Weak December Tornado Touches Down in Missouri

Benton County, Mo. (KFMO)  - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield has confirmed that a brief tornado touched down in Missouri over the weekend during a thunderstorm in Benton County.

The tornado, categorized as an EF-0, struck near Warsaw on Saturday, Dec. 14, just after 3:40 p.m. It brought peak winds of up to 80 mph, carving a path 75 yards wide and over a mile long. The twister was on the ground for approximately five minutes. Reports indicated damage to trees and an outbuilding, but no injuries were sustained.

Tornadoes are most common in Missouri from March through June. However, the state has experienced tornadoes in every month of the year, underscoring the unpredictable nature of severe weather.

Residents are reminded to stay vigilant and monitor weather updates, even during the winter months, as storms can occasionally produce unexpected threats. Warsaw is about 200 miles west of Park Hills.