Just five years ago we had one of the deadliest tornadoes in United States history drastically change the landscape of southwest Missouri, including the city of Joplin. The tornado was rated an EF5 (the highest rating a twister can receive) and it featured multiple vortexes within the parent tornado. The massive twister grew up to 1 mile wide at its peak intensity (over 200 MPH winds), and it was on the ground for a shocking 38 minutes!
Everything that stood in its path was flattened, destroyed, or sent hundreds of feet into the air. By the time the tornado lifted, the damage that was done was incredible. That damage amounted to $2.8 billion, which makes it the costliest single tornado to ever strike United States territory. More importantly -- and sadly -- the tornado caused 158 direct deaths, 4 indirect deaths, and roughly 1,150 people were injured. That death toll makes it the seventh deadliest tornado overall.
The tornado formed from a strong supercell thunderstorm -- one of many that developed on May 22, 2011. The environment across the Plains and southeast Missouri was volatile and highly conducive of severe weather, including strong tornadoes. Instability, wind shear, moisture, and winds aloft were all extremely supportive of strong and severe thunderstorms. And while events like these are rare, if the right ingredients come together, they can and do happen (the Rochelle-Fairdale tornado is a perfect example). With the Midwest being in prime severe weather season, this is just a reminder that dangerous weather can occur anywhere.
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