Lewis County

Lewis County, MO

Data available through 1/1/2013

3Date

Time (CST)

F/EF-Scale

Length (Miles)

Maximum Width (Yards)

Killed

Injured

Property Damage

Source*

5/21/1957

5:30 PM

F2

7

400

0

3

$100,000

G, NCDC

Followed an intermittent path from 1 mile E of Lewistown, to 6 miles SW of Monticello, across the NW edge of Monticello, and dissipated 2 miles SW of Buchanan. Four homes and a 3 story apartment were unroofed and torn apart.

7/22/1961

3:00 PM

F1

0.2

17

0

>$5,000

NCDC

6/12/1970

4:30 PM

F2

6

100

0

>$5,000

NCDC

A tornado which first touched down on a farm 3.75 miles W and 1.5 miles S of Ewing causing intermittent damage through the edge of Ewing, ending on a farm 2.5 miles E and 1.5 N of Ewing. Several barns and outbuildings were destroyed, homes damaged, and a restaurant on MO Highway 6 in Ewing was unroofed. Witnesses reported seeing multiple funnel sightings varying from 2 to 3 funnels.

4/30/1997

12:15 PM

F1

15

100

0

1

$200,000

NCDC

A tornado left an intermittent path of damage from south central Lewis County, Missouri into Adams County, IL. A machine shed was destroyed near Ewing where the tornado first formed. The storm moved quickly northeast causing intermittent tree damage and some roof damage to homes and outbuildings until it approached Canton. On the northwest side of Canton, 4 homes suffered major roof damage. According to emergency management officials, 10 homes suffered major roof damage, another 30 minor damage. About 20 outbuildings were destroyed. Once the tornado crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois, the tornado weakened and only caused tree damage. There was injury near Canton. An 18 year-old man suffered some bruised when he was thrown down some stairs when the roof of his home flew off.

4/30/1997

12:22 PM

F0

1

50

0

$20,000

NCDC

A small tornado formed just west of La Grange, Missouri and moved northeast into Adams County, IL. In La Grange, some trees and power lines were downed, homes suffered minor roof damage and some windows were broken. In Illinois, some outbuildings were destroyed near Marcelline.

6/14/1998

2:35 PM

F1

10

75

0

n/a

NCDC

A tornado produced an intermittent damage path as it tracked across Lewis County. The tornado first caused damage along Highway 16 where a machine shed was destroyed. Tree damage was noted northeast of this area until structural damage again occurred near Monticello. Two farm storage buildings lost their roofs and a garage was knocked off its foundation. Two grain bins lost their tops and a home suffered minor damage from flying tree limbs. Several large trees were either snapped at the base or uprooted in this area as well.

4/8/1999

5:05 PM

F2

16

150

0

2

$2,100,000

NCDC

A tornado tore a 16 mile path of destruction across Lewis County causing an estimated $2.1 million in damage. The tornado first formed near LaBelle, where it destroyed a modular home and seriously damaged another home. Several barns were destroyed as were numerous sheds and other farm outbuildings. Several homes in town also sustained roof and siding damage. A pickup truck was picked up and moved about 100 yards. The woman occupant suffered minor injuries. The tornado moved NE and reached its maximum strength in the Midway area, near the intersection of Highway H and Y. In this area 2 homes were considered destroyed as were 3 barns and numerous sheds and outbuildings. The tornado caused more damage as it moved NE between Monticello and Williamstown. A couple of barns were destroyed as were several outbuildings. Two homes suffered roof damage. There was 1 injury in this area. A man suffered a cut on his head when hit by flying debris.

6/4/1999

3:45 PM

F0

1

50

0

n/a

NCDC

A brief tornado formed west of Canton on Route 16. One home suffered roof damage and a barn was damaged. Several large trees were also downed.

5/10/2003

5:08 PM

F2

30

300

0

10

$5,000,000

NCDC

A tornado formed just north of the Marion-Lewis County line and continued northeast for 20 miles, eventually causing major damage in the city of Canton. The tornado first formed southeast of Steffenville where it damaged a barn and other outbuildings. Six homes suffered varying degrees of roof damage as the tornado crossed Highway N south of Ewing. The tornado crossed Highway 6 southeast of Ewing and damaged an electric substation. From Highway CC north to Highway P, about 20 homes and farm buildings suffered varying degrees of roof, siding and window damage. Numerous large trees were either uprooted or snapped off near the ground as well. The tornado crossed Highway 61 just southeast of Canton where it blew two tractor trailers off the road. Two men suffered minor injuries. The tornado then entered Canton about 630 pm. Information from Emergency Management personnel and city officials in Canton revealed 75-100 structures damaged with at least 40 receiving major damage. At Culver-Stockton College on the southeast side of town, the field house was flattened and another two story building lost its roof. Several very large trees on the campus were uprooted or snapped off near the ground. Four mobile homes on the north side of town were destroyed with four others suffering major damage. There were only 4 minor injuries reported in Canton. The tornado then crossed the Mississippi River near Lock and Dam 20 just southwest of Meyer, crossing into Adams County, IL.

5/10/2003

5:10 PM

F0

4

50

0

n/a

NCDC

A small tornado moved east along Highway 156. Some trees and power lines were downed, otherwise there was no damage.

8/8/2007

4:02 PM

EF0

n/a

0

$0

NCDC

A tornado briefly touched down in a field one mile south of Durham. It flattened some corn in the field. No other damage was reported from the tornado. An isolated supercell thunderstorm developed over northeast Missouri and moved southeast across Knox, Lewis, and Marion counties then crossed the river into Adams County, IL before diminishing.

5/30/2008

4:10 PM

EF1

3

70

0

$10,000

NCDC

The tornado first formed about 1/4 mile east of Highway 6 on Heritage Road where it damaged several pine trees. The tornado moved east-northeast and damaged three machine sheds. The tornado then snapped several utility poles and damaged more machine sheds. Some of the debris from the machine sheds was tossed 200 yards with two by four boards driven into the ground. The tornado continued to damage trees just west of Highway C. The tornado crossed Highway C and damaged a machine shed and grain bin. Late afternoon and evening severe thunderstorms triggered by a northward moving warm front produced hail, wind damage, a couple of small tornadoes, and localized flash flooding across Northeast and East Central Missouri.

*Sources

G - Grazulis, T. P., 1993: Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. A Chronology and Analysis of Events. Environmental Films, Tornado Project, St. Johsnbury, VT.

NCDC - National Climatic Data Center U.S. Local Storms Events Data (www.ncdc.noaa.gov)