A pre-frontal line of thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front over western Missouri. The broken line of storms extended southwestward across southeast Missouri. Isolated bowing segments and supercells were embedded within portions of the line. The storms existed within a narrow axis of marginal instability with mixed layer capes at or below 500 j/kg. A low level jet axis along the Mississippi River provided more than sufficient vertical wind shear for embedded supercells with isolated tornadoes.

Funnel Cloud in MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI
From 31-DEC-10 16:25:00 to 31-DEC-10 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: BERTRAND
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported a rotating funnel cloud.

Tornado in CARTER, MISSOURI
From 31-DEC-10 13:24:00 to 31-DEC-10 13:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHILTON
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down near County Road 223, where a tin roof was peeled up on a small outbuilding. A gate and fence were blown about 50 feet. The tornado reached its maximum width and its peak intensity as it crossed County Road 225. This is where a permanent home suffered partial wall and roof loss, a mobile home was blown 15 feet off its foundation, and over one hundred trees were uprooted.   The residents of the mobile home took refuge in the laundry room, which was the only room not destroyed. Residents of both homes were provided food and shelter by the Red Cross. A large oak tree fell on a vehicle, causing major damage to the vehicle. Two other vehicles were damaged by debris. A shed and outbuildings were destroyed. A bicycle was blown up into a tree. A twin-pole high voltage transmission tower was partially blown over. The tornado crossed U.S. Highway 60, then struck a sawmill on Highway FF. The 40-by-100 foot sawmill was destroyed. None of the eight workers in the sawmill were injured, possibly because they jumped into a sawdust pit. A home near the sawmill lost part of its roof (less than 20 percent), and dozens of large trees were uprooted. As the tornado crossed County Road 327, a few more trees were blown down. Part of a metal roof from a small barn was blown into a tree. Due to damage to the high-voltage transmission lines, over 1,500 customers from Van Buren to Ellsinore were without power for up to four hours. A National Weather Service damage survey confirmed a convergent signature to the debris pattern. A person in the area reported witnessing the tornado. Peak winds in this tornado were estimated near 120 mph.

Tornado in BUTLER, MISSOURI
From 31-DEC-10 14:25:00 to 31-DEC-10 14:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: STRINGTOWN
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado briefly touched down in the vicinity of a residence along County Road 421. About one-third of the roof of the well-built residence was removed, landing about 1,000 feet away in a field. Seven people were in the residence at the time. They were not in the basement, but nobody was injured. Other damage consisted of several uprooted and snapped trees, shingles off a small shed, a damaged antenna tower, and damaged fences. A National Weather Service damage survey indicated a convergent orientation to the debris. Peak winds in this tornado were estimated around 120 mph. The average path width was 50 yards.