Wednesday night storms injure one in Southeast Missouri

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- A Doniphan man was injured when his mobile home was overturned during a severe thunderstorm Wednesday night that also damaged a business, authorities

said.

The rapid downdraft occurred around 11:30 p.m., according to a meteorologist who said at least two barns were damaged in the same area two miles east of city limits.

The unidentified man suffered minor injuries when his trailer rolled over, and a roof was blown off Top Quality Rental, owned by Jim Fletcher.

The microburst was moving at least 60 mph, said David Blanchard, of the National Weather Service.

"I don't know if it was straight wind, but it swooped down and demolished the area in just a matter of minutes," said Ripley County Sheriff Ron Barnett. "It didn't even move the lawn chairs of several homes nearby."

"Judging by the damage, I suspect a possible violent downdraft kicked up wind for a brief period as it spread out at the surface," said Blanchard, meteorologist with the National Weather Service based out of Paducah, Ky.

NWS issued a tornado watch just before 9 p.m., when winds became strong south of Ripley County. Nickel and dime size hail was also reported in the region, including the western side of Butler County.

"Winds out of the south were getting some moisture from the Mississippi River Valley and when you put the energy on top of that, a storm tends to form," Blanchard explained. "Storms like somewhat moist, warm air in lower levels."

The temperature was reported to have reached the low 70s earlier in the day, which was the warmest it has gotten so far this year.