NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Developed on the west bank of the Mississippi River and moved ENE at 70 mph into East St. Louis in St. Clair County, IL where most of the damage and death occurred.  This tornado killed 9, injured 60, and caused over $200,000 in damage.

A small tornado reported on 7th Street.  A brick building was unroofed and the debris damaged another building.  The brick building partially collapsed, causing the injuries.  One of the injured people may have died.

Formed near Washington University and moved NE, crossing the Mississippi River just south of Venice.  Over 100 homes and other buildings were unroofed or damaged.  Many smokestacks, steeples, and chimneys were blown down.  The deaths occurred in collapsed brick buildings.

Formed about 6 miles west of the Eads Bridge.  From the NW edge of Tower Grove Park, this complex combination of tornado and downburst widened to over a mile and moved east.  It collapsed or swept away parts of houses, factories, saloons, hospitals, mills, railroad yards, and churches.   The 36-acre Lafayatte Park was turned into "a wasteland of stripped trees and stumps".  A barograph dropped to 26.74".  On the east end of the Eads Bridge (built as tornado proof after an 1871 tornado) a 2 by 10 inch white pine planks was driven through the 5/16" thick wrought iron plate.  No significant damage was done to the steel span of the bridge.  Tornado was apparently at maximum intensity  when it crossed the river into East St. Louis.  This tornado killed a total of 255 people and injured 1,000.  A recent study by Brooks and Doswell (2001) indicated when the damage is adjusted for inflation and wealth in 1997 dollars, this is the costliest tornado in U.S. history ($2.9 billion realistic, $2.2 billion conservative).   More information about this tornado can be found on the WCM page by clicking >>here<<.

About 15 city blocks were damaged with >100 homes wholly or partly unroofed in the NE part of the city before crossing the river into Venice, IL.  Deaths were in three different collapsed brick buildings.

Tornado formed in Webster Groves and moved ENE across a corner of Forest Park into downtown St. Louis.  In downtown St. Louis, the path widened from 100 to 600 yards, with microburst damage extending out over a mile wide.  A few multi-story dwellings were destroyed and partly swept away (possibly F4), and some non-residential buildings were completely blown away.   Over 200 city blocks were torn apart.  Tornado then moved into Illinois.  Injuries represent total for the event in both MO and IL.  Damage is for Missouri.  A recent study by Brooks and Doswell (2001) indicated when the damage is adjusted for inflation and wealth in 1997 dollars, this is the second costliest tornado in U.S. history ($1.7 billion realistic).

Formed near Ellisville and moved ENE into the city.  Considerable damage occurred south of Forest Park, toppling a large TV tower.  From that point the tornado strengthened to F3 and minimal F4 intensity.  The greatest damage from Forest Park to McKinley Bridge was to tenement houses and apartment buildings including near Boyle and Olive as well as near Page and Grand.  A few homes were leveled, and some large tenement houses collapsed, burying the occupants in the wreckage.  Nearly 2,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed in the city.  Only 16 homes were listed as destroyed, 102 homes had major damage, and 750 homes had minor damage.  Forward speed was estimated at 50 to 60 mph with some evidence of more than one funnel.  The tornado then crossed the river in the Venice-Granite City, IL area.  The track of this tornado was not far from the tracks of the major tornadoes in 1871, 1896, and 1927.

A tornado touched down at Broadway and I-70 in the city and then crossed the river into Granite City, IL.  Several parked tractor trailers were turned over and power lines and trees were damaged.   This tornado intensified to F3 in Illinois and caused extensive damage.

BD - Brooks, H. E, and C. A. Doswell:  2001:  Normalized Damage from Major Tornadoes in the United States: 1890-1999.  Wea. Forecasting, 16, 168-176.
G - Grazulis, T. P., 1993: Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991.  A Chronology and Analysis of Events. Environmental Films, Tornado Project, St. Johsnbury, VT.
SD - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1959-2004: Storm Data. Vols. 1-46, Nos. 1-12, National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC.
SPC - Storm Prediction Center Database