ST. LOUIS — A total of eight tornadoes touched down in the St. Louis area during Wednesday's severe storms, with more likely to be confirmed as damage surveys continue, the National Weather Service said.
NWS survey crews completed their damage investigations over the course of Thursday and Friday. Numerous counties in the 5 On Your Side coverage area were hunkered down after multiple tornado warnings were issued by the NWS. The survey crews traveled to areas where damage was reported to confirm whether suspected tornadoes touched down.
NWS confirmed two EF-0 tornado and six EF-1 tornadoes, including one that swept through the city of Annapolis with gusts up to 110 mph.
Here are the touchdowns confirmed so far:
- Annapolis: EF1, 110mph
- North of Cuba: EF1, 95mph
- Arcadia, Missouri: EF1, 94mph
- 6 miles east/southeast of Redford, Missouri (tracked through Iron County into Madison County): EF1, 93mph
- Vulcan, Missouri: EF1, 93mph
- 1 mile south of Arcadia, Missouri: EF1, 93mph
- 2 miles southeast of Annapolis: EF0, 85mph
- Fredericktown: EF0, 80 mph
NWS said its survey crews were in multiple counties in Missouri, including Iron, Madison and Reynolds.
How do meteorologists figure out whether a tornado happened or not? Radars and electronics can only tell NWS meteorologists so much. To figure out whether a tornado happened, the service has to head out into the field. Less than 24 hours after the storms, the agency sent out multiple survey teams to assess damage and figure out whether a legitimate tornado touchdown occurred.
"The pattern of damage determines if it was a tornado. NOT how much damage was caused," NWS said on its website. "We conduct surveys to find out exactly what happened. This helps us to improve our warnings for the future. This is also important for historical reference."
Tornado damage can often be confused with damage from a microburst, so meteorologists look at the type of damage rather than how much damage occurred.
Damage from a tornado often looks chaotic and leaves large trees uprooted and often crossing each other on the ground, the service said. Smaller snapped branches or trees aren't usually helpful, since those don't convey the true severity of winds.
For example, NWS originally said in a tweet on March 14 that a tornado was confirmed near Maeystown, Illinois. However, around half a dozen surveyors went to the area the next day and couldn't find any damage indicating a tornado was in the area.
Top St. Louis headlines
Get the latest news and details throughout the St. Louis area from 5 On Your Side broadcasts here.