Tornadoes ripped through four Midwestern states Wednesday, killing at least three people in northern Missouri and damaging businesses and homes.
Portions of roads were shut due to fallen power lines and a reported gas leak.
The good news, if it can be called that, is that the tornadoes hit just as the largest and most ambitious tornado study project kicked off.
VORTEX2 launched yesterday, involving teams of nearly 100 scientists and students chasing storms through Tornado Alley and beyond to learn about how and why tornadoes form. The teams will chase supercells through June 13, armed with high-tech gadgets and gizmos and up to 40 vehicles.
The idea behind the study, besides providing storm-chasing thrills for weather geeks, is to determine the science behind tornadoes to help forecasters provide more ample warning time to residents.
According to VORTEX2, current warnings only have a 13-minute average lead time, and a 70 percent false-alarm rate.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Missouri at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday. According to the City of Kirksville, which was hardest hit by the storms, two tornadoes were spotted within the county at approximately 5:48 p.m., and a third at 6 p.m., and a fourth soon after. The Emergency Operation Center was activated around 6:15 p.m.
In Kirksville, at least 10 homes were destroyed and as many as 60 buildings were damaged by the tornadoes, including an auto dealership. A couple was killed when their modular home was hit by deadly winds, and a woman in a nearby county was killed when her mobile home was thrown by the storm.
By Sarika Chawla for PeterGreenberg.com.
Related links: CNN, United Press International, Associated Press, KMBC, City of Kirksville
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