March 2006 Tornado Outbreak Sequence - Southwestern Missouri Tornadoes

Southwestern Missouri Tornadoes

A significant tornado formed at about 10:08 p.m. CST (0408 UTC) just north of Verona in Southwest Missouri Lawrence County. It was confirmed to have tracked through three counties over the next hour, and its highest damage over the length of the path was classified as F3 by the NWS.

The first community affected was Marionville, where the tornado's two fatalities occurred. Several houses there were reported to have been damaged, and to the West of Marionville, a mobile home was rolled across US Highway 60.

The tornado continued Northeastward, tracking just to the south of the small community of Billings, where one residential development was hit, resulting in 25 to 75 percent roof damage, as well as damage to exterior walls of some residences. F3 damage was observed between Billings and Nixa. Two public shelters were opened after the tornadoes hit. The destructive path continued across the southern fringe of Springfield, Missouri. All told, approximately 40 homes & structures sustained significant damage, and two homes to the North of Clever were destroyed.

The tornado lifted just west of the Webster County line, although a new tornado formed shortly thereafter. The path length of the Lawrence County to Greene County tornado was ~40 miles (64 km), with an observed damage path width between 1/4 & 1/2 miles wide, and it was on the ground for about 50 minutes. The new tornado spawned in Wright County where it touched down and was on the ground from the area of East Hartville into Grovespring, where it damaged a few homes, farm equipment, and garages. The tornadoes in Wright County were rated as F2 and F3 on the Fujita Scale.

Damage from the tornadoes was estimated at over $60 million in the region.