02 April 2006 - Severe Thunderstorm Outbreak

A line of severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon across Central Missouri and quickly raced east across Eastern Missouri and into Central Illinois spawning tornadoes and bringing damaging winds in excess of 70 mph to a large portion of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Over 200,000 people lost power during the height of the storm.  In addition, hail ranging from pea to baseball size was observed.

Believe it or not, things could have been much worse across the area if this event would have taken place just a few weeks later. Thankfully, most of the trees had just began to bud, and there was little if any visible foilage.  If this widespread severe wind event would have occurred when the trees had leaves on them, the number of people without power would have easily been doubled.

During this event the National Weather Service in Saint Louis issued 65 warnings and received over a 160 severe weather reports.   Two fatalities have been confirmed from this severe weather event in the St. Louis County Warning Area.

TORNADO DAMAGE SURVEYS                   9 Tornadoes - 5 F(0), 1 F(1), 3 F(2)

(Click each tornado, damage map, photo links or radar images for more information) 

Highland, Illinois (Summary) 

  • F1 Damage
  • 0 Fatalities
  • No Injuries

Damage Photos

  • Highland 1, 2

 Damage Map

Fairview Heights/O'Fallon, Illinois (Summary)

  • F2 Damage
  • 1 Fatality
  • Numerous Injuries

Damage Photos

  • Fairview Heights 1, 2, 3
  • O'Fallon  1, 2, 3

Damage Map

Dorsey/Hillsboro, Illinois (Summary)

  • 3 Tornado Touchdowns
  • F0 - F2 Damage
  • No Fatalities
  • No Injuries

Damage Photos

Damage Map  

Mark Twain Lake, Missouri (Summary)

  • F2 Tornado
  • No Fatalities
  • No Injuries

Damage Photos

  • 2N Clarence Cannon Dam 1, 2, 3

Damage Map

Park Hills and Farmington Tornadoes (Summary)

  • 2 F0 Tornadoes
  • No Fatalities
  • No Injuries

Damage Photos

  • Park Hills 1,2,3 

Damage Map

Piasa/Gillespie Tornadoes (Summary)

  • 3 F0 Tornadoes
  • No Fatalities
  • No Injuries

Damage Photos

Damage Map

Here are a few of the measured severe wind reports from observation sites across our area.

Chesterfield 64 KTS 74 MPH
Saint Louis 61 KTS 70 MPH
Sparta 56 KTS 64 MPH
Saint Charles 55 KTS 63 MPH
Quincy 54 KTS 62 MPH
Belleville  52 KTS 60 MPH
Centralia 50 KTS 58 MPH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Reflectivity and Velocity Radar Images

21:17 UTC 21:47 UTC 22:06 UTC 22:26 UTC 22:45 UTC

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