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Jefferson City and Joplin tornado anniversaries

Four years ago on this exact Monday, portions of Central Missouri would see very different conditions from those experienced earlier today. A EF-3 tornado would make its way through Jefferson in the late night hours.

Going back even further to 12 years on May 22, 2011, an even stronger tornado would rain down portions of southwestern Missouri through Joplin. This tornado would be even stronger and take well over 100 lives.

A severe warned thunderstorm would make its way across Central Morgan county gaining strength.

This storm would push to the northeast eventually producing a tornado near the city of Eldon, Missouri at 10:56 pm.

This tornado would strengthen creating a impressive hail core with a stronger inflow leading to impressive EF-3 winds up to 160 mph. This tornado would then track through the southern side of Jefferson city damaging multiple homes and buisnesses.

After crossing the Missouri river, this tornado would lift dissipating at 11:51 pm tracking to the northeast once again as a severe warned storm.

An impressive multi-vortex would cause widespread death and destruction in Joplin Missouri on this same day 12 years ago. this tornado would push winds over 200 mph tracking 22.1 miles long. A total of 161 people would lose their lives with well over 1,000 being injured. This tornadic event would earn its way as the costliest tornado in history as damages would amount to over $3,000,000,000. The town would be torn apart including a large hospital causing over a decade of rebuilding for the region.

Article Topic Follows: Weather

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Chance Gotsch

Chance Gotsch grew up just south of St. Louis and moved to Columbia to attend the University of Missouri to pursue a degree in Atmospheric Sciences.

His interest in weather begin as a child when he used to be afraid of storms.

Chance joined the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team in February 2021. He is currently the weekday noon meteorologist.

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