Introduction
Tornados can develop in an instant, and if you live in or around St. Louis, you’ve experienced many of St. Louis’ sudden outdoor weather events. Tornadoes are nature’s unleashed fury, able to turn familiar streets into something out of a disaster movie. So, how can we get to know them better, and more important, protect ourselves? History Impact & Safety Tips
Whether you’ve lived in St. Louis your whole life or are new to the area, we’ve put together everything you need to know about St. Louis tornadoes – in straightforward, easy-to-understand language. Consider this your go-to survival guide — not just history and facts, but also practical advice to keep you safe. History Impact & Safety Tips
Understanding Tornadoes
A twister is fast-rotating air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. It is a vacuum cleaner that nature uses to suck up dirt — except instead of dirt, it can tear through buildings and toss around cars like toys. Different tornadoes can be stronger or weaker in strength, but even the weakest can cause a lot of damage if you’re not ready. History Impact & Safety Tips
Why Tornadoes Like to Rake the St. Louis Area
It sits in what’s referred to as “Tornado Alley Lite.” Though not exactly smack dab in the center of the classic Tornado Alley like Oklahoma or Kansas, Missouri has its share. The city’s location means it’s a meeting place for the warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and the cooler, dryer air from the Rockies — a perfect recipe for tornadoes. History Impact & Safety Tips
A Look at Historic Tornadoes in St. Louis
Over the years, St. Louis has seen its share of tornadoes, many resulting in the loss of life and property. They remind us just how dangerous these storms can be.
The Great St. Louis Tornado of 1896
Great Cyclone at St.Louis! 285 Killed and 1,000 Injured The St.Louis Calamity – A full account of the Tornadoes of May 27, ’96 From The Missouri Republican, May 28, 1896 The Great St.Louis Tornado – 1,000 Lives Lost!
It’s impossible to discuss St. Louis tornadoes without talking of the infamous 1896 twister. This beast of a storm hit on May 27, turning entire neighbourhoods into rubble and killing more than 250 people. The cost, adjusted for inflation, would be in the billions of dollars today. It is still one of the deadliest tornadoes in United States history.
Think of awaking to a bustling city one morning and seeing half of it flattened by the afternoon — that’s how much things had moved.
Modern-Day Tornado Incidents
Forward to today, and tornadoes still have touched down in the region in recent years. The Lambert-St. From the 1896 Saint Louis tornado to the 2013 Hazelwood tornado, these storms from time to time threaten the city. In part because of improved forecasting and communication, the casualties are lower, but the hazard is no less real.
How Tornadoes Form
Tornadoes come from supercell thunderstorms, the giant storms with huge, rotating updrafts. When warm and moist air at a surface collide with cold and dry air aloft, this provides the instability and wind shear (change of wind direction and speed with height) that is needed for a tornado to form. It’s somewhat like pouring hot and cold water into a bottle and shaking it — only with a much more violent outcome.
Tornado Season in St. Louis
Although tornadoes can occur each month in Missouri, spring and early summer — especially April, May and June — are the peak months for tornadoes in Missouri. It’s also during this period that the atmosphere is ripe for thunderstorms to develop and mature into tornadic systems.
How to Keep Yourself Informed and Safe
Preparedness begins with understanding the situation. Keep an eye on a weather app with alerts, register for local emergency notifications and always keep a battery-powered NOAA weather radio, which can override your phone’s silent setting, at the ready. Believe us: when the power cuts out, your phone may drop the ball, but that weather radio will not.
Tornado Warning and Tornado Watch
Let’s demystify this pervasive confusion now:
- Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible. Be alert and prepared.
- Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.
“Think of the watch as putting the recipe down, and the warning as the cake in the oven,” Beach says. One is a possibility; the other is happening now.
Making a Plan for Families
Disasters don’t bide their time. Gather with your family and make a plan:
- If you get separated, where will you meet?
- Who is the emergency contact?
- What’s the nearest shelter?
Put the plan on your refrigerator and review it monthly.
Essential Tornado Safety Tips
Here is what you should be keeping an eye out for when a tornado hits:
- Go low and wait it out: Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor.
- Stay away from windows: Breaking glass can be lethal.
- Protect yourself: Shelter under mattresses or heavy blankets to shield from debris.
Do not stay in cars or mobile homes: They offer little protection.
Items to Include in a Tornado Emergency Kit
This is a kit that you have packed, and ready to go at all times, all year long. Include:
- Flashlights and batteries
- Bottled water, non-perishable foods
- First aid supplies
- Whistle to signal for help
- Vital papers in a waterproof pouch
Spare phone charger/power pack We all have that Wanker.
Community Response and Government Response
From better warning systems to better infrastructure, St. Louis has made progress in emergency preparedness. Community centers are presently used as emergency shelters and government agencies hold drills. The more prepared the community is, the less brutal the hangover.
You believe any of eight tornado myths.
Some of the myths surrounding tornadoes are downright dangerous:
- “Pressure will equalize when windows are opened” — False. It is a time waster and a debris allower.
- “Tornadoes don’t strike cities” – St. Louis tells a different story.
- “You’ll be fine if you take shelter under an overpass” — Nope. It acts as a wind tunnel and can make a bad situation worse.
Release the hounds of science, not superstition.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Tornadoes are fearsome, unpredictable and terrifying — but they don’t need to be deadly. With the correct knowledge and preparation, the risk is greatly minimized. On both sides of St. Louis, weather is an important friend to let keep, as well as creating a firm plan.
So the next time those sirens wail and the sky goes greenish gray, don’t panic. Be prepared, remain calm and act quickly.
FAQs
When is torn season in St. Louis?
Tornado season normally peaks in April, May and June but tornadoes can occur in any month.
What was the most deadly tornado in the history of St. Louis?
The deadliest is the 1896 St. Louis tornado, which kills more than 250 and devastates a significant chunk of the city.
How do I find real-time tornado alerts?
Register for local emergency alerts, use weather apps and keep a NOAA weather radio.
Where do I take cover if a tornado is coming?
The safest place is a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a building, distance from windows.
Is it true that tornadoes don’t hit cities like St. Louis?
That’s a myth. Tornadoes can and do strike large cities, including St. Louis, on more than one occasion.
