United States National Weather Service on Monday cleared and confirmed the existence of a suspected tornado that disrupted Fredericktown, a city in southeastern Missouri. The tornado further moved into Illinois — a state adjacent to Missouri– and hampered power supply and infrastructure.
The tornado that struck the state over the weekend was classified in the EF-3 category — typically described as a strong twister with speeds ranging between 219-266 kmph). The National Weather Service confirmed that no reports of any injuries linked to the phenomenon have floated so far.
However, the tornado compromised the main electrical substation, which is responsible for providing power for at least 4,000 people, according to reports from Associated Press.
Also Read: Greenhouse gases at record levels: Report raises alarm on climate change
Initial reports from the National Weather Service suggest that as many as six tornadoes may have touched down in the state of Missouri. Teams were surveying the damage Monday, but the service said it could take days to fully assess the damage.
Fredericktown schools called off classes for Monday due to “communitywide power outages and damages incurred by families” in the storm, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Jared Maples, a weather service meteorologist living in Missouri said, “We had a large, classic fall storm system that developed over the central part of the country. It strengthened as it passed over the St. Louis region”, according to reports from Associated Press.
Also Read: Aftermath of California wildfires causes thousands of trees to be uprooted
The storms dropped heavy rain, leading to some flooding around tributaries and in low-lying areas.
The weather service reported over 2.5 inches (6.35 centimeters) of rain fell in the Chicago area during storms that started over the weekend and continued into Monday. Peak winds of 48 mph (77.25 kph) were recorded at about 9:30 AM on Monday at Chicago Midway International Airport.
According to reports from Associated Press, possible tornadoes were reported just west of Kingston, Missouri, with other possible tornadoes near Linneus and Winigan in north-central Missouri.
(With AP inputs)