In the wake of a record-shattering April, more tornadoes have devastated parts of the Midwest.  At one point last night, a Tornado Watch stretched from Texas all the way up to Wisconsin.  Over 48 tornadoes were reported yesterday, and today, the storm surveyors will be out evaluating the damage.

One of the larger/stronger tornadoes struck Joplin, Missouri.  89 people were killed when this tornado hit and the death toll is expected to rise.  This is now the deadliest tornado on record  in Missouri since a twister killed 56 people back in 1957.  If the death toll continues to rise, this may be a new record for the deadliest SINGLE tornado in the US since the Worcester tornado killed 94 people in 1953.

Storm spotters were reporting a mutli-vortex tornado in/near Joplin.  A multi-vortex tornado is a tornado with two or more funnel clouds rotating around one center.  These types of tornadoes can be exceptionally damaging.  The base of this tornado was anywhere from 3/4 to 1 mile wide!

St. John’s Hospital in Joplin was heavily damaged.  X-Ray machines and medical records were found 60 miles away from the hospital!  Cars that were parked in the hospital lot were picked up by the tornado and pelted with large hail from inside the vortex!

After seeing the damage, it’s more than likely that the Joplin, MO tornado will be ranked either an EF-4 or EF-5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.  The Enhanced Fujita Scale estimates wind speed based on tornado damage.  An EF-4 tornado packs winds between 166-200 MPH.  An EF-5 produces winds OVER 200 MPH!

Missouri will likely see another round of severe thunderstorms today.  These storms could produce more tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding.  Up to 2″ of rain is possible in Joplin!

UPDATE: As of 8 o’clock this morning, Joplin was under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.  These thunderstorms had the threat of large hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 MPH.

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At least one person was killed yesterday when a tornado struck North of Minneapolis.  Storm surveyors will be out assessing the damage today.

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Tornadoes were reported across western Wisconsin as well.  The storm surveyors have determined an EF-1 (86-110 MPH) hit Sparta, WI.  The damage was mainly to trees, windows, and powerlines.

Just 17 miles away, a stronger EF-2 (111-135 MPH) hit Tomah, WI.  This tornado damaged one house before moving into a more rural area.

If you have any questions on tornadoes, feel free to email the weather team anytime!
-Meteorologist Ashley Baylor