16.2 | 1973-05-07 | 2 | 37°06'N / 89°55'W | 0.30 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Stoddard | |
| 17.4 | 1963-04-29 | 2 | 37°05'N / 89°57'W | 37°07'N / 89°47'W | 9.40 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Stoddard |
| 19.1 | 1963-04-29 | 2 | 37°07'N / 89°47'W | 37°08'N / 89°46'W | 1.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 1 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Cape Girardeau |
| 20.0 | 1981-05-24 | 2 | 37°12'N / 89°43'W | 37°12'N / 89°40'W | 2.70 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cape Girardeau |
| 20.2 | 1968-04-03 | 2 | 37°21'N / 90°28'W | 37°28'N / 90°17'W | 12.80 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Madison |
| 20.3 | 1964-03-25 | 3 | 37°10'N / 90°31'W | 37°15'N / 90°13'W | 17.40 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 26 | 25K | 0 | Wayne |
| 21.2 | 2003-05-06 | 3 | 37°23'N / 89°40'W | 37°24'N / 89°38'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 12.0M | 0 | Cape Girardeau |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down at the intersection of Highway 34 and Business Loop I-55 in Jackson, then moved northeast across downtown Jackson and the Bent Creek Golf Course. The damage path ended about 300 yards short of Interstate 55. Several trees blocked Interstate 55 near Jackson. Peak tornado winds were estimated near 180 MPH. The police and fire headquarters building was near the beginning of the damage path. The roof was blown off the building and windows were blown out, allowing rain to flood the building and cause extensive damage. The hazardous materials trailer and communications van were overturned. City police and fire operations were moved to alternate quarters. Streets were blocked by flipped cars and downed trees and power lines. Numerous large trees were snapped or uprooted. The roofs and some walls were torn off many buildings and homes, as well as a school in downtown Jackson. About 200 structures in Jackson received at least some degree of damage. Approximately 22 homes were destroyed, 43 received major damage, and 140 received minor damage. Of those, six were mobile homes and four were apartment buildings. Three businesses were destroyed, including a bakery. Four other businesses had major damage, including a storage company and a woodworking business. Two injured persons were treated and released from a local hospital. One family safely took shelter in their basement while baseball size hail battered the kitchen floor of their unroofed home, and a small sports car landed in their living room. Twenty gas leaks caused by the tornado were repaired within 6 hours. Power was restored to all but 30 homes within 48 hours. A supercellular severe thunderstorm tracked northeast across Bollinger and Cape Girardeau Counties, producing several tornadoes and hail up to golf ball size. Other severe thunderstorms north of the supercell's path produced damaging wind gusts and large hail. | |||||||||||
| 21.8 | 1957-12-18 | 2 | 37°11'N / 89°40'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 3 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Scott | |
| 21.8 | 1971-12-15 | 2 | 37°01'N / 89°51'W | 37°05'N / 89°47'W | 5.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Stoddard |
| 22.3 | 1957-12-18 | 2 | 37°27'N / 89°44'W | 37°31'N / 89°37'W | 7.80 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Cape Girardeau |
| 22.7 | 1973-05-07 | 2 | 37°24'N / 90°28'W | 37°34'N / 90°18'W | 14.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Madison |
| 23.3 | 2006-09-22 | 2 | 37°38'N / 90°09'W | 37°40'N / 90°03'W | 6.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0 | Perry |
| Brief Description: The tornado entered Perry County from the extreme southeast corner of St. Francois County. The tornado was at its strongest along and north of County Road 738, shortly after entering Perry County. In this area, the damage path was about 400 yards wide, and peak winds were estimated near 120 MPH. A farm building was levelled, roofs were torn off houses, and dozens of acres of trees were flattened. The tornado weakened to F-1 intensity as it crossed Highway BB, where nearly 100 trees were uprooted and roofs were partially damaged. The path width was estimated around 200 yards at Highway BB. As the tornado continued east across County Road 730, a barn was destroyed, and dozens of trees were down. The path width was about 100 yards when the tornado reached Lake Perry, close to where it lifted along Highway T. At a campground on Lake Perry, recreational vehicles were overturned and damaged by falling trees. The path ended southwest of Silver Lake at Highway T. The average path width was 200 yards. In total, hundreds of acres of timber were flattened, several barns were destroyed, and others were severely damaged. Shingles and decking were ripped off several homes. The parent supercell that produced this tornado later produced a separate F-4 tornado in eastern parts of Perry County. | |||||||||||
| 24.2 | 1971-12-15 | 2 | 37°05'N / 89°47'W | 37°10'N / 89°32'W | 14.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 24 | 25K | 0 | Scott |
| 24.2 | 1972-04-21 | 2 | 37°25'N / 90°33'W | 37°31'N / 90°18'W | 15.20 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Madison |
| 24.3 | 1981-05-24 | 2 | 37°12'N / 89°40'W | 37°12'N / 89°33'W | 6.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Scott |
| 26.1 | 1969-06-22 | 3 | 37°41'N / 90°04'W | 37°41'N / 89°44'W | 18.10 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 6 | 250K | 0 | Perry |
| 26.8 | 2006-09-22 | 2 | 37°36'N / 90°28'W | 37°39'N / 90°11'W | 18.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Madison |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down just west of Route K approximately one mile north of Highway 72. As it traveled east, numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down. The tornado moved across U.S. Highway 67 about 4 miles northwest of Fredericktown, knocking down additional trees and tree limbs. The damage path was about 50 yards wide with a damage intensity of F0. As it approached the Fredericktown Municipal Airport, along Copper Mines Road, it began to produce multiple vortices. Two tornadic damage tracks were uncovered across a lake west of Highway OO along County Roads 271 and 272. Over 20 homes, mobile homes and machine sheds sustained varying degrees of damage. Several witnesses observed twin tornadoes merging into one large tornado over this area. The width of the damage path of the northern track was approximately 150 yards wide while the southern damage path was about 100 yards wide. The damage intensity ranged from F1 to F2 in this location. As the large tornado crossed Highway OO, five homes, four mobile homes and several machine sheds sustained varying degrees of damage. The damage path was 300 yards wide and high end F1 intensity. The tornado continued east along County Road 217. Four homes sustained F1 to F2 damage with debris from two of the homes thrown between 50 to 100 yards to the east. Also, numerous trees were either snapped or uprooted in this area. The width of the damage path in this area was about 250 yards. Further east, two tornadic damage tracks were uncovered about half a mile to a mile north of the intersection of County Roads 215 and 217. Four homes sustained varying degrees of damage while one mobile home was completely destroyed. One person was critically injured near the destroyed mobile home. Debris from the mobile home was tossed over 150 yards to the east. The width of the northern damage path was about 150 yards, while the width of the southern track was about 50 yards. The damage was rated high end F1 in this location. Witnesses observed the twin tornadoes merge again into one large funnel as it crossed a second small lake north of County Road 217. Four homes and several machine sheds sustained damage. Also, over a thousand trees around the lake were snapped or uprooted. The damage path was a quarter of a mile wide in this location and was rated F1 to low end F2. The tornado continued eastward into northeast Madison County crossing County Road 219 just south of the Madison/St. Francois County line. Three homes were damaged and three machine sheds were destroyed, as well as thousands of trees snapped or uprooted. The width of the damage path in this area was half a mile and was rated F2. The tornado then crossed into extreme southeastern St. Francois County near Martin Road. | |||||||||||
| 27.1 | 1971-03-14 | 2 | 37°19'N / 89°34'W | 37°24'N / 89°30'W | 6.60 Miles | 23 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Cape Girardeau |
| 28.4 | 1982-12-02 | 2 | 37°27'N / 90°32'W | 37°34'N / 90°26'W | 8.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Madison |
| 29.4 | 1971-12-15 | 2 | 37°10'N / 89°32'W | 37°15'N / 89°29'W | 6.40 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Scott |
| 29.5 | 1976-02-21 | 3 | 36°53'N / 90°15'W | 36°57'N / 90°10'W | 6.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 3 | 0K | 0 | Stoddard |
| 29.6 | 1963-05-16 | 2 | 37°40'N / 90°21'W | 37°42'N / 90°16'W | 4.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | St. Francois |
| 29.6 | 1986-05-15 | 2 | 36°58'N / 89°42'W | 37°01'N / 89°39'W | 4.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 1 | 15 | 2.5M | 0 | Scott |
| 30.5 | 1982-12-02 | 2 | 37°23'N / 90°36'W | 37°27'N / 90°32'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Iron |
| 30.5 | 1974-05-14 | 2 | 37°38'N / 89°38'W | 1.00 Mile | 177 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Perry | |
| 30.6 | 1957-12-18 | 2 | 37°41'N / 90°21'W | 37°42'N / 90°18'W | 2.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 1 | 1 | 25K | 0 | St. Francois |
| 31.1 | 2006-03-11 | 2 | 37°45'N / 90°07'W | 37°47'N / 90°03'W | 4.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Ste. Genevieve |
| Brief Description: The fourth tornado from the Southeast Missouri supercell formed in extreme southwest Ste. Genevieve County and went on to be the longest and strongest of the four tornadoes. The tornado formed about 9:20 pm CST just east of Route WW and one mile north of Holmes Road. On Kramer Road, just off Route N, the tornado produced F2 damage that was at least 400 yards wide. A double wide mobile home was rolled about 150 yards and completely destroyed. Two occupants suffered serious injuries. Two other mobile homes in the area were also destroyed, along with two barns, a machine shed and a detached garage. The tornado continued northeast and tracked into northern Perry County. | |||||||||||
| 31.1 | 1969-06-22 | 4 | 37°43'N / 90°19'W | 37°43'N / 90°16'W | 2.30 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | St. Francois |
| 31.6 | 1972-04-21 | 2 | 37°23'N / 90°38'W | 37°25'N / 90°33'W | 5.10 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Iron |
| 31.9 | 2006-09-22 | 4 | 37°41'N / 89°50'W | 37°46'N / 89°40'W | 8.00 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 5 | 7.0M | 0 | Perry |
| Brief Description: This violent F-4 tornado reached its maximum intensity near the village of Crosstown, where peak winds were estimated near 210 MPH. Along the Perry County portion of the tornado track, 62 homes were destroyed, 17 had major damage, and 23 received minor damage. Ten of the destroyed homes were mobile homes, and seven that sustained major damage were mobile homes. Three churches were destroyed or heavily damaged. Numerous vehicles were tossed. Over 100 utility poles were broken off. Hundreds of trees were broken off or uprooted. The tornado first touched down at County Road 302 near Friedenburg, where F-1 winds destroyed a barn and partially unroofed a two-story house. There were also downed trees, including a few that fell on a house. As the tornado continued northeast across County Road 316 between Crosstown and Friedenburg, it widened to about 100 yards. Scores of trees were broken off or uprooted, and the roof was blown off a house. The tornado strengthened to F-3 intensity as it reached the junction of Highways P and C in Crosstown. The roof was torn off a church, windows were broken, and other structural damage occurred. Nearby, the roof was blown off a two-story brick store that was over 100 years old. An overturned vehicle was in the front yard, and trees were mangled. The width increased to 220 yards. In the center of Crosstown on Highway C, the tornado reached F-4 intensity. This is where a site-built house was levelled. The F-4 damage continued east along County Road 350 in Crosstown, where two more site-built houses were levelled. Only the bolted-down floor of one residence remained. An eyewitness along County Road 350 stated he took shelter in the basement after seeing fog coming directly toward him. His house remained mostly intact, except for the roof and garage. The tornado weakened to F-3 intensity about one to two miles east of Crosstown, where a modular home was destroyed except for the bathroom. A vehicle was tossed in the yard. The weakening trend continued east along County Road 350 to the Mississippi River, where many trees were uprooted and broken off. Some outbuildings were thrown around. The path width decreased to 75 yards as the intensity lowered to F-1. The average path width was 150 yards. There were five injuries requiring medical attention, including one broken arm. Two people were moderately injured when the vehicle they were driving was tossed into a house. Dozens of other residents received minor injuries but did not seek medical attention. Where the tornado crossed the Mississippi River, a barge loaded with coal was pushed to the shoreline. The windows were blown out of the tug boat, and enough coal was blown into the tug boat that it was shovelled out. The tornado crossed the Mississippi River into Jackson County, Illinois. | |||||||||||
| 32.2 | 1996-04-19 | 3 | 37°44'N / 89°52'W | 37°46'N / 89°44'W | 11.50 Miles | 175 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5.0M | 0 | Perry |
| Brief Description: The tornado destroyed 13 homes and caused major structural damage to 5 others. 63 other homes received minor or moderate structural damage. A total of 69 outbuildings and 6 businesses were damaged or destroyed. The Salvation Army and Red Cross were called in to provide food and shelter. State highways and county roads were cleared of tornado debris and open for travel within 24 hours. Extensive damage to utility lines resulted in prolonged power outages lasting a day or two. The F3 damage occurred just west of Menfro, shortly before the tornado dissipated. | |||||||||||
| 33.5 | 1999-01-21 | 2 | 37°13'N / 89°27'W | 37°20'N / 89°23'W | 7.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0 | Alexander |
| Brief Description: Top winds were estimated near 130 MPH. Damage was relatively light due to the track of the tornado over rural portions of those counties. A few sheds and barns were destroyed, and a house sustained moderate damage. A fairly large metal barn, about 100 feet by 50 feet, was blown into a stand of trees, but remained fully intact in the upper reaches of the trees. Tree damage was complete along some wooded portions of the track. The tornado formed less than a half mile east of Thebes, and then tracked seven miles through the Shawnee National Forest. The damaged structures were near Thebes and Gale. | |||||||||||
| 33.8 | 1969-06-22 | 4 | 37°44'N / 90°25'W | 37°43'N / 90°19'W | 5.60 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | St. Francois |
| 34.0 | 1967-10-24 | 2 | 36°54'N / 89°42'W | 36°54'N / 89°42'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Scott | ||
| 34.6 | 2003-05-04 | 2 | 37°03'N / 89°37'W | 37°01'N / 89°24'W | 11.50 Miles | 130 Yards | 0 | 0 | 75K | 0 | Scott |
| Brief Description: One mobile home was destroyed. Several small buildings were damaged. Numerous trees were blown down or damaged. Several irrigation systems were moved and/or turned over. Peak winds in the tornado were estimated near 130 MPH. Severe thunderstorms produced dime to nickel size hail in isolated locations from around Poplar Bluff west. The storms then organized into a single tornadic supercell just northeast of Poplar Bluff. This long-lived supercell moved east, passing between Cape Girardeau and Sikeston, then continued east-northeast through the Lower Ohio River Valley. The supercell produced a tornado in Scott County. Trees were blown down at Wappapello in southeast Wayne County. | |||||||||||
| 34.9 | 1957-12-18 | 2 | 37°41'N / 89°35'W | 1.00 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Perry | |
| 35.2 | 1973-05-07 | 3 | 36°47'N / 90°18'W | 36°50'N / 89°43'W | 32.40 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Stoddard |
| 36.3 | 1972-04-21 | 2 | 37°21'N / 90°44'W | 37°23'N / 90°38'W | 5.70 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Iron |
| 36.6 | 1999-01-21 | 2 | 37°20'N / 89°22'W | 37°22'N / 89°21'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 20K | 0 | Union |
| Brief Description: Top winds were estimated near 130 MPH. Damage was relatively light due to the track of the tornado over rural portions of those counties. A few sheds and barns were destroyed, and a house sustained moderate damage. A fairly large metal barn, about 100 feet by 50 feet, was blown into a stand of trees, but remained fully intact in the upper reaches of the trees. Tree damage was complete along some wooded portions of the track. The tornado formed less than a half mile east of Thebes, and then tracked seven miles through the Shawnee National Forest. The damaged structures were near Thebes and Gale. | |||||||||||
| 36.7 | 1964-03-25 | 3 | 37°06'N / 90°47'W | 37°10'N / 90°31'W | 15.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Wayne |
| 36.9 | 2006-03-11 | 3 | 37°49'N / 90°00'W | 37°53'N / 89°54'W | 7.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 2 | 10 | 1.0M | 0 | Perry |
| Brief Description: The tornado entered Perry County from Ste. Genevieve County near Highway NN and just west of the community of Giboney. The tornado moved northeast, crossing Interstate 55 only about one-half mile from the Ste. Genevieve County line. Two fatalities and F3 damage occurred in the vicinity of where the tornado crossed U.S. Route 61. The two fatalities occurred on U.S. 61, where a vehicle was picked up and thrown into a propane tank. The truck in which they were riding was likely picked up, flipped over, and slammed into the ground several times. The coroner stated that the victims died instantly. One of the victims was ejected from the truck, which then struck the top of a large propane tank. Because of the ensuing propane leak, the victim still in the truck could not be removed until the following day, when the propane was off-loaded from the tank. Both of the victims in the vehicle were residents of a mobile home who were trying to flee the tornado. The home from which they fled sustained only minor damage. At least four other people were significantly injured as they were picked up by tornadic winds and hurled 100 yards. Their injuries were compounded by wind-blown debris. Eight victims were admitted to a local hospital to remove debris which penetrated their bodies, and two others were sent to regional hospitals for serious injuries. Three mobile homes were flattened, a brick house had its roof and several walls blown off, and numerous vehicles were tossed around. A total of about a dozen residences were destroyed or severely damaged in Perry County. Perry County was designated a federal disaster area, enabling individual residents to apply for relief. The dashboard camera in a sheriff deputy's patrol car captured the tornado on film as it crossed U.S. 61 at F3 intensity. Peak winds were estimated near 170 MPH. The tornado crossed into Randolph County, Illinois at Old River, near some railroad tracks about 1.5 miles southeast of St. Marys. M40VE, F49VE | |||||||||||
| 37.1 | 1957-12-18 | 2 | 37°50'N / 89°50'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Perry | |
| 37.2 | 2006-03-11 | 2 | 37°24'N / 90°49'W | 37°35'N / 90°31'W | 13.00 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Iron |
| Brief Description: The tornado that started in Reynolds entered Iron County and crossed Highway 49 between Chloride and Sabula causing considerable tree damage in the Mark Twain National Forest. The damage through the forest was about one quarter mile wide. The tornado crossed Route E west of Patterson Mountain where it damaged a barn and the roof and siding of a home. The tornado then continued into Madison County. | |||||||||||
| 37.8 | 1960-02-09 | 2 | 37°42'N / 90°33'W | 37°46'N / 90°24'W | 9.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | St. Francois |
| 37.9 | 1952-03-18 | 2 | 37°45'N / 90°30'W | 37°47'N / 90°21'W | 8.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | St. Francois |
| 38.1 | 1969-06-22 | 4 | 37°44'N / 90°33'W | 37°44'N / 90°25'W | 7.20 Miles | 440 Yards | 4 | 14 | 2.5M | 0 | St. Francois |
| 38.3 | 1986-05-15 | 2 | 36°53'N / 89°35'W | 36°59'N / 89°28'W | 6.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 19 | 25.0M | 0 | Scott |
| 38.3 | 1952-03-18 | 2 | 37°47'N / 90°21'W | 37°53'N / 90°13'W | 9.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Ste. Genevieve |
| 38.5 | 1967-12-21 | 3 | 37°50'N / 89°54'W | 37°53'N / 89°48'W | 6.20 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 13 | 25.0M | 0 | Perry |
| 38.5 | 1986-05-15 | 2 | 36°52'N / 89°37'W | 36°53'N / 89°35'W | 3.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | New Madrid |
| 40.1 | 1961-03-06 | 2 | 37°52'N / 89°52'W | 37°54'N / 89°51'W | 1.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Perry |
| 40.1 | 1955-04-22 | 2 | 36°52'N / 89°34'W | 0.20 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Scott | |
| 40.3 | 1981-04-22 | 4 | 36°36'N / 90°23'W | 36°53'N / 89°27'W | 55.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | New Madrid |
| 40.4 | 1976-02-21 | 3 | 36°43'N / 90°29'W | 36°53'N / 90°15'W | 17.20 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 13 | 2.5M | 0 | Butler |
| 40.8 | 1950-01-25 | 2 | 37°36'N / 90°41'W | 37°38'N / 90°39'W | 2.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Iron |
| 40.8 | 1957-12-18 | 3 | 37°50'N / 89°45'W | 37°52'N / 89°39'W | 5.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Randolph |
| 41.5 | 1973-05-07 | 3 | 36°45'N / 90°21'W | 36°47'N / 90°18'W | 3.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 7 | 250K | 0 | Butler |
| 41.9 | 2002-04-24 | 4 | 36°54'N / 90°41'W | 36°48'N / 90°20'W | 20.00 Miles | 650 Yards | 0 | 14 | 30.0M | 0 | Butler |
| Brief Description: The tornado crossed into Butler County in the Mark Twain National Forest, then proceded east-southeast, passing 6 to 7 miles north of Poplar Bluff. An upscale residential subdivision beyond the northern outskirts of Poplar Bluff, just off U.S. Route 67, received extensive damage. At least two well-constructed homes were levelled by peak winds estimated around 210 MPH. A total of 50 homes were destroyed in Butler County, 16 others received major damage, and 30 homes received minor damage. Most of the damaged homes were north of Poplar Bluff. Total damage figures for Butler County included timber losses in the national forest. The total number of injuries requiring hospital care that were directly attributed to the storm was 16. Five of the injured were admitted in critical condition. There were no fatalities from the storm. A woman who lived off U.S. Highway 67 took shelter in her bathtub. She reported that she and the bathtub were blown about 200 feet. She was reportedly found in the median of the highway. She was treated for a cracked sternum, broken ribs, a broken toe, and bruised lungs. In another incident on Highway 67, a large chunk of asphalt was blown through a vehicle's window, striking one of the people inside. The car was extensively damaged when it was blown off the road, but the 3 people inside received only cuts and bruises. | |||||||||||
| 42.1 | 1972-04-21 | 2 | 37°13'N / 89°17'W | 37°14'N / 89°15'W | 1.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Alexander |
| 42.7 | 1971-04-27 | 3 | 37°54'N / 89°48'W | 37°54'N / 89°43'W | 4.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 20 | 2.5M | 0 | Franklin |
| 43.2 | 1972-04-14 | 2 | 37°34'N / 89°19'W | 37°32'N / 89°16'W | 3.30 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Union |
| 43.4 | 2006-09-22 | 2 | 37°46'N / 89°39'W | 37°48'N / 89°20'W | 19.50 Miles | 225 Yards | 0 | 1 | 800K | 0 | Jackson |
| Brief Description: This tornado crossed the Mississippi River from Perry County, Missouri. The tornado weakened from its maximum F-4 intensity to F-2 intensity by the time it entered Jackson County in the Mississippi River bottomlands near Wilkinson Island. At this location, the wall of an old two-story farmhouse was blown out, and the roof was blown off. Hundreds of trees were broken off. Tree damage was visible across the river in Perry County, Missouri. The path width was estimated to be 200 yards wide on the Jackson County side of the river. Before reaching Illinois Route 3, the F-2 tornado widened to 250 yards and destroyed a mobile home. A resident of the mobile home was sent to the hospital. Nearby, a house was unroofed, and trees were snapped or uprooted. Another house lost a room that was added on. A swing set was blown 200 yards and wrapped around a mailbox. An empty tractor trailer rig was overturned. An empty grain bin was blown 100 yards into a field. Full grain bins were severely damaged but remained in place. The roof was blown off a brick house. As the tornado crossed Route 3, high tension utility poles were snapped off, hundreds of acres of corn were flattened, and trees were uprooted. Route 3 was closed for nine hours. From Route 3, the tornado proceeded east-northeast through mostly rural areas of the county, including the Kinkaid Lake State Wildlife Area. The tornado weakened to F-0 intensity before reaching Kinkaid Lake. At the Kinkaid Lake marina, about 50 RV's and boats were damaged, and trees were broken off. The tornado finally lifted shortly after crossing Highway 127 north of Murphysboro. The damage along Highway 127 was about 75 yards wide and consisted of broken tree limbs. A state trooper videotaped the tornado before it lifted. Storm chasers also videotaped the tornado. Peak winds where F-2 damage occurred in western Jackson County were estimated near 150 MPH. The average path width was about 150 yards. A total of about six homes were destroyed or severely damaged, and a dozen others were damaged to a lesser degree. Dozens of other non-residential buildings, such as garages, sheds, barns, and carports, were destroyed. Along the path, striations were evident in fields, and scores of utility poles were snapped off. There were numerous reports of debris falling from the sky in neighboring Perry County, Illinois. Debris as large as pieces of siding and roofing was reported in Du Quoin. | |||||||||||
| 44.0 | 2010-12-31 | 2 | 36°49'N / 90°31'W | 36°49'N / 90°31'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0K | Butler | ||
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado briefly touched down in the vicinity of a residence along County Road 421. About one-third of the roof of the well-built residence was removed, landing about 1,000 feet away in a field. Seven people were in the residence at the time. They were not in the basement, but nobody was injured. Other damage consisted of several uprooted and snapped trees, shingles off a small shed, a damaged antenna tower, and damaged fences. A National Weather Service damage survey indicated a convergent orientation to the debris. Peak winds in this tornado were estimated around 120 mph. The average path width was 50 yards. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A pre-frontal line of thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front over western Missouri. The broken line of storms extended southwestward across southeast Missouri. Isolated bowing segments and supercells were embedded within portions of the line. The storms existed within a narrow axis of marginal instability with mixed layer capes at or below 500 j/kg. A low level jet axis along the Mississippi River provided more than sufficient vertical wind shear for embedded supercells with isolated tornadoes. | |||||||||||
| 44.0 | 2006-09-22 | 2 | 37°38'N / 90°46'W | 37°39'N / 90°40'W | 4.80 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Iron |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down 6 miles west of Pilot Knob on Route N where it destroyed a mobile home and blew down several trees and numerous tree limbs. The damage path was about 40 yards wide and was rated F1 in intensity. The tornado then traveled east towards Snow Hollow Lake. A ranch home was severely damaged along the north side of the lake. The tornado then hit several large trees along the east side of the lake. The damage path was 100 yards wide in this location with F2 intensity. The tornado continued moving to the east for another mile before lifting and dissipating. No injuries or deaths were reported. | |||||||||||
| 44.4 | 1975-06-05 | 2 | 36°45'N / 90°24'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Butler | |
| 44.6 | 2008-02-05 | 2 | 36°41'N / 90°13'W | 36°41'N / 90°08'W | 4.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0K | Butler |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado touched down near the intersection of Highways FF and CC. Parts of roofs were ripped off of several houses. As it moved east, it threw tin silos more than 900 yards. One of the silos hit a house and likely played a role in destroying the house. The roof and most of the exterior walls were blown off the three bedroom brick house. The family survived in a closet near the back room of the house unhurt. At the same location, an abandoned mobile home was destroyed, and the metal frame was bent. Debris from this area was spread east about 1.5 miles. Peak estimated wind speeds were near 130 mph. The damage path continued into Stoddard County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A deepening low pressure system moved northeast from Arkansas along a warm front that extended across southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. Surface dew points were in the upper 50's to lower 60's along and southeast of the warm front. A strong upper level trough over the western Plains produced a strong southwest flow of 60 to 80 knots at 500 mb. Winds at 850 mb were south to southwest around 40 knots. | |||||||||||
| 44.7 | 1955-11-16 | 2 | 37°26'N / 89°16'W | 37°27'N / 89°11'W | 4.50 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Union |
| 45.0 | 1972-04-21 | 2 | 37°14'N / 89°15'W | 37°17'N / 89°10'W | 5.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Pulaski |
| 45.3 | 1996-04-19 | 2 | 36°48'N / 90°32'W | 36°46'N / 90°28'W | 2.50 Miles | 75 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0 | Butler |
| Brief Description: The tornado destroyed numerous barns, damaged several houses, and uprooted hundreds of trees. At one farmstead, the tornado lifted a 40-foot section of a 1 by 2 foot concrete base that had been under a wooden barn. Farm equipment such as tractors and hay balers were damaged. Large grain bins and other items were blown over a hundred feet. 18 utility poles were destroyed, knocking out power for 12 to 18 hours. A portion of U.S. Highway 60 was closed for several hours because of debris in the road. | |||||||||||
| 45.5 | 1973-06-03 | 2 | 37°51'N / 90°31'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | St. Francois | |||
| 45.6 | 1981-04-22 | 4 | 36°53'N / 89°27'W | 36°54'N / 89°20'W | 6.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 1 | 6 | 25.0M | 0 | Mississippi |
| 46.3 | 2006-03-11 | 2 | 37°50'N / 89°54'W | 38°04'N / 89°35'W | 22.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Randolph |
| Brief Description: The fourth tornado from the Southeast Missouri supercell crossed into Randolph County Illinois about 9:47 pm CST moving across the southern portion of Kaskaskia Island. Debris originating from near St. Marys, Missouri was found in some fields on the island. Numerous snapped or uprooted trees were found on the island. The tornado crossed the Mississippi River on the north side of Chester with a damage path about 300 yards wide. F2 level damage was found just north of the Chester Correctional Center where a number of trees were leveled or snapped off. The tornado produced F1 damage at the Gorden Bud Cohen Recreational Complex where three wooden light posts were snapped off near the base, and several ball fields backstops and fences were blown over. Just to the east, three large pole barns and several outbuildings were destroyed, and a house had roof and exterior damage. The damage at this point was 300 yards wide and rated F2. The tornado continued to produced F1 to F2 damage along the remainder of its path through Randolph County with a nearly continuous 300 yard width. A Notable area of F2 damage were found just north and northeast of Bremen along Highway 150. This damage consisted of metal high power electric towers blown down, a destroyed mobile home, a number of destroyed barns and metal outbuildings, roof and exterior damage to several homes, and numerous trees uprooted. F2 damage was also found near Highway 150 about 1.5 miles west of Steeleville. The rear portion of a house had considerable roof and structural damage, several detached garages were destroyed, at least 5 metal outbuildings were destroyed, several barns destroyed, signs broken, and trees and power poles snapped. The tornado finally exited Randolph County about 1.5 miles south of Highway 154 on County Line Road about 10:15 pm CST. | |||||||||||
| 46.3 | 2002-04-28 | 3 | 37°22'N / 89°20'W | 37°22'N / 89°02'W | 16.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 1 | 8 | 5.0M | 0 | Union |
| Brief Description: The tornado first touched down in very hilly terrain in the Shawnee National Forest and then tracked east, crossing Route 127 just north of Mill Creek. The tornado then directly struck the community of Dongola, where most of the damage and casualties occurred. A 69-year-old woman was killed as she was attempting to flee her mobile home. The woman had just gotten into her car, started the engine, and turned the lights on when the tornado struck. She was blown away from the car and found dead under a structure across the road from where the vehicle was parked and still running. Elsewhere in the Dongola area, a train was blown off the tracks. Several wood houses were demolished, and seven double-wide trailers were destroyed. Approximately 75 homes were damaged. A recreational vehicle was tossed across Lake Dongola and impaled into the ground. F69VE | |||||||||||
| 46.4 | 2003-05-06 | 2 | 37°03'N / 89°21'W | 37°00'N / 89°11'W | 3.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 1 | 300K | 0 | Alexander |
| Brief Description: The tornado formed northwest of Cairo near the Mississippi River. Three tractor-trailer rigs were overturned on the Interstate 57 bridge over the Mississippi River. The tornado tracked through Cairo, damaging dozens of homes and several businesses. One single-family home was destroyed, injuring a child who was cut by flying debris. Of the damaged homes, about four sustained major damage, and the rest had mainly minor damage. | |||||||||||
| 46.7 | 1957-05-21 | 3 | 37°34'N / 89°19'W | 37°38'N / 89°11'W | 8.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Union |
| 46.7 | 1967-12-21 | 3 | 37°53'N / 89°50'W | 38°01'N / 89°36'W | 15.70 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Randolph |
| 47.3 | 1976-02-16 | 2 | 37°28'N / 89°11'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Union | |
| 47.3 | 2004-04-24 | 2 | 36°54'N / 90°47'W | 37°00'N / 90°43'W | 7.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 5 | 600K | 0 | Carter |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down about one mile south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 60 and County Highway 233 in eastern Carter County. The tornado tracked north-northeast, passing only about a mile west of the town of Ellsinore. The tornado damage path ended on County Road 365 less than one half mile before reaching the Wayne County line. Peak winds in the tornado were estimated at 150 MPH. Most of the injured were in a mobile home on the north side of U.S. Highway 60. Their mobile home was picked up and thrown into some trees. One person was critically injured. The critically injured person was paralyzed when her back and neck was broken, and she was airlifted to a St. Louis area hospital. Another person received a broken arm, and most of the remaining injuries were scrapes and cuts. The tornado destroyed a total of three mobile homes, a storage facility, and numerous sheds. Two homes and one business were severely damaged. Numerous vehicles were damaged. A warm front extending across southeast Missouri was the focus for tornadic thunderstorms. The storms developed during the warmth of the afternoon and produced a few tornadoes, isolated dime size hail, and several reports of flash flooding. | |||||||||||
| 47.5 | 1963-06-10 | 2 | 37°52'N / 90°33'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | St. Francois | |
| 48.2 | 1957-12-18 | 3 | 37°54'N / 89°48'W | 38°00'N / 89°30'W | 17.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Randolph |
| 48.4 | 2003-05-06 | 2 | 37°05'N / 89°18'W | 36°58'N / 89°09'W | 7.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Mississippi |
| Brief Description: This tornado formed on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, crossed the river into Missouri at the Interstate 57 bridge, then crossed the river into Kentucky. On the Interstate 57 bridge over the Mississippi River, three 18-wheelers were flipped over, closing the bridge for several hours. The Missouri portion of the track was mainly across undeveloped river bottomland, used mainly for planting crops. | |||||||||||
| 48.5 | 1957-05-21 | 3 | 37°52'N / 90°37'W | 37°53'N / 90°31'W | 5.40 Miles | 400 Yards | 8 | 49 | 25.0M | 0 | St. Francois |
| 48.7 | 1970-04-12 | 2 | 37°15'N / 90°57'W | 37°17'N / 90°52'W | 5.10 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Reynolds |
| 49.0 | 1957-04-03 | 2 | 37°04'N / 89°11'W | 37°06'N / 89°11'W | 2.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Pulaski |
| 49.2 | 1957-12-18 | 4 | 37°42'N / 89°29'W | 37°50'N / 89°10'W | 19.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 11 | 180 | 2.5M | 0 | Jackson |
| 49.3 | 1971-07-15 | 2 | 36°51'N / 89°21'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 6 | 25K | 0 | Mississippi | |
| 49.6 | 1972-04-14 | 2 | 37°32'N / 89°16'W | 37°31'N / 89°03'W | 11.80 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Union |
| 49.9 | 1957-04-03 | 2 | 37°00'N / 89°12'W | 37°04'N / 89°11'W | 4.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Alexander |
| 49.9 | 1973-11-24 | 2 | 36°47'N / 89°26'W | 36°50'N / 89°20'W | 6.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mississippi |
| 49.9 | 1990-05-17 | 2 | 36°36'N / 90°16'W | 36°38'N / 90°13'W | 3.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Butler |
| 50.0 | 1957-05-21 | 3 | 37°51'N / 90°39'W | 37°52'N / 90°37'W | 1.30 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | St. Francois |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.