A squall line of severe thunderstorms intensified as it crossed southeast Missouri. The squall line produced widespread damaging winds from 60 to 80 mph across far southeast Missouri, mainly along and southeast of a Poplar Bluff to Cape Girardeau line. Locally higher winds to 90 mph were estimated across New Madrid and Mississippi Counties, along with an isolated embedded tornado. The squall line intensified ahead of an upper-level trough advancing east of the Plains states. The squall line was focused along and ahead of a cold front, where winds at 850 mb were southwesterly between 50 and 60 knots. Ahead of the squall line, the air mass was moist and rather unstable.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
From 01-MAR-17 04:37:00 to 01-MAR-17 04:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAPE GIRARDEAU ARPT
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A wind gust to 60 mph was measured by the automated observing system at the Cape Girardeau airport.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUTLER, MISSOURI
From 01-MAR-17 04:08:00 to 01-MAR-17 04:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: POPLAR BLUFF
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

There were three reports of wind gusts around 60 mph in the Poplar Bluff area and surrounding parts of the county. A wind gust to 60 mph was measured by the automated observing system at the Poplar Bluff airport. A wind gust to 62 mph was measured in Broseley by a Davis weather station. A trained spotter in the city of Poplar Bluff estimated a gust to 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, MISSOURI
From 01-MAR-17 04:41:00 to 01-MAR-17 04:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: MINER
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A portion of the roof was blown off a house on State Highway AA. There was extensive siding and shingle damage at the same residence. A carport was blown away.

Tornado in MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI
From 01-MAR-17 04:43:00 to 01-MAR-17 04:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOGWOOD
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado moved east from New Madrid County, passing across sparsely populated farmland before lifting about three miles north-northeast of Anniston. Significant roof damage occurred to a house, and its attached garage was destroyed. A barn was heavily damaged, and numerous irrigation systems were blown over. Dozens of trees were damaged or uprooted. Numerous power poles were snapped. Peak winds in the Mississippi County portion of the damage path were estimated near 100 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI
From 01-MAR-17 04:48:00 to 01-MAR-17 04:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: EAST PRAIRIE
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Eight grain bins were destroyed along County Road 407 north of East Prairie. Elsewhere in Mississippi County, there were numerous houses with shingle damage. This was part of a larger area of wind damage that surrounded the EF-1 tornado that tracked across western Mississippi County.

Thunderstorm Wind in STODDARD, MISSOURI
From 01-MAR-17 04:10:00 to 01-MAR-17 04:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: DEXTER
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Widespread damaging winds occurred in western and southern Stoddard County. Four miles west-southwest of Dexter, several trees were uprooted, and shingles were blown off a house. An anchored trampoline was blown into a tree. In Bernie, a roof was off a grocery store, and a pine tree was snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind in STODDARD, MISSOURI
From 01-MAR-17 04:17:00 to 01-MAR-17 04:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: DEXTER
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Damaging winds occurred in the Dexter/Bloomfield area. A wind gust to 61 mph was measured by a Davis weather station in Dexter. A couple miles east of Bloomfield, there was considerable shingle damage to one house. A small outbuilding was toppled.

Thunderstorm Wind in NEW MADRID, MISSOURI
From 01-MAR-17 04:36:00 to 01-MAR-17 04:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: MATTHEWS
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Northwest through north of Matthews, a section of roof was blown off an older farmhouse. A barn was levelled. Power poles were leaning or broken. Numerous shingles were missing off one house. A carport was leaning sideways. Numerous large limbs were down. Many irrigation systems were blown over. This damage immediately preceded a tornado that began north of Matthews along U.S. Highway 62.

Tornado in NEW MADRID, MISSOURI
From 01-MAR-17 04:40:00 to 01-MAR-17 04:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: MATTHEWS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down along U.S. Highway 62 and tracked eastward across Interstate 55. One barn was leveled. Other barns were damaged, and random power poles were down. There was minor damage to a few house roofs. Numerous irrigation pivots were damaged. Some trees were uprooted. Three tractor-trailer rigs were overturned on Interstate 55. Peak winds in the New Madrid County portion of the damage path were near 95 mph. The tornado continued eastward into Mississippi County.