Weather service: Southeast Missouri tornadoes had 120 mph winds

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Damage assessment reports on the two EF-2 tornadoes in Carter and Butler counties Friday have been released by the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky.

Meteorologist Rick Shanklin said the peak wind at both locations was estimated at 120 mph.

The first twister touched down at 1:24 p.m. in Grassy Valley six miles west of Ellsinore, Mo. Shanklin said the tornado's path was about 2.5 miles long and averaged 200 yards wide as it moved northeast.

He reported the collapse of several walls and partial roof loss at one residence.

Darlene Day's double-wide mobile home on Carter County Road 225 "was moved 15 feet off its foundation with partial wall and roof loss," said Shanklin, who also observed "dozens of uprooted and snapped trees."

Along Route FF, Shanklin reported the Gower Lumber Co. sawmill was destroyed and one house "suffered partial roof loss."

The second twister touched down at 2:25 p.m. at the Larry Wilson residence on Butler County Road 421 seven miles northwest of Poplar Bluff. It was only on the ground for a quarter of a mile and the path averaged only 50 yards with a maximum of 100 yards, according to Shanklin.

He reported one-third of the roof was ripped off the house, damage to fences and antenna tower, several trees uprooted or snapped off and shingles torn off a small shed.