Crews search for storm victims in Potosi, Missouri, after tornado strikes

POTOSI, Mo. – Emergency crews rushed to Washington County, Missouri, aft astatine slightest 1 tornado swept done the country connected Wednesday, causing important harm extracurricular of St. Louis. 

First responders reported that galore homes successful the region, peculiarly astir the region spot of Potosi, were impacted by the tornado, perchance trapping radical successful their homes.

Authorities said the occupants of 1 of the homes appeared to beryllium OK, but hunt and rescue efforts were inactive ongoing successful different structures astir the county.

The terrible upwind occurred aft the National Weather Service bureau had issued a Tornado Warning for the area, alerting residents of a ample supercell with an embedded tornado.

The metropolis of Potosi took enactment up of the terrible upwind lawsuit by closing City Hall astatine 2 p.m. successful mentation for the thunderstorms and encouraged residents to show the latest upwind conditions.

Missouri funnel unreality spotted connected 4/2/2025

(Keegan Warden / FOX Weather)

ATTITUDES TOWARD TORNADO PREPAREDNESS IN US CHANGING AS STORM RISK ZONES SHIFT

Following the twister, wide powerfulness outages affected much than 500 customers successful Washington County, according to powerfulness outage data.

As of Wednesday evening, harm assessments were inactive ongoing and authorities were inactive moving to recognize the afloat grade of the impact, peculiarly astir Potosi. 

The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that the tornado lifted portion northeast of the town, but the nonstop way and severity of the harm inactive needed to beryllium evaluated by NWS meteorologists.

At least 4 different tornadoes were reported successful the Show Me State during what could beryllium a important terrible upwind lawsuit for the heartland of the U.S. and adjacent Tennessee and Ohio valleys.

Video from Nevada, Missouri, showed buildings severely damaged earlier Wednesday, with roofs ripped disconnected and debris littering streets.

Trooper Mike McClure told FOX Weather that powerfulness lines were down, and respective businesses were damaged, including a hotel, but determination were nary reported fatalities.