May 08, 2023

NWS confirms 3 tornadoes just north of Kansas City Saturday

Posted May 08, 2023 11:00 AM
Most of the roof of the Wesley United Methodist Church in downtown Trenton was damaged-photo Grundy Co. Emergency Management
Most of the roof of the Wesley United Methodist Church in downtown Trenton was damaged-photo Grundy Co. Emergency Management

GRUNDY COUNTY—  The National Weather survey team reported they found tracks from three tornadoes in northwest Missouri Saturday.

The supercell produced large hail, a few stones up to the size of baseball and softball size. In addition to the tornado damage, there were also areas of non-tornadic wind damage.

 The tornado in Trenton started a 7:30p.m. and was rated EF-0 with peak winds of 85 mph, according to the National Weather Service.  The first of two tornadoes in Linn County started at 8:22p.m., was rated EF-2 with peak winds of 135 mph.

The second tornado in Linn County started at 8:57p.m. and was rated an EF-1 with max winds of 99 mph.

Grundy County Emergency Manager Glen Briggs told KSHB television that several buildings in Trenton, about 100 miles north of Kansas City, sustained serious wind damage when the storm moved through Saturday night. Hail nearly 4-inches (10 centimeters) in diameter was also reported in the area, according to the National Weather Service.

No injuries were reported.  Most of the roof of the Wesley United Methodist Church in downtown Trenton was damaged. Pastor Steve Martin said people used tarps to cover the “big gaping holes” in the sanctuary.

Briggs said at least five other structures on the west side of Trenton sustained major roof damage, and several windows were blown out of buildings downtown.

Large hail and strong winds were also reported in neighboring Harrison and Daviess counties. In one case, hail penetrated the roof of a steel building in Daviess County

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.