Three confirmed tornadoes touched down northeast of Kansas City as severe thunderstorms swept through north-central Missouri over the weekend, according to storm damage surveys from the National Weather Service.
Two tornadoes — an EF0 and an EF1 — touched down in Linn County within minutes of each other shortly after 6:20 p.m. Saturday. A third, short-lived EF0 tornado touched down in neighboring Livingston County shortly after 6:40 p.m.
The first tornado touched down around 6:22 p.m. about 7 miles west of Purdin, roughly 120 miles northwest of Kansas City in northwest Linn County.
Survey crews found the tornado first touched down between Arbor Drive and Beacon Road along Missouri 139, where it damaged an outbuilding before crossing a wooded area while moving east-northeast toward Clark Drive.
The tornado also damaged a single-family home before tearing a large section of the metal roof from a barn. Debris scattered east, northeast, and south of the barn across an open field. The storm also caused tree damage east of the farm.
The EF0 tornado reached estimated peak wind speeds of 85 mph and measured about 100 yards wide. It traveled 1.42 miles before lifting at 6:25 p.m., around 6 miles west of Purdin.
The second tornado developed from the same supercell thunderstorm that produced the first tornado.
The EF1 tornado touched down around 6:28 p.m. north of Shafter, an unincorporated community in Linn County.
The tornado first touched down near Daisy and Clark roads and moved southeast, damaging several farm outbuildings, including a barn. It also picked up two empty grain bins and tossed them across an open pasture. Crews later found additional damage in the tree line beyond the property.
Surveyors tracked the tornado along Missouri Route DD, where swaths of tree damage appeared on both sides of the highway.
The tornado’s path ended about a half mile before the intersection of Missouri Route Y, roughly 5 miles north-northwest of Purdin.
The tornado remained on the ground for about 2.58 miles before lifting at 6:32 p.m. At its peak, it produced estimated wind speeds of 110 mph and reached a width of 200 yards.
The third tornado touched down around 6:43 p.m. about 2 miles east of Chula in Livingston County.
The brief EF0 tornado formed from a severe supercell thunderstorm and damaged trees south of Missouri Route K before crossing the highway.
The tornado then struck a wood-framed metal building, tearing off west-facing roof sheeting and scattering debris to the west and southwest.
The tornado lifted in an open field east of the building, northwest of the intersection of Missouri routes K and KK.
The tornado stayed on the ground for about a minute and traveled nearly 350 yards. At its peak, it produced estimated wind speeds of 85 mph and measured about 50 yards wide.
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