Severe Weather Event - Squall Line
St. Louis Metropolitan Tornadoes
April 10 2013

Overview:

A severe squall line brought 60 to 100 mph wind gusts and three tornadoes to east central Missouri during the evening of April 10th 2013.  The greatest and most widespread damage occurred in north St. Louis County from Bridgeton through Hazelwood to Florissant Missouri along the track of an EF-2 tornado.   Following are the preliminary damage survey results for the three tornadoes, along with radar and damage photos.
 

MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING:  EF-2
FATALITIES:  NONE
INJURIES:    SEVERAL MINOR INJURIES. NO SERIOUS INJURIES KNOWN AT THIS TIME. 

BEGIN TIME/LOCATION:  8:00 PM CDT IN BRIDGETON AT ST. CHARLES ROCK ROAD AND INTERSTATE 270.
END TIME/LOCATION:    8:05 CDT JUST EAST OF ST. FERDINAND PARK IN FLORISSANT. 

MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED:  115 TO 125 MPH
PATH LENGTH:                   7 MILES
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH:            500 YARDS 

The tornado began in Bridgeton near I-270 and St. Charles Rock Road.  A skating rink suffered EF-1 roof damage.  The tornado moved northeast causing sporadic EF-0 and EF-1 tree damage for about 3 miles. The tornado intensified to EF-2 strength in Hazelwood near Woodcrest Lane where the roof was torn off a home.  The tornado was also at its maximum width at this location reaching 500 yards wide.  Along Teson Road, 10 appartment buildings were damaged with  losing portions of their roofs. The tornado then turned a bit to the east and caused EF-2 damage at Lynn Haven Drive and Howdershell Road.  Two homes at this location lost most of their roofs. EF-0 to EF-1 tree damage occurred along Lamplight, Coachlight, Caposele Lane, and Gerardini Drive.  Several homes on these streets suffered roof damage from falling trees and large tree limbs. The area from Lynn Haven Drive to Gerardini Drive had the highest concentration of damage.  As the tornado moved east northeast into Florissant sporadic EF-0 to EF-1 tree damage occurred to just east of St. Ferdinand  Park along Beverly Drive.  The tornado moved very fast, covering 7 miles in about 5 minutes.  Sporadic thunderstorm wind gust damage, mainly tress uprooted or large limbs downed, was noted north and south of the tornado track.  Several buisnesses signs were also damaged along Lindbergh Blvd. in Florissant. 

Storm Track and Damage Photos

MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING: EF-0
FATALITIES: NONE
INJURIES:   NONE
BEGIN TIME/LOCATION:  04/10/2013...0810 PM
                      38.61/-90.29
END TIME/LOCATION:    04/10/2013...0811 PM
                      38.61/-90.28 

MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED:  85 MPH 
PATH LENGTH:                   0.33 MILES 
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH:            50 YARDS

A weak tornado touched down near the intersection of 59th Street and Rebel in St. Louis City and moved northeast across Dalton and January Avenues before lifting along Columbia Avenue. Many trees were snapped and numerous homes and garages/sheds were damaged along the path of the tornado.  The most extensive damage occurred to several homes and a garage near and just east of the intersection of January Avenue and Columbia Avenue.  One house on Columbia Avenue lost the entire east facing side of the roof . Pieces of the roof and insulation were scattered north and east along Columbia Avenue. Several cars were badly damaged along Columbia Avenue due to the falling debris.

Storm Track and Damage Photos

MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING: EF-1 
FATALITIES: NONE 
INJURIES:   NONE
BEGIN TIME/LOCATION:  04/10/2013...0738 PM
                      38.59/-90.79 
END TIME/LOCATION:    O4/10/2013...0739 PM                       
                      38.60/-90.76

MAXIMUM ESTIMATED WIND SPEED:  100 MPH
PATH LENGTH:                   1.5 MILES
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH:            200 YARDS

A tornado touched down in the Labadie bottoms, north of St. Albans, and lifted after traversing 1.5 miles east-northeast across St. Albans Island. Extensive tree damage was noted along the track.

Storm Track and Damage Photos