Thunderstorms whipped across the region early Tuesday morning, severely damaging some structures in Butler and Dunklin counties.
Neelyville
The wind ripped into several homes and outbuildings around Neelyville. Craig Meador of the Butler County Severe Weather Response Team photographed crumpled walls, collapsed sheds and broken trees about two miles north of the city on County Road 353 and in the Coon Island area.
It was not clear whether the damage was caused by straightline winds or a tornadic activity. The Severe Weather Response Team had not heard any reports of injuries at the time of this article.
Malden
Photos from Malden displayed similar scenes. Just after 5 a.m., the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning in Dunklin County and other areas of the Mississippi River Valley including regions of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Although the storm took down power poles, blew out windows at local businesses and destroyed some roofs, no injuries were reported as of Tuesday morning.
“I’m glad we don’t have any injuries. Even though we have some damage to take care of, I’m thankful it is not as bad as when we had the tornado hit a few years back,” Malden Mayor Denton Kooyman said referencing the region’s destructive Feb. 24, 2019 tornado.
Power was out for part of Tuesday but eventually restored.
Regional forecast
Southeast Missouri has not seen the last of dangerous weather this week. The National Weather Service in Paducah issued a winter storm warning Tuesday afternoon for much of the state’s southern half, plus parts of Arkansas, Illinois and Kentucky, from 6 p.m. Wednesday night to 6 a.m. Thursday morning.
“Right now what we’re looking at is starting Wednesday evening with freezing rain sleet,” said Robbie Myers, director of the Emergency Management Agency of Butler County.
If temperatures drop as anticipated, Tuesday’s predictions indicated areas of Southeast Missouri could receive 0.25-0.5 inches of ice and less than an inch of sleet. Myers noted if temperatures turn the winter precipitation into rainfall, Butler and the surrounding counties could see increased flood risk. He said both make for dangerous driving conditions.
Additional reporting by Trina Bell of the Delta Dunklin Democrat.