A strong upper level trough across the central plains region and a strong upper level disturbance along with a frontal boundary in the area produced numerous severe storms with a few supercells across southeast Kansas. One cyclic supercell associated with the system produced a very large and deadly EF-5 tornado that hit the city of Joplin and then spawned two separate tornadoes that moved across southwestern Missouri. A separate tornadic supercell produced an EF-3 tornado that moved into McDonald County from Northeastern Oklahoma.
Continuing thunderstorms lasted into May 23 as another line of thunderstorms moved across the region. This line of storms produced reports of large hail, damaging winds and a weak EF-0 tornado in south central Missouri. As the storms moved over the Joplin area, two police officers were struck by lightning while aiding in the post tornado efforts. One of the two officers later died of injuries from the lightning strike.

Thunderstorm Wind in STONE, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 18:20:00 to 22-MAY-11 18:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRANE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees were blown down on Highway 413 west of Crane.

Thunderstorm Wind in WEBSTER, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 18:55:00 to 22-MAY-11 18:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLMAN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Numerous trees were blown down about 10 miles north of Rogersville and 6805 Highway KK.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOWELL, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 22:18:00 to 22-MAY-11 22:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: POTTERSVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were uprooted near Pottersville.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOWELL, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 20:30:00 to 22-MAY-11 20:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: POTTERSVILLE
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees blown down on a home and cars near Highway AD and County Road 6420.

Thunderstorm Wind in MILLER, MISSOURI
From 23-MAY-11 09:43:00 to 23-MAY-11 09:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELDON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A large tree was reported down in Eldon.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHELPS, MISSOURI
From 23-MAY-11 09:55:00 to 23-MAY-11 09:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOOLITTLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down across State Route E just north of the Route E and Route A intersection.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOWELL, MISSOURI
From 23-MAY-11 12:41:00 to 23-MAY-11 12:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOODY
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A metal carport was blown onto the road.

Thunderstorm Wind in VERNON, MISSOURI
From 23-MAY-11 07:56:00 to 23-MAY-11 07:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONTEVALLO
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Sixty to seventy mph wind gust were reported by spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind in HICKORY, MISSOURI
From 23-MAY-11 08:35:00 to 23-MAY-11 08:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: POMME DE TERRE RES
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Law enforcement estimated 60 mph wind gust.

Tornado in HOWELL, MISSOURI
From 23-MAY-11 12:45:00 to 23-MAY-11 12:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOODY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-0 tornado touched down 4 miles east northeast of Moody. Large limbs were broken and one home had minor roof damage. An unsecured carport was thrown 150 yards through the air. One small tree was uprooted.

Hail in MORGAN, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 16:30:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAVOIS MILLS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in JASPER, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 16:34:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOPLIN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in JASPER, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 16:38:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEBB CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tornado in LAWRENCE, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 17:25:00 to 22-MAY-11 17:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: PIERCE CITY
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This is the continuation of the National Weather Service storm survey of the EF-2 tornado touched down five miles east northeast of Diamond, Missouri. After the tornado crossed into Lawrence County it remained on the ground for approximately seven miles of its 17 mile long track and lifted approximately three miles north of Monett. The maximum wind speeds were estimated at 120 miles per hour. The tornado damage path had a maximum width of one half mile. There were numerous trees uprooted, one mobile home was destroyed, half of a machine shop building was destroyed several outbuildings were destroyed and several homes had significant roof damage. One home had a garage door collapse along with siding damage and a separate garage had collapsed walls.

Hail in LAWRENCE, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 18:14:00 to 22-MAY-11 18:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARIONVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in STONE, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 18:30:00 to 22-MAY-11 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BROWNS SPG
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in MCDONALD, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 19:20:00 to 22-MAY-11 19:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: NOEL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tornado in MCDONALD, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 18:26:00 to 22-MAY-11 18:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTH WEST CITY
Tornado F-scale: EF3
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A storm survey concluded that an EF-3 tornado crossed into McDonald County from adjacent Delaware County, Oklahoma. The tornado crossed Stateline Road 2.8 miles north of Southwest City, Missouri at 7:26 pm and destroyed a single family resident and vehicles near the residence. The vehicles rolled up to 200 yards away from the house.  Several trees were uprooted along the path of the tornado as it tracked southeast towards chicken houses near the intersection of Highway 43 and Farm Road 4385. The tornado lifted right before reaching Highway 43 about 2.2 miles north northeast of Southwest City. Maximum wind speeds were estimated between 150 and 160 mph. The maximum width of the path was estimated at a quarter of a mile wide.

Hail in MCDONALD, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 19:25:00 to 22-MAY-11 19:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: NOEL
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in MCDONALD, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 19:47:00 to 22-MAY-11 19:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: PACK
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Emergency management reported golf ball size hail on Highway 43 about 3 miles north of Southwest City.

Tornado in STONE, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 18:10:00 to 22-MAY-11 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELSEY
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tornado damage was first indicated on Cave Springs Road where trees were snapped and twisted.  EF-0 damage was indicated at this point. The tornado then traveled east, partially damaging a mobile home and destroying another mobile home on Highway AA, near the intersection with Camp Clark Hill Road.  Damage at this location was rated EF-1.  Several turkey barns were then damaged along Horse Creek Road with EF-2 damaged noted.  EF-0 damage to trees and a roof were noted along Johnson Rowe Road.  EF-1 damage occurred along Bass Hollow Road where damage to a house and outbuildings occurred.  This tornado continued into Taney County with maximum wind speeds estimated up to 120 mph at its peak and a maximum path width of 200 yards.

Hail in JASPER, MISSOURI
From 23-MAY-11 07:48:00 to 23-MAY-11 07:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: (JLN)JOPLIN MUNI ARP
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in PHELPS, MISSOURI
From 23-MAY-11 10:22:00 to 23-MAY-11 10:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST JAMES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Dime to quarter sized hail was reported near State Route B and the intersection of County Road 1060.

Lightning in JASPER, MISSOURI
From 23-MAY-11 17:21:00 to 23-MAY-11 17:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOPLIN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Emergency management officials relayed to the NWS that two law enforcement officers were struck by lightning while aiding in the recovery efforts from the EF-5 tornado in Joplin.  Both officers were injured and taken to the hospital. One of the officers later died on June 2nd at the hospital from injuries he suffered from the lightning strike.

Tornado in TANEY, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 18:30:00 to 22-MAY-11 18:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: DAY
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This is the continuation of the tornado that touched down in Stone County. The damage path continued across northeastern Taney County north of Reno Springs Road to just east of Highway 65 south of the community of Saddle Brooke. EF-1 damage was indicated to trees, outbuildings and a tower along its path in Taney County.

Tornado in NEWTON, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 16:34:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: REDINGS MILL
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This is the beginning of the EF-5 tornado that impacted a large portion of the city of Joplin.
This tornado started in the very extreme northern portions of Newton County initially touching down one half mile southwest of the intersection of JJ Highway and Newton Road in Newton County. Several large trees were toppled before the tornado crossed into Jasper County and portions of south Joplin.

Tornado in JASPER, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 16:40:00 to 22-MAY-11 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CENTRAL CITY
Tornado F-scale: EF5
Property damage: 2.80B
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

National Weather Service survey teams rated the tornado that tracked across the southwest through east central portion of Joplin, Missouri, as an EF5 tornado.  Maximum winds were estimated to have exceeded 200 miles per hour. The tornado had a maximum width of one mile and an overall path length of nearly 21.6 miles, nearly nine miles of which occurred in Jasper County.
The tornado killed 158 directly, three indirectly, and injured over 1150 people.  Sadly, on May 24 a police officer who was volunteering from another department, was struck by lightning while serving in the response efforts and later died.  Equally, a 56 year old man who had been included as a direct fatality was later determined to have died of a heart attack.  Over 10,200 people filed for disaster assistance following the tornado.
The EF-5 rating (greater than 200 mph wind speeds) was mainly arrived at by the total destruction of vehicles, including some vehicles tossed several blocks and semi trucks thrown a quarter of a mile. Parking stops weighing over 300 pounds and re-barred into asphalt were uprooted and tossed.  Other factors in the rating included damage to reinforced concrete structures, and that St. John���s Hospital building structure was compromised.
Seven thousand homes were severely damaged or destroyed and another 900 damaged.  Other substantial buildings damaged or destroyed included the Joplin High School and Technical Center along with five other city schools.  Numerous retailers including Home Depot, Sports Academy, Dillons, and Walmart were also destroyed.  The most substantial building impacted was St John's hospital which will be razed due to the tornado.  It was calculated that 2 million cubic yards of debris is attributable to the storm across its relatively short length on the ground.
The tornado initially touched down one half mile southwest of the intersection of JJ Highway and Newton Road in Newton County where several large trees were toppled.
The tornado rapidly intensified as it moved toward the intersection of Country Club Drive and 32nd Street where it crossed into Jasper County. Damage became more widespread as the tornado crossed Maiden Lane, breaking nearly all windows on three sides of St. Johns Hospital as well as damage to the roof and exterior walls on several floors.  Two patients on oxygen were indirectly suffocated when the generator and a backup generator were damaged after power was cut off.  Three additional patients may have succumbed similarly though sufficient data as to the cause of death was not available.  An additional indirect fatality occurred due to psychological trauma.
The tornado further intensified as it destroyed homes and businesses to the immediate east and north of the hospital. A church school was completely destroyed with the exception of a portion of the sanctuary.  Significant damage to the Greenbriar Nursing Home resulted in the death of 20 mostly elderly patients.
The tornado continued to destroy hundreds of frame homes between 32nd and 20th Streets, leading to nearly a fifth of the deaths. Three story apartment complexes had the top two floors removed; other two story complexes were partially leveled. Fourteen deaths occurred in apartments along the track.  Eleven additional deaths occurred in churches along this path.  There were two fatalities in a mobile home (Joplin has a city ordinance prohibiting mobile home parks).
Well built structures that were heavily damaged or destroyed along this area included the Joplin High School, Franklin Technical Center and Irving Elementary, all of which were free of students due to the weekend.  The tornado also damaged three additional elementary schools.  A bank was totally destroyed with the exception of the vault. A large grocery store was also destroyed.
The tornado crossed Rangeline Road near 20th Street. Damage included significant to complete damage to several restaurants and large long-span retail buildings; including Home Depot, Sports Academy and Walmart in this area.  Twenty deaths occurred indoors or in the parking lots of these structures.  Semi trucks on the back side of Walmart were thrown more than a quarter mile.
The tornado continued to move eastward along and south of 20th Street destroying numerous warehouse style facilities, a portion of Joplin East Middle School, and residences through Duquesne Road.
The tornado continued destroying numerous homes as it began weakening. It turned southeast toward Interstate 44 where it threw several semi trucks as it crossed the interstate and moved into Newton County at 32nd Street just west of Kodiak Road.

Tornado in NEWTON, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 17:00:00 to 22-MAY-11 17:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAGINAW
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This is the continued path of the devastating EF-5 tornado that hit the city of Joplin.
The tornado crossed back into northern Newton County while slowly weakening to an EF-2. As the tornado weakened it damaged several structures including a warehouse, several homes and outbuildings. Significant tree damage was also noted.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAMDEN, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 15:29:00 to 22-MAY-11 15:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: MACKS CREEK
Magnitude: 65.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm spotter measured a 75 mph wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in JASPER, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 16:46:00 to 22-MAY-11 16:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOPLIN
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported a measured wind gust of 60 mph at 7th and Florida street.

Tornado in NEWTON, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 17:10:00 to 22-MAY-11 17:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEPSIN
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 700.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The National Weather Service storm survey team determined that an EF-2 tornado touched down 5 miles east northeast of Diamond, Missouri.  It remained on the ground for approximately 17 miles, seven of which was in Newton County before it crossed into Lawrence County. The maximum wind speeds were estimated at 120 miles per hour. The tornado damage path had a maximum width of one half mile. There were numerous trees uprooted, three mobile homes suffered considerable damage or were destroyed west of Wentworth. Numerous power poles were blown down along Highway J along a nearly four mile stretch. In Wentworth, numerous tress were uprooted and one outbuilding had its roof removed. The tornado crossed into Lawrence County as an EF-1 just north of Douglas Fir Road along Lawrence County Avenue.

Thunderstorm Wind in STONE, MISSOURI
From 22-MAY-11 18:22:00 to 22-MAY-11 18:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELSEY
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public measured a 72 mph wind gust and quarter size hail.