Storm System Spawns Tornado, Hail

The final wave of severe weather prior to the passage of a frontal system left its mark on the Ozarks with at least one tornado causing damage plus numerous reports of hail.

Reports to the National Weather Service includes the report of a tornado that caused damage to parts of Barry and Lawrence Counties. Numerous reports of Monett indicated a brief tornado knocked down several tree limbs while Emergency Management officials in Verona said they spotted a tornado that knocked down several trees. The weather service received information on several buildings damaged or destroyed on a line from Monett through Aurora with Ozarks First also receiving photos of numerous buildings damaged or destroyed due to the storm.

The storm that produced the tornado also moved through parts of Stone County around Crane and Hurley as well as Christian County with reports of several trees knocked down on those areas.

Meanwhile, hail pelted much of the Ozarks. A report to Legends 1063 indicated hail coming down in Kimberling City during the final surge Wednesday evening. Reports to the National Weather Service included hail from ping pong to half dollar size fell in line with the strongest storms from Marionville through Sparta. Quarter size hail was also reported in areas near the Christian/Taney County line near Chestnut Ridge to areas between Chadwick and Bradleyville. Another line of storms in northern Arkansas also produced hail from Washington County through Dodd City in Marion County where quarter size hail was reported. 

The Lakes Region now gets a period of calm weather with slightly cooler temperatures that should last through the weekend.