No tornado but severe winds in Southeast Missouri

Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities employees work early Tuesday, May 9, 2023, to restore a utility pole that fell during severe and windy storms late Monday, May 8 on the parking lot of The Christian Academy in Sikeston. TCA Administrator Michael Jensen said classes were canceled Tuesday. Strong winds reportedly caused some damage across the region. (Rod Anderson/Standard Democrat)

The National Weather Service sent out warnings of severe weather and possible tornadoes on Monday night, May 8, for several counties in Southeast Missouri.

Derrick Snyder, a meteorologist with the NWS office in Paducah, Kentucky, said they issued the tornado warning for the area around Advance, Missouri, at 10:09 p.m. and the warning “remained valid until 10:45 p.m.” after which the threat was downgraded. 

Snyder said there was “a swath of wind and hail” that extended from Wayne County through southern Bollinger County and then across northern Butler, Stoddard and Scott counties. Snyder said the storm was most active between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. when recorded winds reached more than 70 mph. 

An uprooted tree is seen Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Malone Park in Sikeston. (Rod Anderson/Standard Democrat)

Beau Bishop, Stoddard County Emergency Management director, said they set off the tornado warning sirens for Advance when they received the notice from the NWS. He said a weather camera located in Advance recorded wind gusts up to 72 mph. He said there were multiple trees and power lines down, but no injuries and no major damage to structures were reported in the area.

Representatives from SEMO Electric said up to 3,000 customers in the affected areas were without power until approximately 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, but that number was down to 500 by 11 a.m., and crews will continue to work throughout the day to restore power.

In Sikeston, strong winds downed a utility pole in the parking lot of The Christian Academy in Sikeston and a tree was uprooted at Malone Park in Sikeston. Downed trees and damaged power lines were reported throughout the region late Monday into Tuesday. Also, the Sikeston Yard Waste Disposal Site (Compost Site) will be open from 7:30 am until 3:30 pm. Wednesday, May 10.