Preliminary damage results are in from a potent late winter/early spring storm system brought widespread severe thunderstorm to the region starting late on Friday and continuing into the overnight hours early Saturday.
Crews from the National Weather Service estimate an EF-2 tornado hit Jackson and Perry counties just after midnight on Saturday with peak winds of 135 mph.
This tornado started in far northern Jackson County and tracked northeast through the St.Johns area in Perry County. It damaged trees, homes, outbuildings, power lines, and toppled gravestones at a cemetery.
Crews believe an EF-2 hit in Johnson County early Saturday morning with peak winds of 115 mph. This tornado tracked from approximately three miles west of Vienna, northeast through the Bloomfield area, before ending near the county line east of Ozark. Numerous trees were damaged, as well as some power lines, homes, outbuildings, and trailers.
The Johnson County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency says tornado victims may contact the Red Cross for assistance at 800-RED-CROSS. You have to use the event number, which 0283706.
Tornadoes are also believed to hit in parts of southeast Missouri, including the Missouri Bootheel, as well as southwest Indiana.
