Severe storms, including a potential tornado, blasted across Missouri on Friday, killing at least seven people. Five fatalities were confirmed by St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, who also said that over 5,000 residences were impacted and that, by nightfall, almost 100,000 people were without power. According to her, the city was imposing a nighttime curfew in areas that had been severely damaged and was declaring an emergency. These events were part of the broader outbreak of severe Midwest storms affecting multiple states.

Between 2:30 and 2:50 p.m., tornado activity was detected by radar in Clayton, Missouri, close to Forest Park, according to the National Weather Service. Patricia Penelton, a volunteer at Centennial Christian Church, died after a portion of the building collapsed due to the storm. Battalion Chief William Pollihan said, “We had to rescue three people.”

Another event was a tornado that damaged many homes in Scott County, some 130 miles south of St. Louis, and resulted in the deaths of two people. Despite the continuous danger, first responders moved quickly, said Sheriff Derick Wheetley. Although Barnes-Jewish Hospital treated 20 to 30 patients, some of whom were critically injured, it was unknown how many others were injured throughout the state. Two of the fifteen patients brought to St. Louis Children’s Hospital are still there for the weekend.

Scenes of Destruction Across St. Louis

Storms toppled trees, tore off building roofs, and left roadways obstructed by fallen stoplights and debris. All twenty people were safely hidden behind the Harlem Taproom as the top levels collapsed. During the hurricane, around 150 people were relocated to the basement of the St. Louis Art Museum. A university student, John Randle, reported seeing flying debris and high winds near the museum’s entrance.

Power outages around the city created traffic jams. All animals and employees were safe, but the Saint Louis Zoo had to close because of fallen trees and minor damage. Although it was not confirmed, meteorologist Marshall Pfahler stated that the incident likely included a tornado.

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Broader Midwest Impact and Extreme Weather Elsewhere

Storms on Friday impacted a large portion of the Midwest. Wisconsin reported tornadoes on Thursday, with Eau Claire seeing hail the size of a softball. Widespread power outages occurred in northern Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan; as of Friday night, around 190,000 people were still without power due to severe Midwest storms.

Residents in Appalachia were alerted to baseball-sized hail, hurricane-force winds, and tornadoes. With temperatures between 95°F and 105°F, Texas was still experiencing a severe heat wave. Jason Runyen, a meteorologist, warned that extreme humidity might cause heat exhaustion.

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