Deadly Tornado Rips Through Missouri as Powerful Storms Slam Midwest and South
ST. LOUIS (AP) — At least seven lives were lost and entire neighborhoods plunged into chaos as fierce storms—including a likely tornado—tore across Missouri on Friday, leaving a path of destruction in their wake and prompting urgent searches for trapped victims.
The devastating weather system didn’t stop at Missouri. It carved a trail of havoc across the Midwest and South, spawning tornadoes in Wisconsin, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands across the Great Lakes, and bringing blistering heat to Texas and parts of the East Coast.
In St. Louis, the damage was overwhelming. Roaring winds peeled roofs off buildings, shattered windows, toppled trees, and snapped power lines. Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed five fatalities in the city, adding that over 5,000 homes were damaged and approximately 100,000 customers were without power Friday night. “This is truly, truly devastating,” she said, as the city enacted an emergency declaration and imposed a nighttime curfew in the hardest-hit neighborhoods.
Hospitals across the region were inundated. Barnes-Jewish Hospital treated 20 to 30 storm-related injuries—some critical—while St. Louis Children’s Hospital admitted 15 children, two of whom will remain hospitalized through the weekend.
The National Weather Service reported a likely tornado touched down in Clayton between 2:30 and 2:50 p.m., near Forest Park—home to the St. Louis Zoo and historic grounds of the 1904 World’s Fair.
One of the storm’s most tragic moments unfolded at Centennial Christian Church, where part of the building collapsed. Three people were rescued from the rubble, but one woman, Patricia Penelton, did not survive. Her son-in-law, Stacy Clark, described her as a devoted church member and beloved choir singer.
Nearby, Jeffrey Simmons Sr. recalled a chilling few minutes of darkness and deafening wind. “Next thing you know—boom. Lights out. Everything was tore up,” he said after taking shelter in his basement.
Friday’s afternoon commute turned chaotic as fallen trees and traffic signals brought the city to a standstill. In the Harlem Taproom, the top of the brick building was sheared off, but 20 patrons sheltering inside emerged unscathed.
At the St. Louis Art Museum, more than 150 people—including 19-year-old college student John Randle—were rushed into the basement for safety. “You could hear hail and branches slamming into the windows,” he said. “When I peeked upstairs, doors were flying open and debris was whipping past—it was terrifying.”
The zoo will remain closed Saturday due to widespread damage, though all animals and staff were confirmed safe.
Further south in Scott County, another tornado claimed two lives, injured several more, and obliterated multiple homes. Sheriff Derick Wheetley praised the swift response of emergency teams who risked their lives to help amid the storm’s fury.
Wider Midwest & Appalachian Threat
The danger wasn’t limited to Missouri. Friday evening brought dire tornado warnings to places like Marion, Illinois, where the National Weather Service issued a rare “tornado emergency,” urging residents to take shelter from a confirmed and potentially deadly twister.
In Chicago, visibility plummeted as a massive dust storm swept through, spanning 100 miles from southwest Chicago into northern Indiana. Warnings went out for large, destructive hail and hurricane-force winds across parts of Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Ohio, and beyond.
The Storm Prediction Center warned of the potential for “strong, long-track tornadoes” and hail the size of baseballs. Winds of over 75 mph were likely as the storms grew into dangerous supercell clusters.
To prepare, Appalachian Power requested 1,700 additional workers to restore power to affected customers across West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Extreme Heat Grips Texas
Meanwhile, Texas was sweltering under a dangerous heatwave. San Antonio and Austin hit 95–105°F (35–40.5°C), with humidity making it feel even hotter. Meteorologist Jason Runyen warned of heat exhaustion risks and urged residents to stay hydrated and take breaks when outside.
Wisconsin and Michigan Also Reeling
The storms had already battered Wisconsin and Michigan Thursday night, with reports of softball-sized hail in Eau Claire and multiple tornadoes touching down. Power was still out for nearly 190,000 customers in Michigan by Friday night, with damage assessments ongoing.
In Illinois, the violent weather delayed Beyoncé’s Chicago concert by two hours at Soldier Field, underscoring the regional scale of disruption.
