TORNADO RIPS THROUGH BARRY COUNTY

MAY 8, 2024 - MONETT/AURORA, MO

Tornado sirens went off in Monett at 4:00pm as a cell continued to develop strength throughout Newton County. The fast moving storm quickly approached Monett where trained spotters, fire and police all reported rotation at the Monett Western city limit at 4:14pm.

Within a few minutes, many mature trees were uprooted in Monett's South Park. Debris was first reported in central Monett along Highway 60 where multiple businesses took wind damage and signs were blown out. The storm continued to grow in strength causing power lines to fall due to broken poles at Highway 60 and Chapel Drive trapping one driver in his truck. Another vehicle just North on Chapel was struck by a falling high voltage pole as well.

One mile East of town, a suspected second vortex, caused damage to the Cox Monett hospital before touching down North of Berean Christian Academy and tracking Northeast flipping semi-trailers and damaging a business and several homes.

Multiple agencies from surrounding areas assisted with the mass response as the cell moved rapidly towards Aurora where multiple homes were damaged including a total loss to at least one barn.

UPDATE: May 9, 2024 - 2:00pm

The National Weather Service in Springfield, MO has classified this event as an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 95mph, a maximum width of 150 yards and a path stretching 10.57 miles long from S/E Monett to S/E Aurora, MO. The damage continued to include a flipped mobile home, several destroyed out-buildings and many damaged roofs.

Although there is a vast amount of property damage, there were no injuries to report.