October marks start of secondary severe weather season in Mid-Missouri

Most of the severe weather we see in Mid-Missouri comes during the spring and early summer months.

However, severe weather can occur at any time, and October marks the beginning of a second severe weather season of sorts.

Mid-Missouri can get its fair share of storms this time of year, even tornadoes.

In Mid-Missouri, the most likely months tornadoes will hit are May and June.

Weather conditions change in October and set us up for another round, however.

In the last decade, three severe weather outbreaks have hit our area during October including a deadly storm.

The upper-level jet stream is shifting south across the country during this time and the surface is still warm, while the upper atmosphere is cool, like we see in the spring.

This can create a cold front at the surface, and when that mixes with warm air from the Gulf of Mexico, we can get tornadoes just like the spring season.

The examples are noteworthy.

On October 29, 2004, a storm moved through just after midnight and brought 8 damage reports, three of which were in Pettis and Saline counties. An EF-1 tornado damaged three homes, totaling more than $300,000 in repairs.

Three years later, on October 2, 2007, an EF-2 tornado worked its way through 4 Mid-Missouri counties, injuring two people.

Just two weeks after that, an EF-2 tornado ripped through Monroe County and killed two people.

Even though it wasn’t an October tornado, many remember the November 10, 1998 tornado that hit southwest Columbia.

The EF-3 tornado leveled the Southridge subdivision, tore the roof off commercial buildings, and caused more than $6 million in damage.

All of these examples provide a great reminder to pay attention to the fall forecast.