Tornado Outbreak December 17th-18th, 2002

National Weather Service, Springfield, MO

Summary

Pictures

Chesapeake Tornado

Kenoma Tornado

Fairview Tornado

Humansville Tornado

Grovespring Tornado

Cherokee County Tornado

Event Summary

Tornadoes left paths of destruction over portions the Missouri Ozarks and far southeast Kansas Tuesday night (12/17/02) and Wednesday morning (12/18/02).

Event Pictures

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Event Chesapeake Tornado

Chesapeake, Missouri Tornado

Lawrence County

radar image

At approximately 1118 pm 12/17/02 a tornado struck near Chesapeake Mo.

The F2 tornado hit the Lucky Lady trailer park and 1 home northeast and 3 homes southwest of trailer park. The tornado resulted in 1fatality and 15 injuries.

The radar image (right) shows the supercell thunderstorm that spawned the tornado.

tornado path

Event Kenoma Tornado

Kenoma, Missouri Tornado

Jasper and Barton County

radar image

At approximately 148 am 12/18/02 an F0 tornado struck 2 miles west of Jasper, Mo. The tornado damaged a large barn and several out buildings. Tree tops were snapped off and and fence row knocked.

This tornado continued into Barton county where it was rated F1. The tornado struck 5 miles north northwest of Jasper, Mo at approximately 153 am. Here the tornado destroyed a trailer and uprooted trees. The tornado resulted in 2 injuries.

At approximately 153 12/18/02 am, the F1 tornado destroyed three houses 3 miles southeast of Boston, Mo. at the intersection of HWY JJ and 126.

The tornado tracked northeast to 2 miles southeast of Kenoma, Mo. at approximately 159 am 12/18/02. The F1 tornado destroyed a trailer and barn with minor damage to two other homes and several outbuildings. The tornado resulted in 1 fatality and 2 injuries.

The radar image above shows the supercell thunderstorm that spawned the tornado.

Event Fairview Tornado

Fairview, Missouri Tornado

Newton and Barry Counties

At approximately 1024 pm 12/17/02 a tornado struck 3 miles northwest of Fairview Mo.

The tornado damaged a house and barn and downed several trees. The tornado again

touched down briefly approximately 6 miles west of Monett.

Event Humansville Tornado

Humansville, Missouri Tornado

Cedar, Polk & Hickory Counties

At approximately 235 am 12/18/02 an F0 tornado touched down 6 miles east of Stockton in northeast Cedar county. The tornado tracked northeast to near Humansville, Mo. around 245 am where it was rated F1. The tornado damaged 18 homes and uprooted numerous trees. The tornado resulted in 1 injury. The tornado continued northeast into southwest Hickory county about 5 miles southeast of Weaubleau before dissipating.