Wayne County tornado traveled 48 miles Wednesday

GRANDIN, Mo. -- One EF-3 tornado carved a path of damage 48 miles long Wednesday afternoon through Carter, Wayne and Madison counties, according to National Weather Service assessments.

The tornado formed around 3:49 p.m. one and a half miles southwest of Grandin and traveled northeast, coming near Ellsinore, Mo., before heading into Wayne County and striking near Silva, Mo. The tornado is believed to have dissipated near Buckhorn, Mo., in Madison County.

The tornado's average width was one-quarter mile, although its maximum width was one mile near Silva. Maximum wind speeds of 150 miles per hour were measured near Ellsinore. Multiple vortices were also reported near Ellsinore.

No fatalities were reported. Property damage included a log home in far southwestern Wayne County that was leveled. A modular home with a "conventionally built addition" was almost entirely blown away and carried an unknown distance. Several homes east of Ellsinore received moderate to major damage.

In the Grandin area two mobile homes were destroyed and the old Grandin school house suffered major damage, including loss of an entire roof system.

In Silva, a camper and mobile home were destroyed and several vehicles were destroyed or damaged due to flying debris and fallen trees.

Several churches also received mainly minor damage, and hundreds of acres of large tress were uprooted or snapped.

An EF-0 tornado also formed three miles west of Hunter, Mo., along Route E, according to the National Weather Service. The twister formed at 4:44 p.m. and was on the ground for about a quarter of a mile. The tornado's average width was 30 yards and the peak wind speed was 70 miles per hour. No injuries or fatalities were reported, although a few trees and tree limbs were blown down.

The super cells later evolved into a line of severe thunderstorms over Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and western Kentucky, although a few super cells persisted ahead of the line and contained strong rotation and brief tornadoes.

Pertinent address:

Grandin, MO

Ellsinore, MO

Silva, MO

Buckhorn, MO

Hunter, MO