The April Map of the Month depicts tornado touchdowns and paths for all tornadoes within the East-West Gateway region from 1950 through 2022. During this time period, 259 tornadoes originated within the EWG region and another 12 originated beyond the region but traveled through one or more EWG counties.
A method for measuring tornado intensity was first introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, called The Fujita Scale. A 1973 update took into account the tornado’s path and width. The scale was updated once again in 2007 and renamed the Enhanced Fujita scale to more accurately match wind speeds to the severity of damage caused by tornadoes. The ratings are as follows: F0 (Light), F1 (Moderate), F2 (Significant), F3 (Severe), F4 (Devastating), and F5 (Incredible). The data come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and are updated frequently.
In the St. Louis region, the counties with the most tornado touchdowns form 1950 to 2022 are Madison County (50), St. Clair County (40), St. Louis County (40), and St. Charles County (35). The counties with the fewest tornado touchdowns are Monroe County (32), Jefferson County (31), Franklin County (27), and the City of St. Louis (4).
More information on tornadoes and what to do in the event of one can be found on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website: https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/weather-atmosphere/tornadoes.