When a Huge Twister Killed 14, Injured 40 in Northeast Missouri

It was by far the most damaging and destructive tornado in northeast Missouri history. By the time it lifted back into the clouds, 14 lives had been lost and 40 people had been injured and today is the anniversary of that awful day.

The National Weather Service has the details of the most destructive tornadoes in northeast Missouri history and one stands above the others. It happened on March 10, 1876. It was a monster EF-4 twister that initially touched down in Monroe County, Missouri and it remained on the ground in both Ralls and Marion County, too. It would eventually cross the Mississippi River near where McDonald's Island is about 5 miles north of Hannibal and do additional damage in Adams County, Illinois.

The death toll and injuries were astounding from that storm. 14 deaths in total attributed to that Missouri tornado and 40 injured.

How could one Missouri tornado do that much damage?

This was a different era when Missouri was still very much pioneer life with no national weather service, no radars and very little advance warning. Perhaps farmers were the first ones to recognize that the skies had become angry since their talents had to include reading the weather. Even after the tornado first touched down in Monroe County that day, anyone in the path wouldn't know it was coming until it was too late.

There were no specifics about how wide the vortex was or wind speeds. The EF-4 rating was purely based on damage done, but you'd have to imagine this was a long-track tornado that stayed on the ground over 50 miles.

As we approach the 149th anniversary of that dreadful day, there has never been a more damaging tornado in northeast Missouri and let's hope there never will be again.