Tornado Warning Expires in Oregon and Shannon Counties: A Close Call for Southern Missouri Residents

It was a sleepless night in parts of southern Missouri as Oregon and Shannon county residents were under National Weather Service (NWS) tornado alert. The 7:45 p.m. warning had everyone gazing upwards, watchful eyes fixed on the skies and glued to the television.

The warning struck north-eastern Oregon County and south-central Shannon County due to the fact that meteorologists detected a severe storm that was likely to result in a tornado. The storm, according to Springfield-based NWS officials, was seven miles north of Alton and moving in the northeast at a very high speed of 55 mph. Thankfully, the tornado warning also expired at 7:45 p.m. without a touchdown of a tornado occurring. However, for almost an hour, people were asked to take shelter, move away from windows, and crouching as the storm moved through the area.

A Community on Edge

When the tornado warning siren wailed, it was a cold reminder of how quickly the weather turns in the Ozarks. Others are content that the warning siren whoop or buzz on their app will be enough to get them going racing to basements, in-house rooms, or neighborhood storm shelters.

Residents of small towns such as Alton and rural towns, after decades, are accustomed to receiving surprise warnings of that sort, particularly in the spring and early summer when there is the highest likelihood of severe storms. Even older residents will recall, however, tension never leaves if there is any possibility of tornado risk. One of the neighbors who lives on the outskirts of Alton made the following comment, “It’s something that you’ve learned to prepare for, but never get used to. When that alert comes over, you just hope it passes you up without landing.”

What Caused the Warning

From the National Weather Service’s office in Springfield, meteorologists have monitored a violent storm system all day. The late-night radar last evening showed a rotation thunderstorm, and that’s the potential for producing a tornado. That kind of storm is the most violent when a tornado is involved.

The actual storm that was being warned of was associated with a larger system which was moving into south Missouri and producing heavy rain, heavy lightning, and high wind in the afternoon and evening. Worst to meteorologists were the rotating elements inside the storm, the tell-tale sign the atmosphere was conducive for the forming of a tornado. As a precautionary step, the NWS did the right thing by issuing the warning to give individuals in the path of the storm sufficient time to seek shelter.

Rapid Movement, Quick Response

One of the shocking things about this specific storm was how quickly it was traveling 55 miles per hour northeast. That’s not a lot of time for individuals to respond. In storms such as those, having some form of weather warning system is life or death. Oregon and Shannon county emergency management agencies and local governments moved fast, posting social media alerts, radio warnings, and TV alerts to warn the public. Local fire stations, local sheriff departments, and local community protection units were also placed on high alert, ready to act in case of damage. Fortunately, so far, no word has been received of any confirmed tornado touchdown or extensive damage in either county, but nonetheless, spotters and emergency personnel watch the area for any emergent status.

A Reminder to be Ready

While this tornado warning expired well over an hour ago, situations like this one remind us forcefully that it is always best to remain weather-conscious, particularly in the kinds of areas where the weather can be especially unpredictable. A few very simple steps that residents can take to prepare include:

• Have an idea: Be aware of where in your house to retreat to take cover. A basement or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows is best.
• Be informed: Employ good sources like the National Weather Service, local emergency management, or good weather apps.
• Have supplies readily available: Flashlights, bottled water, a first-aid kit, and extra cell phone chargers are all required.
• Assist your neighbors: particularly the disabled or elderly notify them when an alert is raised and assist them in reaching safe locations.

Because the storm system is still moving away from the area, the immediate threat has passed. The meteorologists are still monitoring for potential follow-up storms or continued severe weather activity later tonight and early tomorrow morning. It was heavy rain over scattered areas, with scattered local flooding in low spots.

Citizens are urged to stay weather-aware and not hurry back to routine activity. Even though the tornado warning has since expired, it does not always mean the threat is completely removed. The NWS and local officials will still monitor closely and provide updates as needed. And while it looks like the worst of it passed over the region this time around, the storm season in Missouri has only just begun.

Thus for Ozarkers and country people, last night’s warning was a fly-by last night’s warning was an instant-to-instant readiness test of preparedness, alertness, and community readiness. And by any standard, it’s a test that Oregon and Shannon counties have failed with panache and élan. Stay safe, Missouri and keep a watch on the horizon.