A very warm and moist airmass had advected northwest into the area, during the morning hours of May 25, 2011, with the development of an intensifying warm front, near the Highway 50 corridor.  Due to ample lift, provided by the strong upper level storm system just west of Kansas City, a little bit of clearing, made the rapid development of thunderstorms along and ahead of the cold front possible, as early as 10 am.  As these storms lifted northward and rotated around the surface area of low pressure, they would rapidly begin to rotate, as they reached the enhanced winds near the warm front.  Once thunderstorm activity crossed over the warm front into northern Missouri, and into a slightly cooler and more stable airmass, they would still indicate rotation, but the environment prevented further tornadic activity.
There were nearly two dozen reports of either funnel clouds or tornadoes, with seven of the tornado reports in Missouri, being confirmed by NWS damage survey crews and/or law enforcement. The tornadoes that occurred, were associated with the smaller cousin of the classic central plains supercell thunderstorm, called a mini- or low-topped supercell thunderstorm. Mini-supercells, typically occur in association with a cold-core upper level low pressure system, and are much smaller in height and areal expanse, than the classic supercell storm. But regardless of their size, mini-supercells still possess the mechanics to produce brief, and seen in the next paragraph about Sedalia, violent tornadoes.
An EF-2 tornado, associated with winds up to 135 mph, damaged or destroyed numerous single family homes, and businesses, severely damaged two mobile home parks, blew over several tanker trucks, and injured 20 people, as it roared through the southern part of Sedalia, Missouri. In addition, several school buses, located in the school district bus barn, were damaged by the tornado.

Funnel Cloud in RAY, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 12:09:00 to 25-MAY-11 12:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOOD HGTS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Flash Flood in GENTRY, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 19:15:00 to 25-MAY-11 22:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MCCURRY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Highways J and H were reported flooded from very heavy rains.

Flash Flood in NODAWAY, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 15:27:00 to 25-MAY-11 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PUMPKIN CENTER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Nearly one foot of water was reported flowing over Highway A.

Flash Flood in ADAIR, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 19:08:00 to 25-MAY-11 22:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOEFFLER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rains caused flash flooding over portions of Highway 48. Roads were also closed around Bolckow.

Tornado in LAFAYETTE, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 12:07:00 to 25-MAY-11 12:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: HIGGINSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

At 1207CST a brief EF0 tornado touchdown, was observed 1.9 miles south southwest of Higginsville. The tornado touched down and went right back up. No Damage was observed.

Flash Flood in HOLT, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 19:11:00 to 25-MAY-11 22:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: FOREST CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rains caused flash flooding with water covering Highway 111.

Tornado in COOPER, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 12:04:00 to 25-MAY-11 12:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLEASANT GREEN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

At 1204CST a brief EF0 tornado touchdown was observed 4.4 miles northwest of Pleasant Green. The tornado touched down and then went right back up. No damage was observed.

Funnel Cloud in JACKSON, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 10:49:00 to 25-MAY-11 10:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: DODSON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Funnel Cloud in JACKSON, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 10:57:00 to 25-MAY-11 10:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEES SUMMIT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in PETTIS, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 11:22:00 to 25-MAY-11 11:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEDALIA
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 4.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

At 1122CST an EF2 tornado touched down 2.7 miles south southeast of Sedalia. The tornado traveled north, and lifted 0.7 miles southeast of Sedalia at 1128CST. Heavy damage to several businesses, was observed along highway 65, with 70 mobile homes in two different mobile home parks, destroyed or heavily damaged. Several homes were also damaged or destroyed. A tanker truck was overturned. Power poles were snapped off. Twenty people suffered minor injuries.

Funnel Cloud in JACKSON, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 11:06:00 to 25-MAY-11 11:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUGAR CREEK
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Funnel Cloud in JOHNSON, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 11:28:00 to 25-MAY-11 11:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELM
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Tornado in CASS, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 10:35:00 to 25-MAY-11 10:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: DAUGHERTY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

At 1035CST an EF0 tornado touched down and then went right back up, around 2 miles southeast of Harrisonville. No damage was observed.

Funnel Cloud in LAFAYETTE, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 11:40:00 to 25-MAY-11 11:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: WELLINGTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in JACKSON, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 10:45:00 to 25-MAY-11 10:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRANDVIEW
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Funnel Cloud in BUCHANAN, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 12:09:00 to 25-MAY-11 12:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: FRAZIER
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in JACKSON, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 11:28:00 to 25-MAY-11 11:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAK GROVE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in JACKSON, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 11:32:00 to 25-MAY-11 11:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAK GROVE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in CLAY, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 11:33:00 to 25-MAY-11 11:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: LIBERTY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Airplane Pilot

At 1133CST a brief EFO tornado touchdown, was observed about a mile west of Liberty. The tornado touched down and then went right back up. No damage was reported.

Tornado in CLAY, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 11:45:00 to 25-MAY-11 11:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: KEARNEY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

At 1145CST a brief EF0 tornado touchdown, was observed around 1 mile west northwest of Kearney. The tornado touched down and then right back up. No damage was observed.

Funnel Cloud in HENRY, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 10:31:00 to 25-MAY-11 10:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: HORTENSE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in PETTIS, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 11:52:00 to 25-MAY-11 11:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAMAN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

At 1152CST a brief EF0 tornado touchdown was observed 2.2 miles northeast of Beaman. The tornado touched down and then went right back up. No damage was observed.

Funnel Cloud in CLAY, MISSOURI
From 25-MAY-11 11:23:00 to 25-MAY-11 11:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLEASANT VLY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter