Bow Echo Causes Significant Wind Damage

Overview

A bow echo developed across central Missouri and moved east across the St. Louis Metropolitan Area during the early afternoon of April 26th 2016, causing severe wind damage. The greatest and most widespread wind damage occurred from northwest of Marthasville (Warren County, MO) to northeast of Defiance (St. Charles County, MO) where thousands of trees were toppled by 80 mph winds. Two weak tornadoes were also surveyed from this storm system in Warren and St. Charles Counties.

Here is also a link to a printable pdf. for this event.

Radar loop of the storms including reflectivity on the left and velocity on the right.

Radar Loop of Base Reflectivity and Velocity

Widespread Wind Damage and Weak Tornadoes

Damage Survey:

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Widespread Wind Damage
Warren and St. Charles Counties

Date	4/26/2016
Time (Local)	1:10 - 1:38 PM CDT
Est. Peak Winds	80 mph
Path Length	20.5 miles
Max Width	3 miles
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An enhanced area of wind damage was surveyed from 6 miles north-northwest of Marthasville to 1 mile north of Defiance. The area of wind damage was roughly 3 miles wide and 20.5 miles long. Thousands of trees were either topped, snapped or uprooted in this swath. Many roads were blocked in this area due to fallen trees and power lines. There was also several outbuildings that lost roofs and residences that suffered minor damage. The wind is estimated to have been as high as 80 mph and lasted upward of 5 minutes according to eyewitness accounts.

Track Map

Map of widespread wind damage in Warren and St. Charles counties.

Tornado - 4WSW New Melle
St. Charles County

Date	4/26/2016
Time (Local)	1:24 - 1:25 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	70 MPH
Path Length	0.3 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A weak EF-0 tornado was surveyed north of the main core of damaging winds near the intersection of Missouri Highway D and T, roughly 4 miles west-southwest of New Melle. Trees were topped and metal from an outbuilding was deposited up to 200 yards to the north of the touchdown.

Track Map

Map of the track of the tornado that was four miles southwest of New Melle, MO.

Tornado - Pinckney
Warren County

Date	4/26/2016
Time (Local)	12:52 - 1:02 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	100 mph
Path Length	5.6 miles
Max Width	100 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A EF-1 tornado caused significant tree damage across portions of southwestern Warren County. The most significant damage occurred along Bernheimer Road where up to 100 trees were snapped and twisted to the southeast.

Track Map

Map of the tornado track of the Pinckney tornado.

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

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