2011 St. Louis tornado

EF4 tornado in the St. Louis, Missouri, USA metropolitan area May 2025 February 2025 April 22, 2011, 7:59 PM CDT (UTC–05:00) 32 minutes April 22, 2011, 8:31 PM CDT (UTC–05:00) infobox 1/2 300 2011 St Louis EF4 tornado.png Radar image of the 2011 St. Louis tornado.png Beaverton Drive in Bridgeton MO EF3 Tornado damage.jpg STLtortrack2.gif St. Louis Lambert International Airport interior damage from 2011 Tornado.png A collage of three images in a clockwise order. It shows the tornado visually through a powerflash, the damage inflicted, the storm path track, and lastly a radar imagery scan in detail. Clockwise from the top: The rainwrapped EF4 tornado being illuminated by a power flash along Interstate 70 in Bridgeton, Missouri; a house along Beaverton Drive impacted at high-end EF3 intensity in Missouri; significant structural damage seen inside of St. Louis Lambert International Airport; a path of the tornado across the northern St. Louis suburbs; a Next-Generation Radar scan of the supercell, detailing the tornadic circulation and other storm features 170 mph km/h on 880 yd mi km 21.3 mi km EF4 5 2011 >$250 million The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's finalized damage survey by region: National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri Event Details for St. Louis County, Missouri (EF4 Tornado) https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/317910 National Centers for Environmental Information 2019 December 21, 2025 National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri Event Details for St. Louis City, Missouri (EF1 Tornado) https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/453165 National Centers for Environmental Information 2019 December 21, 2025 National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri Event Details for Madison County, Illinois (EF2 Tornado) https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/317911 National Centers for Environmental Information 2019 December 21, 2025The aforementioned damage totals are in 2011 United States dollars. "nb" "2011USD" (>$ in US USD) Northern suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois, United States; specifically Maryland Heights, Bridgeton, St. Ann, Berkeley, Ferguson, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri and Granite City, Illinois 0 Tornado outbreak of April 19–22, 2011 and Tornadoes of 2011 Just after nightfall on Good Friday, April 22, 2011, a violent and destructive tornado, with winds of 170 mph km/h, impacted the northern St. Louis metropolitan region across the U.S. states of Missouri and Illinois.Glass Fred H. Warning Operations and Decision Making for the St. Louis Tornadoes on Good Friday, 22 April 2011 17 October 2011 National Weather Association / National Weather Service Saint Louis, Missouri NWA 36th Annual MeetingKanofsky Laura Factors Contributing to the Lack of Fatalities and Significant Injuries with April 22, 2011 St. Louis Missouri EF-4 17 October 2011 National Weather Association / National Weather Service Saint Louis, Missouri NWA 36th Annual MeetingTornadoes Report – April 2011 National Centers for Environmental Information May 2011 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/tornadoes/201104 July 10, 2026 UPDATE: Lambert reopening today, expects to be at 70 percent capacity Sunday St. Louis Post-Dispatch April 23, 2011 http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_f7e801d4-6dc7-11e0-b60f-0019bb30f31a.html April 24, 2011 subscription The storm, known as the Good Friday tornado, was the strongest to impact the St. Louis area since January 1967, striking portions of Madison and St. Louis Counties along with the northern side of the central city.http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/255933/3/Hell-broke-loose-in-Bridgeton-Maryland-Heights https://archive.today/20130127073227/http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/255933/3/Hell-broke-loose-in-Bridgeton-Maryland-Heights dead January 27, 2013 Up to 200 homes damaged in Maryland Heights, Bridgeton KSDK-tv5 April 23, 2011 April 24, 2011 Moody, Cassidy In its 21.3 mi km on track across the metro, the tornado moved through many suburbs and neighborhoods, impacting numerous homes and businesses in its wake. The worst damage occurred in the suburb of Bridgeton, Missouri, where residential areas were heavily damaged or destroyed, causing thousands to lose power. Heavy damage was also inflicted to St. Louis Lambert International Airport, closing it for nearly 24 hours.Good Friday Tornadoes April 22, 2011 https://www.weather.gov/lsx/04_22_2011 NWS St. Louis 2 November 2012https://www.cbsnews.com/news/residents-st-louis-was-bedlam-during-tornado/ Residents: St. Louis was "bedlam" during tornado April 23, 2011 April 24, 2011 Bowers, Cynthia CBS News The tornado crossed over the Mississippi River and tore the roofs off homes in Granite City, Illinois before dissipating. The tornado was part of a major three-day tornado outbreak across the United States, and was one of two tornadoes rated EF3 or greater during the multi-day event, alongside an EF3 tornado that occurred in Macoupin County, Illinois on April 19. This aforementioned outbreak preceded the 2011 Super Outbreak.National Weather Service Event Details for all U.S. States and Areas (All Tornadoes from April 19–28, 2011) https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/search?d=N4IgpgbmB2AuAyBLAzrEAuA2iAKgewCdoBDAEzxAF0AaEAIzAHNFoARY2MDEAJgAYAjAIC0fACzCBAThC0Ypdp278hoiTwAcskHmg4AFinYBPDADNiAG2RhaDZmw5gA%252BigBqVxKQywCAV1sQYgJEYgBZMGRkYkYudBAAZTBLMABjTlJ0AAJ8IjI8ADosgAUCSOQsgCFiVIBrZAAHGrAs2DwssoBbPChW-RbLYlQslga-WALteUUXd09vdF8A2hrYRCgcYjoMPgBfIA National Centers for Environmental Information July 10, 2026The citation is limited to 500 tornadoes between April 19–28, 2011. "nb" "TornadoCount" Climatological background Missouri state Missouri has a notable history when it comes to tornadoes, including historic and deadly tornadoes such as the 1925 Tri-State tornado and 2011 Joplin tornado.This tornado occurred exactly a month later, on May 22, 2011. "nb" "JoplinTornado" The state is situated in the Midwest next to Tornado Alley, a corridor located within the Great Plains of the United States where tornadoes are the most prevalent in the country.https://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/stalley.gif Significant Tornado Alley www.spc.noaa.govTornado Alley Smithsonian Institution http://www.si.edu/Content/SE/Educator%20Guides/Tornado_EdGuide_R5.pdf October 2, 2013 live https://web.archive.org/web/20131018054833/http://www.si.edu/Content/SE/Educator%20Guides/Tornado_EdGuide_R5.pdf October 18, 2013 Since 1950, more than 2,500 tornadoes were reported within state borders according to a St. Louis National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist, though some years vary by season. On average, Missouri experiences more than 30 tornadoes annually, with peak seasons from April to June and a smaller, secondary peak season at the end of the year. It is particularly in April and May where under 50% of the tornadoes take place, however, the most common tornadoes are weak (EF0–EF1) tornadoes.Per the National Weather Service and the Enhanced Fujita scale:A Study of the Chicago Areas Significant Tornadoes https://www.weather.gov/lot/sigchitorn 2026-10-25 National Weather Service in Chicago, Illinois EN-US EF0–EF1 tornadoes are weak EF2–EF3 tornadoes are strong EF4–EF5 tornadoes are violent "nb" "DefinitionWeakStrongViolent" These are then followed by strong (EF2–EF3) tornadoes, with violent (EF4–EF5) tornadoes being rare occurrences.Missouri Tornado Statistics & Extraordinary Events https://www.sccmo.org/833/Missouri-Tornado-Statistics-Extraordinar October 25, 2026 St. Charles County, Missouri enMissouri Disasters, 1785-Present - Tornadoes https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/mdh_splash/default.asp?coll=disasters_tornadoes October 25, 2026 Missouri Secretary of State enLynn Stacy Tornadoes by the numbers and intensities in Missouri https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/weather/2024/03/06/tornadoes-by-the-numbers-and-intensities-in-missouri October 25, 2026 Spectrum News enMissouri Tornadoes and Some Facts http://climate.missouri.edu/news/arc/apr2011.php October 25, 2026 Missouri Climate Center University of Missouri en St. Louis climatology St. Louis, Missouri is located along the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, and near the geographical center of the U.S. Its position in the mid-latitudes allows for warm, moist air that moves north from the Gulf of Mexico to enter the region, along with cold air masses that advect south from Canada. The result concludes in thunderstorm activity in the area, which occurs on average 40–50 days per year. During every season some of these thunderstorms become severe, capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. Tornadoes in the St. Louis region have been known to cause significant amounts of damage and claim many lives.https://www.weather.gov/lsx/cli_of_stl The Climatology of the St. Louis Area October 26, 2026 National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri en Tornadoes of St. Louis St. Louis tornado historyThe city of St. Louis and the metropolitan area have endured numerous significant tornadoes since recordkeeping began in 1950.Tornado recordkeeping in the United States was marked in 1950 with the National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) data base. Further documentation efforts took place in 1953, during the inclusion of U.S. Weather Bureau tornado watches.https://www.weather.gov/arx/torndocum Tornado Documentation October 26, 2026 National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wisconsin en "nb" "19501953NSFFC"Forbes Greg https://web.archive.org/web/20140430022508/http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/severe-weather/articles/tornadoes-by-month-saint-louis_2010-03-25 Tornadoes in St. Louis, Mo. (1950-2011) October 25, 2026 Weather Channel en Even before the age of recordkeeping, tornadoes were prevalent,https://www.weather.gov/lsx/stlouis_tor St. Louis County, MO October 26, 2026 National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri en as was the case with an extremely destructive and deadly tornado that destroyed the downtown area and Metro East region in May 1896, killing at least 255 people. This tornado became the one of the costliest tornadoes in U.S. history at the time.Brooks Harold E. Harold E. Brooks Charles A. Doswell III February 2001 Normalized Damage from Major Tornadoes in the United States: 1890–1999 https://zenodo.org/record/1234647 Weather Forecast. 16 1 168–76 2001WtFor..16..168B 10.1175/1520-0434(2001)016<0168:NDFMTI>2.0.CO;2 freeGrazulis Thomas P. Thomas P. Grazulis Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events July 1993 The Tornado Project of Environmental Films 1-879362-03-1 St. Johnsbury, VermontSt. Louis Public Library - The Great Cyclone of 1896 https://web.archive.org/web/20260715170914/https://tornados.slpl.org/ 2022-06-07 tornados.slpl.org In February 1959 and January 1967, St. Louis was ravaged by two damaging tornado outbreaks. In the 1959 outbreak, an F4 tornado killed 21 people, becoming the third deadliest in the region's history.O'Neil Tim 1959 tornado in St. Louis left 21 dead and 345 injured https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/1959-tornado-in-st-louis-left-21-dead-and-345-injured/article_d2951e28-8907-5747-9af8-5f18e397564c.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20200704144409/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/1959-tornado-in-st-louis-left-21-dead-and-345-injured/article_d2951e28-8907-5747-9af8-5f18e397564c.html 4 July 2020 20 July 2020 STLtoday.com enJournals Jim Merkel St Louis Suburban 1959: See images from the tornado that toppled the Channel 2 tower and ripped part of the roof off The Arena https://www.stltoday.com/news/archives/1959-see-images-from-the-tornado-that-toppled-the-channel-2-tower-and-ripped-part/article_fe66e4d5-3be8-5821-b25d-f50456d846ce.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20200720224058/https://www.stltoday.com/news/archives/1959-see-images-from-the-tornado-that-toppled-the-channel-2-tower-and-ripped-part/article_fe66e4d5-3be8-5821-b25d-f50456d846ce.html 20 July 2020 20 July 2020 STLtoday.com en In the 1967 event, the metro area was impacted again by an F4 tornado, causing $25 million in financial losses.Event Details for St. Louis County, Missouri (F4 Tornado) https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/10056801 National Centers for Environmental Information 1967 October 25, 2026The aforementioned damage totals are in 1967 United States dollars. "nb" "1967USD" In the 21st century, several tornadoes have occurred in St. Louis County and the central city.Shown below are regional event reports from the National Centers for Environmental Information. National Weather Service Event Details for St. Louis City, Missouri (All Tornadoes from January 1, 2000 – June 30, 2026) https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/search?d=N4IgzgLghhCmAyBLSIBcBtEBZZYD2ArgE6IgC6ANCAMaEB2EAnkihiAMKJMAEeAZtwDKEAHTd4hZOSqwAbrAYsIaTABU8ROlAAmeaSABGsAOaI6AERiw0IAEwAGRwFp7ARheuQMutstwbDrYAbC4hAMz2XiB4dKoAFsiWjGh8UAA2YLBURqYWVgD6yABq6YjaaBBEBFkgUCRQWLBgYFDG1qgggrBpsNRw2qjcnDz8QqLikmBiAApETWDcAEJQ1ADWYAAOK7DcEHjccwC2ePK7cTtpUJDcZhsEolEKvgXFpeWoldVUKxCI8qpQAxoVwAXyAA National Centers for Environmental Information October 25, 2026 National Weather Service Event Details for St. Louis County, Missouri (All Tornadoes from January 1, 2000 – June 30, 2026) https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/search?d=N4IgzgLghhCmAyBLSIBcBtEBZZYD2ArgE6IgC6ANCAMaEB2EAnkihiAMoQB0ABPIcnJVYAN1gMWENJgAqeInSgATPEJAAjWAHNEdACIxYaEACYADBYC0ZgIzWbIYXSUG4x8yYBs17wGYzjiB4dDIAFsgGjGgAZlAANmCwVJo6%252BoYA%252BsgAavGISmgQRARJIFAkUFiwYGBQWkaoHLBxsNRwSqg8nLz8BMi8AApEVWA8AEJQ1ADWYAAOE7A8EHg8QwC2eGKLoQtxUJA8ujME3IHiLhnZufmohcVUExCIYjJQ6mg2AL5AA National Centers for Environmental Information October 25, 2026 The 2025 season became one of the most impactful years for tornadoes in the area. In March of that year, a severe tornado outbreak took place, with one NWS meteorologist calling for a possible repeat of the 2011 St. Louis tornado. Two tornadoes occurred during that outbreak across Bridgeton and Chesterfield, Missouri, with one of them also striking the city's international airport.Lynn Stacy 2025 Year in Review: St. Louis' Weather Recap https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/weather/2025/12/31/2025-year-in-review--st--louis--weather-recap 2026-10-26 Spectrum News EN-US The most impactful tornado to strike St. Louis in 2025, was an extremely costly and lethal EF3 tornado in May. This tornado caused $1.6 billion in damages,The aforementioned damage totals are in 2025 United States dollars. "nb" "2025USD" and was the largest tornado to strike the city at a maximum width of 3168 yd mi km.2025-06-16 The May 16, 2025 St. Louis Tornado https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/df6a15ddfa5e44308750aa22ec175da7 2025-06-16 ArcGIS StoryMaps en-US https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSLSX&e=202505190006 NWS Damage Survey for 05/16/25 Tornado Event 18 May 2025 National Weather Service St. Louis, Missouri Iowa Environmental Mesonet May 24, 2025 May 19, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250519001631/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSLSX&e=202505190006 live Updated Damage Assessment for May 16, 2025 St. Louis Tornado https://www.weather.gov/lsx/STLTornado 2026-05-15 National Weather Service EN-US Meteorological synopsis Tornado outbreak of April 19–22, 2011#Meteorological synopsis section 1 this section needs simpler explanations and summaries October 2026 Episode narrative Thursday's forecasts On Thursday, April 21, 8:00 PM CDT (01:00 UTC), the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), the U.S. agency located in Norman, Oklahoma that is responsible for the country's weather forecasts, issued two slight risk areas of severe thunderstorm activity across the central United States for the 22nd: one region sat across west-central Texas and southwest Oklahoma, while the other was situated over the latter's northeastern corner, eastern Kansas, west-central Missouri and northwestern Arkansas. A large area of cyclonic flowCyclonic flow specifies to winds that flow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere towards a low-pressure area (low), such as a cyclone (hurricane). Cyclonically flowing winds in the Southern Hemisphere in opposition, move in a clockwise orientation toward the accompanying low.10 / 66 Bennington Val https://www.weather.gov/media/zhu/ZHU_Training_Page/Miscellaneous/cyclones_anticyclones/cyclones.pdf Cyclones and Anticyclones in the Mid-Latitudes weather.gov November 2008 22 October 2026 "nb" "ClarificationCyclonicFlow" interacted with two short-wave troughs over the Pacific Northwest. Strong perturbationSee definitions of 'perturbation' at The American Meteorological Society. "nb" traveled from eastern Washington and Oregon towards Idaho. A leading, southern trough was forecasted to move eastward across the central Rocky Mountains, eastern Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle.Storm Prediction Center Apr 22, 2011 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2011/day1otlk_20110422_0100.html National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 21, 2011 March 30, 2026 Day of the event The following day on Friday, April 22, at 1:00 AM CDT (06:00 UTC), the SPC issued a widespread slight risk area spanning from central Texas to western Ohio, alongside a large 2% tornado risk for most of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and northwestern Kentucky, as one of the two short-wave troughs was forecasted to weaken as it entered Wyoming from the northeast. Meanwhile the leading trough was expected to become even further perturbated, evolving into a 500-millibar low pressure area over northwestern South Dakota by 1:00 PM CDT (18:00 UTC) and accelerate to the east-northeast. Lee cyclogenesis over southeastern Colorado was forecasted to lift northeastwards along a strengthening front extending from southern Kansas to western Illinois, evolving into a triple point cyclone for the occluded surface low associated with the upper trough over South Dakota. Storm Prediction Center convective outlooks on April 22, 2011The "z" timestamp indicators refer to Zulu military time zones, named after the NATO phonetic alphabet. Zulu time zones are equal to Universal Coordinated Time. "nb" "Zulu" Day1otlk 20110422 2000 prt.gif Day 1 2000z categorical outlooks The first of severe weather outlooks issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. It shows a categorical risk for severe weather. Day1probotlk 20110422 2000 torn prt.gif Day 1 2000z tornado outlooks The second of severe weather outlooks issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. It shows a categorical risk for tornadoes. Day1probotlk 20110422 2000 hail prt.gif Day 1 2000z hail outlooks The second of severe weather outlooks issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. It shows a categorical risk for hail. Day1probotlk 20110422 2000 wind prt.gif Day 1 2000z wind outlooks The second of severe weather outlooks issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. It shows a categorical risk for wind. 4 825 center 125 125 125 125 At the same time, a cold front was forecasted to sweep eastwards across the Missouri/Illinois area, and as far east as Ohio, later stalling over northwest Texas to southeast Oklahoma as a secondary, weaker low developed. Advection and mixing was expected to force the dry line move to the east across west-central Texas and southern Oklahoma by day. The cold front was forecasted to overtake the dry line in south-central Oklahoma towards the surface low, where the triple point was expected to develop. As a result, multiple rounds of thunderstorms were expected to affect portions of this area to the Ohio River Valley, with 1,000–3,000 joules per kilogram of convective available potential energy from southern Missouri to the Indiana/Ohio border area.Storm Prediction Center Apr 22, 2011 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2011/day1otlk_20110422_1200.html National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 22, 2011 March 30, 2026 Event narrative thumb|Mesoscale discussion map showing potent wind shear levels in Missouri|alt=A storm-relative helicity (SRH) map with Missouri in the center, showing wind shear levels in the region before the main tornado event took place. At 3:00 PM CDT (20:00 UTC) on April 22, the SPC reported a cluster of storms which fired up earlier in the morning near St. Louis. This cluster in the area of moderately strong, elevated instability was associated with the warm advection near the nose of the low-level jet. Activity caused by the cluster maintained organization, as the storm cells moved eastward towards the Ohio Valley during the afternoon and evening. A retreating surface warm front over the region was expected to aid and focus the convection production. Damaging winds and hail were the main hazards,National Weather Service Apr 22, 2011 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2011/day1otlk_20110422_1630.html National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 22, 2011 March 30, 2026Storm Prediction Center Apr 22, 2011 2000 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2011/day1otlk_20110422_2000.html National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 22, 2011 March 30, 2026 however, a tornado watch was issued for most of central Missouri and western Illinois due to expectations that the low-level winds will help intensify the storms in the afternoon and evening.Storm Prediction Center Tornado Watch 179 https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2011/ww0179.html National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 22, 2011 October 25, 2026 Over two hours later at 5:21 PM CDT (22:21 UTC), the SPC issued a mesoscale discussion pertaining information about the atmospheric conditions across the tornado watch area. The environment remained favorable for the development of tornadic supercells, particularly in a region spanning from Jefferson City, Missouri towards St. Louis. Surface winds rotated to the east ahead of the low area and in the wake of earlier convection, where wind shear was more potent and 0-1 km mi storm relative helicity values that were in excess of 300 m²/s². Ongoing cells south of Columbia, Missouri at this time showed signs of strong rotation, with the trend increasing as the storms approached the region of greater low-level wind shear to their east. This heightened the threat for isolated strong tornadoes.Storm Prediction Center Mesoscale Discussion 520 https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/2011/md0520.html National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 22, 2011 October 25, 2026 2011 tornado summary Formation and peak intensity in Bridgeton thumb|EF3 damage inflicted to a home in Maryland Heights|alt=This photo shows a home in Maryland Heights, Missouri with most of its walls torn down.|200x200px|left The tornado touched down in northern Maryland Heights, Missouri, north of Creve Coeur Lake and east of the Missouri River along Creve Coeur Mill Road, at 7:59 PM CDT (00:59 UTC).US Department of Commerce NOAA St. Louis Good Friday Tornado https://www.weather.gov/lsx/04_22_2011 2023-10-19 www.weather.gov EN-US Damage was initially limited to EF0–EF1 level damage to trees along Creve Coeur Mill Road. The tornado began moving east, first reaching EF2 intensity near a golf clubhouse, where a flag pole and light were pushed over. The tornado briefly weakened to EF1 strength before reaching EF3 intensity along Jeannette Mary Drive, where most walls of a house collapsed. EF2 damage was also found in areas around the house, with EF1 damage in the northern part of the neighborhood along the edge of the track. Low-end EF2 damage persisted further east. After crossing Interstate 270, the tornado weakened to EF1 intensity as it impacted more homes on the other side of the highway. thumb|A house that was completely destroyed at EF4 intensity in Bridgeton|alt=A home in Bridgeton, Missouri was completely leveled.|200x200px As the tornado moved into Bridgeton, it reached EF4 intensity along the northern flank of Old St. Charles Road, with a home having all its walls collapsed from estimated wind speeds of 170 mph km/h. Several homes nearby suffered EF3 damage, and trees in the area were debarked and denuded. A condo in the area was also heavily damaged by the winds, with a large portion of the roof and decking torn off. The tornado then tracked over Beaverton Drive, where several newly constructed homes were destroyed at high-end EF3 strength. The tornado continued through residential areas before crossing Missouri State Route 180, where a large retail building had several walls collapse. The tornado then tracked over Fee Fee Road, with a power distribution facility on the western side of the street having several exterior walls severely damaged at low-end EF3 intensity.Damage Viewer (PROD) https://apps.dat.noaa.gov/StormDamage/DamageViewer/ 2023-10-19 NOAA2011-04-25 No deaths in St. Louis tornado called miracle on Good Friday https://www.newstribune.com/news/2011/apr/25/no-deaths-st-louis-tornado-called-miracle-good-fri/ 2023-10-19 News Tribune en Impact at St. Louis Lambert International Airport thumb|left|CCTV footage inside Concourse C recording the tornado's impact|alt=CCTV footage of tornadic winds blowing down terminal hallways and people scrambling for cover.The tornado weakened to a high-end EF1 as it crossed U.S. Route 67 and Interstate 70, damaging some houses in neighborhoods to the east.2023-04-23 12 Years Later: Remembering the St. Louis area's Good Friday tornado https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/12-years-later-remembering-the-st-louis-areas-good-friday-tornado/ 2023-10-19 FOX 2 en-US The tornado then abruptly strengthened to EF2 intensity, as it turned slightly north upon hitting the eastern section of St. Louis Lambert International Airport around 8:10 PM (01:10 UTC). The tornado struck the parking garage, damaging over 1,000 vehicles, before hitting Terminal 1 at Concourse C. Over half of the floor to ceiling arched windows in Concourse C were destroyed; roughly one-third of the roof was torn off when the tornado struck. Many windows at the airport were blown out, and signs were damaged as well. Vehicles outside were tossed by the tornado, including a van that was partially pushed over the edge of a parking garage. It struck the Concourse C and D security checkpoint and caused minimal damage. The tornado then traveled down the Concourse C corridor. Lambert International Airport released a surveillance video showing debris swirling inside the airport as people ran for cover.Held Kevin St. Louis Airport storm caught on camera KSDK April 23, 2011 http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/255902/3/Days-not-hours-until-Lambert-St-Louis-Airport-re-opens April 23, 2011 dead https://archive.today/20130103133405/http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/255902/3/Days-not-hours-until-Lambert-St-Louis-Airport-re-opens January 3, 2013 Garrett Ronnie Restoration & Renovation: Lambert Rebuilds After Suffering Direct Tornado Strike https://airportimprovement.com/article/restoration-renovation-lambert-rebuilds-after-suffering-direct-tornado-strike/ October 23, 2026 airportimprovement.com July 1, 2012 About one dozen HVAC units and several concession stands were destroyed. One plane belonging to Southwest Airlines was damaged when wind pushed a baggage conveyor belt into it. American Airlines stated that four of its planes were damaged. Two received significant damage, with one of one of them being struck by 80 mph km/h on crosswinds while taxiing in from a landing when the tornado hit.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/airlines-cancel-st-louis-flights-after-tornado/ Airlines cancel St. Louis flights after tornado April 23, 2011 April 24, 2011 CBS News https://web.archive.org/web/20110511214717/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/23/national/main20056752.shtml 11 May 2011 live Continuation in Missouri and crossing into Illinois The tornado continued at low-end EF2 intensity as it moved into Berkeley, Kinloch and Ferguson, where many homes suffered roof loss, along with Berkeley High School, which did not suffer much damage, however, tree and outbuilding damage was reported around the edges of the property. Homes on the western edge of Kinloch saw EF2 damage, while the Kinloch City Hall was narrowly missed. EF1 tree damage with occasional EF2 damage to structures continued through Kinloch and the eastern part of Berkeley. The tornado would move just to the north of the downtown area of Ferguson. A restaurant and church on Blackburn Avenue lost the majority of their roofing, and several windows broke at a church.2011-05-01 Tornado hits Ferguson, North St. Louis County, at 8 pm on Friday, April 22, 2011. https://mogasp.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/tornado-hits-ferguson-north-st-louis-county-at-8-pm-on-friday-april-22-2011/ 2023-10-19 Missouri Group Against Smoking Pollution en More low-end EF2 damage was reported to houses northeast of downtown Ferguson. The tornado weakened back to EF1 intensity further east, where light damage was reported at Griffith Elementary School. The tornado afterwards passed north of the primary areas of Dellwood, where houses and trees were damaged at EF1 intensity. Some areas of EF2 damage were reported east of Dellwood, including areas where large power poles snapped. The tornado then continued into the community of Bellefontaine Neighbors, where light to moderate roof damage was reported at several homes. Isolated low-end EF2 damage was found, but most of the damage was EF1–level in this area. Further east, trees and some homes suffered low-end EF1 damage. Light tree damaged occurred at North Riverfront Park before the tornado crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois. Low-end EF1 damage would occur in areas west of Nameoki Township, with the tornado narrowly missing an industrial park along Highway 3. The tornado reached EF2 intensity for the last time in areas north of Maryland Place and Pontoon Beach, before dissipating just to the north of Pontoon Road at 8:31 PM (01:31 UTC). Storm surveys thumb|A comparison between the paths set by the two 1967 and 2011 tornadoes|alt=A map of the St. Louis, Missouri metro which shows the comparison in 1967 and 2011 tornado paths.|200x200px The 2011 Good Friday EF4 tornado became the strongest tornado to effect the city and metro of St. Louis, Missouri in 44 years. The last violent tornado to affect the area was the F4 tornado that occurred on January 24, 1967. The city's National Weather Service's (NWS) forecasting office stated that the paths of the 2011 and 1967 tornadoes were very similar to one another. The April 22, 2011 storm was the first violent (EF4+) tornado to strike the state of Missouri since the EF4 tornado in 2008 that struck areas of Newton County.National Weather Service Event Details for all Counties in Missouri (F4/EF4 Tornadoes and stronger from January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2025) https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/search?d=N4IgzgLghhCmAyBLSIBcBtEBZZYD2ArgE6IgC6ANCLAG6wB2ESKGIAKnkfVACZ7lUARrADmiegBEYsNCABMABgUB2ALQKAjOo0gqDHlLizFcgKyqNc1QGYdVCJ3oAxRABs4RWQBZdIPPTYAC2QpAE80ADMoVzBYIVFxQ1gAfWQANWjEHjQIIgI4kCgSKCxYMDAoERlUEABlWFdYAGM4HlQAAgA5f1gAOl99JNSwDNcsnLyCqBbEOjYoQTQNAF8gA National Centers for Environmental Information July 9, 2026 The Good Friday tornado also was the second violent (EF4+) tornado by chronological order to occur during the 2011 season. The first one was an EF4 satellite tornado that took place in Pocahontas County, Iowa, 13 days earlier, on April 9.National Weather Service Event Details for all U.S. States and Areas (F4/EF4 Tornadoes and stronger from January 1 – December 31, 2011) https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/search?d=N4IgpgbmB2AuAyBLAzrEAuA2iAKgewCdoBDAEzxAF0AaEAIzAHNFoARY2MDEAJgAYAjAIC0g0QJC0Ypdp278hwgT2EBmCbViFoAMUQAbTgW4AWSSDzQcACxTsAnhgBmxfcjC0GzNhzAB9FAA1V0RSDFgCAFcPEGICRGIAWTBkZGJGLnQQAFFoUgACWTB8lHzlAHp1coUNcDyigORg-VDwqJjiAGNYRCgcYjoMPgBfIA National Centers for Environmental Information July 9, 2026thumb|Surveyors rated this destroyed retailer, west of the airport, as EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. Winds were assessed at 140 mph km/h on.|alt=Damage and cleanup at a destroyed power distribution center.|250x250px|left On Saturday, the day after the tornado, NWS surveyors from the regional weather forecasting office assessed the damage across portions of northern St. Louis. By 11:45 AM CDT (16:45 UTC) on April 23, one survey team out of four noted that there was at least EF3 damage found in parts of the northern suburbs....INITIAL DAMAGE SURVEY INDICATES AT LEAST EF3 DAMAGE IN NORTH ST LOUIS COUNTY... https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSLSX&e=201104231645 Iowa Environmental Mesonet National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri 23 April 2011 9 July 2026 enApril 22nd Tornadic Supercell Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area, National Weather Service, St. Louis, Missouri. (April 23, 2011).https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mo-tornadoes-destroy-homes-damage-airport/ Mo. tornadoes destroy homes, damage airport April 23, 2011 April 24, 2011 CBS News At around 2:00 PM CDT (19:00 UTC), damage surveyors from the NWS St. Louis, Missouri office reported EF2 damage near Pontoon Beach, along a 100 yd m on wide swath from Levee Road south of I-270....INITIAL DAMAGE SURVEY INDICATES EF2 TORNADO DAMAGE NEAR PONTOON BEACH ILLINOIS... https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSLSX&e=201104231902 Iowa Environmental Mesonet National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri 23 April 2011 9 July 2026 en It was not until 3:05 PM CDT (20:05 UTC) on April 23, that an NWS survey team discovered the first instances of EF4 damage in the Bridgeton area near Old St. Charles Rock Road and Harmann Estates. This was before other assessment teams were able to reach Lambert International Airport....SURVEY TEAM RATE DAMAGE IN BRIDGETON AS EF4... https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSLSX&e=201104232005 Iowa Environmental Mesonet National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri 23 April 2011 9 July 2026 en After 6:00 PM CDT (23:00 UTC), NWS teams descended on the international airport. During the assessments, it was concluded that the highest rated damage at the airport was of EF2 intensity. Almost 80% of the windows were compromised in the easternmost section of the impacted terminal. Concourse C had its roof torn off by the storm....SURVEY TEAM RATE DAMAGE AT LAMBERT ST. LOUIS INTL. AIRPORT AS EF2... https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSLSX&e=201104232315 Iowa Environmental Mesonet National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri 23 April 2011 9 July 2026 en On the early morning of Sunday, April 24, 2011, the NWS released a public information statement about the Good Friday tornado that tracked across St. Louis and Madison Counties, across both Missouri and Illinois. The EF4 tornado traveled for 22 mi km and had a width of 0.4 mi m....TORNADO SURVEY OF ST. LOUIS AND MADISON COUNTIES... https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSLSX&e=201104240508 Iowa Environmental Mesonet National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri 24 April 2011 9 July 2026 en Later in 2011, more adjustments were made. The finalized report by the National Centers for Environmental Information concluded that the tornado traveled a distance of 21.3 mi km, and was 880 yd mi m wide at its largest. The highest rated damage in Missouri was according to reports at EF4–level, while in Illinois it was EF2. Winds were assessed at 170 mph km/h based on the destruction of a house along Old St. Charles Road, in Bridgeton. Aftermath and regional impact Per the St. Louis Public Radio, in the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area, the American Red Cross (ARC) set up base right after the tornado on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 12:30 AM CDT (05:30 UTC). The ARC opened shelters at the Maryland Heights Community Center and McCluer High School in Florissant, Missouri. An ARC spokeswoman told the press that no emergency shelters, but remained ready to do so if needed. Ameren reported 43,000 customers losing power at 9:10 PM CDT (02:10 UTC) on Friday night. The Associated Press (AP) reported 2,400 homes lost power in the Metro East region in Illinois, and less than 50 homes remained de-energized the next day. The Madison County Sheriff told AP that more than 100 houses in the area were damaged, though no injuries were reported.Rachel Lippmann https://www.stlpr.org/2011-04-22/clean-up-efforts-continue-following-weekend-storms Clean-up efforts continue following weekend storms April 22, 2011 July 9, 2026 St. Louis Public Radiothumb|200x200px|Many homes were damaged by the storm, including this one shown here in Bridgeton According to the local NWS office and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the tornado damaged approximately 2,700 structures across the St. Louis metro. These were made up of hundreds of buildings, in which 251 homes which were heavily damaged or destroyed, and 137 commercial buildings suffered large damage or total destruction. These losses were upwards into the $250 million range.http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_bf4b773d-1dd7-5a35-94b4-322d7542eb68.html Tornado confirmed; 2,700 buildings in St. Louis County with serious damage Staff reports 23 April 2011 St. Louis Post-Dispatch subscription July 9, 2026 The aforementioned damage totals are in 2011 United States dollars. "nb" "2011USD" thumb|Windows boarded up at St. Louis's airport after the tornado|alt=Windows are covered with boarding at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.|left|200x200px Airport St. Louis Lambert International Airport was heavily impacted by the tornado on Good Friday, with the storm inflicting in between $25–30 million in damages and more than $10 million at the nearby Missouri Air National Guard base.Bill Phelan April 29, 2011 Tornado damage to Lambert Air National Guard base tops $10 million https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article/601657/tornado-damage-to-lambert-air-national-guard-base-tops-10-million/ live October 27, 2026 U.S. National GuardThe aforementioned damage totals are in 2011 United States dollars. "nb" "2011USD" Lambert International Airport was closed for 24 hours by the Federal Aviation Administration following the tornado. Marilee McInnis, a spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines (the largest carrier at Lambert International Airport) stated the airline canceled flights out of the airport through 4:00 PM (21:00 UTC) on April 23. Prior to the tornado, Southwest Airlines used to have approximately 85 daily flights at the regional hub. American Airlines, which operated heavily out of the main terminal, reported that four airplanes from their fleet were damaged, including two that received significant damage.Salter, Jim Suhr, Jim April 23, 2011 Mo. governor surveys tornado-ravaged St. Louis, calls lack of deaths 'divine intervention' http://www.newser.com/article/d9mpprkg1/mo-governor-surveys-tornado-ravaged-st-louis-calls-lack-of-deaths-divine-intervention.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110426070031/http://www.newser.com/article/d9mpprkg1/mo-governor-surveys-tornado-ravaged-st-louis-calls-lack-of-deaths-divine-intervention.html April 26, 2011 April 24, 2011 The tornado struck the Concourse C when officials were 20% completed with an airport improvement project. The main terminal's domed structure, designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki, was also damaged during the storm.https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2011/04/23/tornado-damages-st-louis-airport/29012499007/ Tornado damages St. Louis airport Associated Press 23 April 2011 Sarasota Herald-Tribune October 26, 2026 Five people within the airport were hospitalized after being struck with flying debris. Hundreds of passengers experienced delayed flights, and a dozen passengers in the terminal impacted by the tornado were given pillows and blankets. All of them had left by the following Saturday morning. Despite the tornado impacting the airport, the situation could have been worse had the tornado not occurred during the night, which is a less busier period, according the Lambert International Airport director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge. Recovery process State and federal response In the later hours of April 22, then Missouri state governor Jay Nixon issued a state of emergency for the region, allowing Missouri state agencies to assist local jurisdictions that were affected by the tornado.https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/devastating-missouri-storms/19/ Devastating Missouri storms April 23, 2011 July 9, 2026 CBS News On April 27, representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) arrived in St. Louis to assess the damage. FEMA teams collected information on a diverse scale of factors. This included the number of displaced residents, effects on the local economy, and how much property was uninsured.https://www.stlpr.org/2011-04-27/fema-teams-in-st-louis-to-assess-damage-from-tornadoes FEMA teams in St. Louis to assess damage from tornadoes April 27, 2011 July 9, 2026 St. Louis Public Radio Two days later on April 29, then U.S. secretary of homeland security Janet Napolitano traveled to St. Louis to tour the damage at Lambert International Airport, joining up with FEMA and the Transportation Security Administration.https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2011/04/29/secretary-napolitano-tours-storm-damage-st-louis Secretary Napolitano Tours Storm Damage in St. Louis April 29, 2011 October 25, 2026 The Barack Obama White House Archives In early-May of 2011, former U.S. president Barack Obama declared that the state of Missouri was a disaster area, following tornadoes, severe weather and flooding events that began on April 19. FEMA granted individuals across Butler, Mississippi, New Madrid, St. Louis, and Taney Counties access to assistance and federal funding on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures. This included temporary housing and home repairs.https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/10/president-obama-signs-missouri-disaster-declaration President Obama Signs Missouri Disaster Declaration May 10, 2011 July 9, 2026 The Barack Obama White House Archives Rebuilding and legacy St. Louis efforts Ameren reported 7,200 of its Missouri customers had no power on April 25. This figure was less than one-half of one percent of the company's 1.2 million customers. The company promised that "nearly all of the Ameren Missouri customers without power due to Friday's storm will have power restored by the end of today." Ameren reported the company restored power to all customers by April 26. Recovery in St. Louis, Missouri was rapid. Cleanup "swung into full gear" by the following Saturday. Homeowners sifted through the wreckages of their homes, while others brought repair kits, such as chainsaws and hammers, to begin rebuilding damaged houses. One Bridgeton resident compared the aftermath like something out of a movie. Governor Nixon called it a "little bit of divine intervention" while he flew over the recovering areas to survey the damage.Associated Press https://www.mercurynews.com/2011/04/23/tornado-cleanup-starts-quickly-in-st-louis-area/ Tornado cleanup starts quickly in St. Louis area April 23, 2011 July 9, 2026 The Mercury News More than 10 years after the Good Friday tornado of 2011, the most heavily affected homes in neighborhoods such as Bridgeton were fully rebuilt. The early warning issued by the National Weather Service and media outlets, and the fact there were no fatalities and minor injuries, continued to be notable remarks for the recovered communities.https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/impact-of-good-friday-tornado-reverberates-10-years-later-in-st-louis-county/article_68d0e101-3eb5-528e-ab49-dacd3d0c6947.html Impact of Good Friday tornado reverberates 10 years later in St. Louis County Rachel Rice Josh Renaud 22 April 2021 July 9, 2026 St. Louis Post-Dispatch subscriptionApril 21, 2022 KSDK Vintage KSDK: 11 years ago, the Good Friday tornado tore through St. Louis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYv4s9atFzY July 9, 2026 YouTube enhttps://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/weather/2025/04/22/14-years-since-good-friday-stl-tornado-outbreak 14 years since Good Friday tornado outbreak Stacy Lynn 22 April 2025 July 9, 2026 Spectrum News Lambert International Airport thumb|right|Before photo of the main terminal, taken in 2009|alt=This photo from 2009 shows how the main terminal looked like before the 2011 tornado. Projects began the day after the tornado, on April 23, 2011. Approximately 1,000 workers were deployed to St. Louis Lambert International Airport to help with recovery efforts. The work crew boarded up windows, fixed the roofs the tornado damaged and cleared debris away. Terminal 1 remained closed at this time, while the airport was expected to operate at 70% capacity. Flights resumed that day as well for the airport, according to the airport spokesman Jeff Lea to Reuters. Airport staff spent that day board up windows, patching roof holes and removing debris. Broken glass was being cleared out at terminal 1, where concourse C was located. An airport spokesman mentioned that, "It isn't going to be a pretty terminal but it will be a functioning terminal."https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna42736875 Departures resume at Mo. airport hit by tornado April 24, 2011 July 9, 2026 NBC News Airlines and concessions relocated operations to concourses B and D. Concourse C fully reopened on April 2, 2012. Within 48 hours of the event on April 24, engineers from the Thornton Tomasetti consulting firm arrived to the hub to conduct a comprehensive damage assessment. The engineers helped assess the structural integrity of the airport through multiple teams. Due to the diverse nature of the damage the tornado inflicted, the firm used their mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, architectural and structural engineering teams to work on the reconstruction of Lambert International Airport. In the spring of 2012, the airport was fully operational again.https://www.thorntontomasetti.com/project/airport-tornado-recovery Airport Tornado Recovery July 9, 2026 Thornton TomasettiLeiser Ken Lambert Opens Refurbished C Concourse After Twister https://www.stltoday.com/travel/lambert-opens-refurbished-c-concourse-after-twister/article_8a5f5baa-7cd3-11e1-8923-0019bb30f31a.html live subscription https://web.archive.org/web/20120706123907/http://www.stltoday.com/travel/lambert-opens-refurbished-c-concourse-after-twister/article_8a5f5baa-7cd3-11e1-8923-0019bb30f31a.html July 6, 2012 July 1, 2012 St. Louis Post Dispatch The floor to ceiling window arches were replaced with laminated glass to conform to new building standards.Lambert-St. Louis International – Tornado Recovery https://kwamebuildinggroup.com/portfolio-item/lambert-st-louis-international-tornado-recovery/ October 23, 2026 kwamebuildinggroup.com U.S. congressman Lacy Clay revisited the airport at this time, commending the recovery process the last time he arrived over just after the tornado in 2011.https://www.stlpr.org/2012-04-20/a-year-after-good-friday-tornado-lambert-airport-shows-few-scars A year after Good Friday tornado, Lambert Airport shows few scars April 20, 2012 July 9, 2026 St. Louis Public Radio left|thumb|Terminal 1 departures hall in 2017 after renovation|alt=Renovation photo taken in 2017 inside of the Terminal 1 building, showing the process after the tornado.In February 2012, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a report on the poor response and failure of tornado safety preparations by the airport. The NOAA report stated that "preparedness activities and action plan procedures for the Lambert St. Louis International Airport were minimal and in-effective for this event." The NOAA also mentioned that not only was there a lack of warning issued by airport authorities, but also that there were no alerts from airlines about the threat of the tornado. Lambert International Airport's operations center was completely unaware of the tornado, despite the National Weather Service having warned a confirmed, damaging tornado 34 minutes earlier. Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, the airport director, did not agree with the critique handed out by the NOAA, finding the report "extreme" after hearing that the airport was "in-effective" in its measures. Hamm-Niebruegge defended her staff by stating the tornado came up rapidly with ample time to react, however she did acknowledge that the operations center failed to make an announcement to the passengers over the public address system.Chris Higgins https://fox2now.com/news/terror-in-the-terminal-lambert-airports-response-during-the-good-friday-tornado/ Terror In The Terminal: Lambert Airport’s Response During The Good Friday Tornado February 2, 2012 July 9, 2026 KTVI By April 2021 and the current day, more than a decade after the Good Friday tornado, St. Louis Lambert International Airport has built up to become the first official "storm ready" international airport in the United States. A new second, underground operations center was constructed for severe weather events. Weather radios were installed, and airport personnel received new forms of training in case of another similar disaster in the future.Monica Ryan https://fox2now.com/news/today-marks-10-years-since-good-friday-tornado-that-ripped-through-lambert-airport/ Today marks 10 years since Good Friday tornado that ripped through Lambert Airport April 22, 2021 July 9, 2026 KTVIMegan Mueller https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/marking-15-years-since-good-130802852.html Marking 15 years since the Good Friday tornado in St. Louis April 22, 2026 July 9, 2026 KTVI Yahoo In popular media Storm Chasers thumb|right|The Tornado Intercept Vehicle 2 (TIV 2) shown on display in July 2011|alt=The TIV 2, an armored storm intercept vehicle, is shown on display to the public. The Good Friday tornado was featured on October 2, 2011 on the second episode of the fifth season on the Discovery Channel documentary reality television series, Storm Chasers. In the episode, titled Storms Over St. Louis, storm chaser Reed Timmer and Team Dominator completely lost momentum ever since the start of the 2011 season. On the day where the St. Louis tornado took place, the chasers made several major mistakes, leading them to be wrongly positioned and away from their target, resulting in arguments between the members. Meanwhile, Timmer's main rival, Sean Casey, had just completed an IMAX film that was finished after a decade in the making. Casey used his TIV 2 interceptor vehicle to film a 3D-sequel, but he at first needed the right storm to begin with for this project. Tim Samaras and the TWISTEX crew attempted to place a probe in the path of the storm, and in the tornado's wake. They, however, ended up getting to close to the circulation for their instrument deployment.https://go.discovery.com/video/storm-chasers-discovery/storms-over-st-louis Storm Chasers - S5 E2 Storms Over St. Louis October 2, 2011 October 24, 2026 Discovery GO https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oR8Yxa0xv8rDXC-VbxCm31y128TXlbdpseKb3Fzxaxc/edit?usp=sharing Storm Chasers (Main page) October 2, 2011 Discovery GO October 25, 2026 Google Document Witness: Tornado Swarm 2011 The St. Louis EF4 tornado also was aired on the National Geographic documentary film Witness: Tornado Swarm 2011, produced by Siskel/Jacobs Productions. The film showcases raw footage of the events and aftermaths of April 2011's destructive tornado season, captured by both professional and amateur videographers who were at the scene of these events. In one segment of the documentary, focusing on the April 22 tornado, numerous videos were taken at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. These videos mainly came from passengers who were stranded at the airport, unaware of the approaching storm. They then eventually videotaped the tornado's impact while continuing to record the destruction, and later the outcome.https://www.siskeljacobs.com/productions/tv-film/witness-tornado-swarm-2011/ Witness: Tornado Swarm 2011 May 29, 2011 October 24, 2026 Siskel/Jacobs Productions See also Weather of 2011 List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks Tornado intensity List of F4, EF4, and IF4 tornadoes List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes (2010–2019) 2009 Murfreesboro tornado – A deadly EF4 tornado that struck the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, which also took place on Good Friday 2011 Joplin tornado – A far more destructive and violent EF5 tornado that occurred exactly a month after in Joplin, Missouri, becoming the second violent tornado in the state in 2011 and the costliest tornado in recorded history 2019 Linwood tornado – Another violent and rainwrapped EF4 tornado that struck the western Kansas City metropolitan area across parts of Kansas 2025 St. Louis tornado – A deadly and extremely costly EF3 tornado that impacted the downtown area and suburbs of St. Louis References Notes nb Citations 30em External links Tornadoes damage hundreds of Missouri homes, force closure of airport April 2011 NOAA information, with map of the tornado's track across St. Louis Security video of the airport's light rail platform during the storm Security video of the airport's heavily damaged C Concourse during the storm Eyewitness video shot inside the airport during the storm Local newspaper's video of damage inside the C Concourse, shot the following day Despite warning, St. Louis tornado caught airport, passengers off guard In St. Louis, pilot was unaware of approaching tornado Browning Wes Tornadoes in the St. Louis Area...A Historical Perspective Gateway Observer 2 2 5–7 National Weather Service St. Louis, Missouri 2011 http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/lsx/coop_newsletter/Winter2011_2012.pdf 2011-12-27 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120302024530/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/lsx/coop_newsletter/Winter2011_2012.pdf 2012-03-02 Looking back: the Good Friday tornado of 2011 38.7154986 -90.4937859 dms title Category:F4, EF4 and IF4 tornadoes Category:Tornadoes in Missouri Category:Tornadoes in Illinois 04-22 Tornado, 2011-04-22, St. Louis St. Louis tornado