Insider Blog: Storms leave wind damage across southern Missouri Tuesday morning

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather team tracked severe storms that left quite a bit of damage across southern and southwest Missouri on Tuesday morning as a Weather Alert Day was in effect.

Storms moved in from the Joplin area after 8:00 a.m., overturning tractor trailers on I-44 near Joplin. As the line of storms intensified, it brought damaging winds of up to 91 mph at the Springfield Airport, leaving damage across the city.

Power outages were still being reported on Tuesday evening, with almost 50,000 residents still in the dark.

As the storms pressed on to the east, tornado warnings were issued as circulations developed along the line. Heavy damage to a roof was reported at an elementary school in Potosi, southwest of St. Louis. Dangerous flash flooding was also reported in the same area into late afternoon.