History of tornadoes in the St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., area
There is a long history of destructive
tornadoes in the
St. Louis metropolitan area. The third-deadliest, and the costliest in United States history, the
1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado, injured more than one thousand people and caused at least 255 fatalities in the City of St. Louis and in East St. Louis. The
second-costliest tornado also occurred in St. Louis in September 1927.[1] More tornado fatalities occurred in St. Louis than any other city in the United States.[2] Also noteworthy is that destructive tornadoes occur in winter and autumn, as well as the typical months of spring.[3] Additionally, damaging tornadoes occur in the morning and late at night, as well as the more common late afternoon to early evening maximum period.
In April 2011, an EF4
tornado on Good Friday caused widespread damage along a 22 mi (35 km) track across the northern part of the St. Louis
metropolitan area; including significant damage to
Lambert International Airport, causing a complete shutdown for over 24 hours, but no deaths.[4] Prior to that event, a F4 tornado also struck the northern metro, and killed three in January 1967.[5] Another F4 tornado struck the Granite City and Edwardsville, Illinois area in April 1981.[6] During a
major outbreak in December 2021, two tornadoes in the metro area killed 7 people.[7]
St. Charles County to St. Louis County to extreme northern St. Louis City at 32.5 mi (52.3 km) over 35 min with max width 1 mi (1.6 km)[14] (see:
Tornado outbreak of May 26–31, 2013)
Greater St. Louis-area tornadoes
These tables describe the tornado history for
Greater St. Louis. In Missouri, this includes the counties of
St. Louis,
St. Charles,
Franklin, and
Jefferson. In Illinois, this includes the counties of
Madison,
St. Clair, and
Monroe. Data for the independent city of St. Louis is not part of these tables unless part of the path of the tornado striking these counties also struck the city.
Fourth-worst tornado in history to hit the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, last F4 tornado to affect St. Louis County or City until April 22, 2011. See
1967 St. Louis tornado outbreak.[5]
St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Louis City, St. Clair, Madison
EF4
0 fatalities, some injuries
Main article:
2011 St. Louis tornado. Significant damage in North St. Louis County in Maryland Heights, St. Ann, Bridgeton, Berkeley, and Ferguson. Lambert International Airport (
EF2[22]) closed due to widespread damage, windows blown out, and the destruction of Concourse C.[4]
Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films.
ISBN1-879362-03-1.
Rosencrants, Troy D.; Ashley, W. S. (2015), "Spatiotemporal analysis of tornado exposure in five US metropolitan areas", Nat. Hazards, 78: 121–140,
doi:
10.1007/s11069-015-1704-z,
S2CID8196684
History of tornadoes in the St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., area
There is a long history of destructive
tornadoes in the
St. Louis metropolitan area. The third-deadliest, and the costliest in United States history, the
1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado, injured more than one thousand people and caused at least 255 fatalities in the City of St. Louis and in East St. Louis. The
second-costliest tornado also occurred in St. Louis in September 1927.[1] More tornado fatalities occurred in St. Louis than any other city in the United States.[2] Also noteworthy is that destructive tornadoes occur in winter and autumn, as well as the typical months of spring.[3] Additionally, damaging tornadoes occur in the morning and late at night, as well as the more common late afternoon to early evening maximum period.
In April 2011, an EF4
tornado on Good Friday caused widespread damage along a 22 mi (35 km) track across the northern part of the St. Louis
metropolitan area; including significant damage to
Lambert International Airport, causing a complete shutdown for over 24 hours, but no deaths.[4] Prior to that event, a F4 tornado also struck the northern metro, and killed three in January 1967.[5] Another F4 tornado struck the Granite City and Edwardsville, Illinois area in April 1981.[6] During a
major outbreak in December 2021, two tornadoes in the metro area killed 7 people.[7]
St. Charles County to St. Louis County to extreme northern St. Louis City at 32.5 mi (52.3 km) over 35 min with max width 1 mi (1.6 km)[14] (see:
Tornado outbreak of May 26–31, 2013)
Greater St. Louis-area tornadoes
These tables describe the tornado history for
Greater St. Louis. In Missouri, this includes the counties of
St. Louis,
St. Charles,
Franklin, and
Jefferson. In Illinois, this includes the counties of
Madison,
St. Clair, and
Monroe. Data for the independent city of St. Louis is not part of these tables unless part of the path of the tornado striking these counties also struck the city.
Fourth-worst tornado in history to hit the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, last F4 tornado to affect St. Louis County or City until April 22, 2011. See
1967 St. Louis tornado outbreak.[5]
St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Louis City, St. Clair, Madison
EF4
0 fatalities, some injuries
Main article:
2011 St. Louis tornado. Significant damage in North St. Louis County in Maryland Heights, St. Ann, Bridgeton, Berkeley, and Ferguson. Lambert International Airport (
EF2[22]) closed due to widespread damage, windows blown out, and the destruction of Concourse C.[4]
Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films.
ISBN1-879362-03-1.
Rosencrants, Troy D.; Ashley, W. S. (2015), "Spatiotemporal analysis of tornado exposure in five US metropolitan areas", Nat. Hazards, 78: 121–140,
doi:
10.1007/s11069-015-1704-z,
S2CID8196684