Missouri Tornado & Hail Guide

Missouri averages approximately 45 tornadoes per year. The state occupies a transitional geographic position — at the edge of Tornado Alley to the west and the beginning of the “Dixie Alley” risk corridor to the southeast. Both the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas have experienced significant tornado events, and the 2011 Joplin EF5 remains the deadliest single tornado in U.S. history since 1953.

Missouri Tornado Season

Missouri has a bimodal tornado season: a spring peak in April–June and a secondary fall peak in October–November. The Ozarks region and the southwestern corner of the state (the Joplin area) are particularly prone to violent tornadoes. The St. Louis metro and Kansas City metro have both been struck by significant tornadoes in modern times.

Missouri Hail Season

Significant hail events occur from March through August across Missouri. The Kansas City metro and Springfield areas see repeated hail events each season. Missouri’s hail season aligns closely with its tornado season.

Historical Significant Events

• 1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado (F4): Over 250 fatalities; one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history.
• 1925 Tri-State tornado: The longest tornado path in U.S. history (219 miles across MO, IL, and IN); 695 total fatalities, most in Missouri.
• 2003 Kansas City area tornadoes: Multiple significant tornadoes struck the metro area in May.
• 2011 Joplin EF5: 158 fatalities; the costliest single tornado in U.S. history (over $2.8 billion in damage). Struck Joplin on May 22, 2011.

Regional NWS Offices for Missouri

| Region | WFO | Website |

|——–|—–|———|

| Kansas City / Western MO | NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill | weather.gov/eax |

| St. Louis / Eastern MO | NWS St. Louis | weather.gov/lsx |

| Springfield / SW Missouri | NWS Springfield | weather.gov/sgf |

---

*FindTheTornado.com does not perform inspections, repairs, or insurance work. Data from NOAA NCEI and NWS.*