Tornado-Warned Storm Causes Damage in St. Louis Metro Area

CLAYTON, Missouri – A powerful storm, accompanied by tornado warnings, swept through the St. Louis metro area on Friday, May 16, 2025. The storm left significant damage, prompting emergency responses across the city.

Over 146 million people in the eastern United States were under severe weather alerts on Friday, with St. Louis particularly impacted. In the afternoon, nearly one million residents received a ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ Tornado Warning as dark clouds loomed overhead.

Officials reported downed trees and power lines, with over 100,000 customers experiencing power outages. Most destruction concentrated in the western and northern parts of the city, which may indicate the path taken by a potential tornado.

Emergency management authorities received numerous service calls regarding damaged roofs and collapsed structures. Video footage from the St. Louis Arch showed severe storms raging through the area, though any tornado activity may have been obscured by rain.

St. Louis Children’s Hospital treated at least 10 patients, including one in critical condition, as a result of weather-related incidents. The police confirmed that four fatalities have been linked to the storm, but the number may change as assessments continue.

In addition to the tornado warnings, large hail was reported in the region, with stones measuring 2 to 3 inches in diameter noted by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency.

The National Weather Service (NWS) anticipates many of the reported damages stemmed from high winds. Meteorologists plan to survey the damage on Saturday to confirm if any tornadoes made contact with the ground.

The timing of the severe weather coincided poorly with the evening rush hour, leaving many traffic lights inoperative. The St. Louis Zoo suffered damage, but officials reported all guests and animals were accounted for. The zoo will remain closed at least until Saturday for cleanup.

Throughout the day, additional severe storms impacted areas beyond St. Louis. In Pennsylvania, winds caused a large tree to fall on a home, injuring an adult and a child. Fairfax County Police in Virginia reported one death after a tree fell on a vehicle.

Across at least a dozen states, over half a million individuals faced power outages, with some areas expected to be without electricity for days. A tornado was sighted by FOX Weather storm trackers in southern Missouri, near Bell City. The storm system also caused Dust Storm Warnings along parts of Interstate 80 in Chicago.

Travelers in Northern Illinois were advised to be cautious due to low visibility caused by dust storms. NWS stated that dangerous conditions may extend into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions into Saturday, with damaging winds as the primary concern.

The FOX Forecast Center highlighted a continuing risk of severe weather across many areas through early next week, describing it as a classic weather setup due to conflicting air masses.