An organized outbreak of severe thunderstorms occurred. Most of the severe weather reports were generated by two intense storm clusters. The first cluster crossed the Ozark foothills between Van Buren and Doniphan, then proceeded due east across Poplar Bluff and Dexter to the Mississippi River. This cluster occasionally acquired supercell characteristics. Large hail from 1 to 3 inches in diameter was common during most of its life cycle in southeast Missouri. A couple of tornadoes were spawned as well. A second less intense cluster moved east across southern Bollinger and Cape Girardeau Counties. This cluster produced hail up to the size of golf balls and an isolated wind gust up to near 60 mph. The severe storm outbreak occurred ahead of a  cold front that accelerated east-southeast toward the mid Mississippi Valley. Cooling aloft ahead of a shortwave trough over the Plains, combined with diurnal heating and moist southerly winds, resulted in a corridor of deepening convection ahead of the front. Steep mid-level lapse rates and strong effective wind shear promoted some very large hail within discrete storm cells.

Hail in RIPLEY, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 15:25:00 to 03-APR-18 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: BENNETT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CARTER, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 15:30:00 to 03-APR-18 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLSINORE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in SCOTT, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 16:25:00 to 03-APR-18 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: SCOTT CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 16:29:00 to 03-APR-18 16:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: SCOTT CITY
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A wind gust to 58 mph was measured at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, along with one-quarter mile visibility in heavy rain.

Funnel Cloud in STODDARD, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 16:49:00 to 03-APR-18 16:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: BERNIE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A funnel cloud was reported north-northeast of the community.

Hail in CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 16:12:00 to 03-APR-18 16:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAPE GIRARDEAU
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Dime to nickel-size hail fell across parts of southern Cape Girardeau County.

Hail in BUTLER, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 15:53:00 to 03-APR-18 15:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: POPLAR BLUFF
Magnitude: 3.00 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A severe thunderstorm produced a swath of very large hail across the Poplar Bluff area. The hailstones ranged from 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter. The largest reported hailstones were in Poplar Bluff, where a photo of three-inch hail was posted on social media.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUTLER, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 16:06:00 to 03-APR-18 16:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: POPLAR BLUFF
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A damage survey revealed a swath of straight-line wind damage along a path length of approximately two-thirds of a mile. The damage was in the southeast part of the city of Poplar Bluff. Several homes sustained shingle or roof damage. A small shed was lofted onto the top of a garage. Some large tree limbs were broken. Peak winds were estimated near 75 mph.

Hail in CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 16:10:00 to 03-APR-18 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALLENVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in STODDARD, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 16:34:00 to 03-APR-18 16:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: DEXTER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A severe thunderstorm produced a swath of large hail across the Dexter area. The hailstones ranged from the size of quarters to golf balls.

Tornado in STODDARD, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 16:58:00 to 03-APR-18 17:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: DEMMITTVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down along Highway 153 and moved northeast toward the community of Baker. Several windows were broken. There was partial loss of metal roof covering. The top was broken off the chimney of a home. Two barns lost parts of their metal roofs, and walls were blown off. A garage sustained loss of shingles. A large entry door was blown in. Large limbs were broken off several trees. Several wooden power poles were partially blown over. Peak winds were estimated near 85 mph. The tornado lifted about one mile southeast of Baker. The last minute or two of the tornado was captured on video.

Tornado in NEW MADRID, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 17:14:00 to 03-APR-18 17:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANALOU
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 90.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado occurred between Canalou and Matthews, north of State Highway H. A large farm implement building was destroyed. Parts of the building were lofted over one mile away. Four other barns and garages sustained damage, some of which was major. A grain bin was blown in on one side. At one residence, the roof of a rear porch was blown off, a window was broken, and large sections of shingles were torn off. A window was broken at another home. Farm implements were blown 20 to 50 feet. Power poles were down along Highway FF. Peak winds were estimated near 110 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI
From 03-APR-18 17:42:00 to 03-APR-18 17:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: EAST PRAIRIE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Telephone poles were down. Tree limbs were blown down. A house sustained some minor roof damage.