A powerful cold front moved rapidly southeast across southeast Missouri during the late afternoon hours. The temperature dropped 38 degrees between 4 and 8 P.M. in Cape Girardeau. An organized line of severe thunderstorms developed along the front as it crossed southeast Missouri. Widespread damaging winds accompanied the line of storms by the time they reached the Mississippi River.

Hail in BOLLINGER, MISSOURI
From 29-JAN-08 15:44:00 to 29-JAN-08 15:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUTESVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Penny size hail was covering the ground.

Tornado in CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
From 29-JAN-08 16:09:00 to 29-JAN-08 16:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: ORIOLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down along Highway 177, where a hay barn was destroyed and one storage building sustained major damage. One house was damaged when it was struck by large portions of the hay barn. Another house sustained extensive shingle damage. Utility poles were snapped. A large 5000 gallon steel fuel tank converted for use as a culvert was moved. Witnesses within a few miles of the tornado reported a funnel cloud. Due to the hilly and wooded nature of the terrain, the observers may not have seen contact with the ground. The tornado crossed the Trail of Tears State Park, where numerous large trees were snapped or uprooted. Many of these trees were oak trees that were not in leaf during this mid-winter tornado. The downed trees in the park blocked in a couple of hikers. The average path width was about 150 yards. Peak winds were estimated near 95 mph. The tornado proceeded across the Mississippi River into Union County, Illinois.

Hail in CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
From 29-JAN-08 15:59:00 to 29-JAN-08 16:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEEMON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
From 29-JAN-08 15:48:00 to 29-JAN-08 15:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAK RIDGE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Shingles were blown off of a home.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
From 29-JAN-08 15:50:00 to 29-JAN-08 15:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: DUTCHTOWN
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Just east of Dutchtown on Highway 74, a 40 by 60 foot pole barn was flattened. A few nearby houses lost numerous shingles. Other barns and sheds in the area lost sections of roofing. A few trees were uprooted, and fences were damaged. The large door of a new machine shed was blown in. Peak winds were estimated near 80 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in PERRY, MISSOURI
From 29-JAN-08 16:20:00 to 29-JAN-08 16:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTENBURG
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A large open-front machine shed was destroyed. Trees were topped off.

Hail in CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
From 29-JAN-08 16:06:00 to 29-JAN-08 16:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAPE GIRARDEAU
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in NEW MADRID, MISSOURI
From 29-JAN-08 16:10:00 to 29-JAN-08 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: MATTHEWS
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Several power poles were snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, MISSOURI
From 29-JAN-08 16:05:00 to 29-JAN-08 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: MINER
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An abandoned mobile home was blown into trees off U.S. Highway 61 near Morley. At least four semis and three recreational vehicles were blown over on Interstate 55 between the Cape Girardeau County line and Interstate 57. The driver of an overturned semi was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. Interstate 55 was closed both north and southbound from mile markers 40 to 80.

Thunderstorm Wind in MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI
From 29-JAN-08 16:17:00 to 29-JAN-08 16:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALFALFA CENTER
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A couple of metal buildings were blown across fields. Approximately 20 telephone poles were snapped off.