St. Louis Tornado History
St. Louis has been struck by significant tornadoes in 1896, 1927, 1959, and multiple modern events. The 1896 F4 killed 255 - deadliest urban tornado ever.
Major St. Louis Tornado Events
May 27, 1896 - Deadliest Urban Tornado
The Great St. Louis tornado struck downtown St. Louis at rush hour, crossing the Mississippi River into East St. Louis. 255 killed - the third-deadliest tornado in US history. Full story →
September 29, 1927 - Second St. Louis Tornado
An F4 struck the west side of St. Louis. 79 killed, over 1,600 injured. Destroyed multiple neighborhoods and Central High School.
February 10, 1959 - Rare Winter Event
A February F3 tornado struck St. Louis during a warm winter day. Multiple deaths and significant damage.
April 22, 2011 - New Ballwin
An EF4 struck the suburbs of St. Louis near Lambert Airport. Extensive damage to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport itself.
April 10, 2013 - Downtown Near-Miss
Multiple tornadoes across the St. Louis area on a highly active day. Significant damage in Ballwin and other suburbs.
February 28, 2017 - Northern Suburbs
Multiple EF3/EF4 tornadoes across northern St. Louis suburbs. Damage in Perryville and surrounding areas.
Why St. Louis Is Vulnerable
St. Louis sits at the convergence of:
- Ohio River Valley moisture pathway
- Mississippi River corridor storms
- Cold fronts from Canada
- Warm air from the Gulf
The region experiences frequent supercells during spring and fall.
The Metro Statistics
- Metropolitan area population: ~2.8 million
- Average tornadoes per year in metro area: ~3-5
- Peak intensity: March-May primary, October-November secondary
- Nighttime tornado rate: ~30% (higher than Great Plains average)
Lambert-St. Louis Airport
Lambert Airport has been directly affected by tornadoes:
- 2011 EF4 damaged terminal buildings and hangars
- Multiple weaker events have grounded flights
- Airport has tornado shelter protocols for passengers
Downtown Skyscrapers
St. Louis' Arch and downtown skyscrapers have been in tornado paths:
- The Gateway Arch itself is engineered for extreme wind loads
- Modern downtown skyscrapers have some tornado resistance
- Older buildings vary in tornado vulnerability
Rebuilding and Preparation
St. Louis has developed strong tornado preparedness:
- Comprehensive outdoor siren networks
- Emergency management coordination between MO and IL sides
- Public school tornado protocols
- Community shelter programs
Missouri Region
Missouri as a whole has been struck by numerous significant tornadoes. Missouri tornado history →. Notable events include Joplin 2011 (EF5, 158 killed), Marshfield 1880 (F4, ~99 killed), and multiple St. Louis events.
The Bridge City Legacy
Both sides of the Mississippi River - St. Louis, MO and East St. Louis, IL - have been struck. The 1896 event damaged the Eads Bridge itself, illustrating that tornadoes can cross rivers and cause damage on both sides.
Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →