Strong storms prompt tornado warnings, cause wind damage around Southeast Missouri

Southeast Missouri residents had their evenings interrupted by tornado warnings and sirens for a period of several hours Tuesday night as a powerful line of storms moved through the area.

The storms left downed trees and power lines and spawned tornadoes in several area counties.

The final tornado warning in the Cape Girardeau area expired after 10 p.m. It was preceded by one that earlier prompted sirens to go off in Cape Girardeau and Jackson for the second time after a tornado was spotted between Crowder and Vanduser on Route Z in Scott County, moving east at 65 mph.

Another warning was issued for parts of Cape Girardeau, Scott and Stoddard counties after a tornado was spotted near Randles around 9:30 p.m. That storm left power lines down and other wind damage in its wake.

Damage reports include a destroyed barn and downed trees blocking Route B near Daisy in Cape Girardeau County.

Dispatchers with Cape Girardeau County said the worst damage was seen in the northern part of the county, including reports of destroyed barns. Just before 9 p.m. there were reports of hail in areas of the county.

Just after 9 p.m. scanner traffic indicated the firefighters with the North County district in Cape Girardeau County were called to Route D with a report of live wires across the road.

Southeast Missourian advertising representative Paul Walker shot this photo on Scotts Lane in Cape Girardeau Tuesday night after a powerful line of storms moved through the city. (Paul Walker)

Followers of the Southeast Missourian on Twitter reported downed trees across Bloomfield Road in Cape Girardeau and wind damage in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Ameren Missouri's online outage map showed more than 1,800 customers without power in the Cape Girardeau area as of 9:40 p.m.

In Bollinger County dispatchers reported widespread damage. The Marble Hill area seems to have escaped relatively unharmed, with most of the damage in the Patton and Zalma areas. People at Arrowhead Campground also reported seeing a tornado touchdown.

Scanner traffic also indicated a tornado touchdown shortly after 9 p.m. in Stoddard County.

In Scott County dispatchers reported power outages in Oran, Benton and Chaffee just after 9:30 p.m.

Pertinent Address:

Bloomfield Road, Cape Girardeau, MO