Tornadoes

Ste. Genevieve Herald

March 12, 2003

February 19, 1888 – a category F3 twister (winds of 158-206
mph) touched down north of St. Marys and destroyed barns in the area
before crossing the Mississippi River near Kaskaskia.  No one
was hurt in this county.
March 27, 1890 – a category F2 tornado formed one mile south
of Ste. Genevieve and moved over the head of Turkey Island. 
The tornado moved northeast and destroyed four homes at Bloomsdale.
May 30, 1917 – Four homes, a parsonage, church and blacksmith
shop were destroyed when a category F2 tornado moved northeast from
Lawrenceton, passing one mile north of Bloomsdale and crossing the
Mississippi River southeast of Brickeys.  A second storm passed
over River Aux Vases Creek north of Ozora, destroying four homes and
killing a man as he hid in a corn crib.  Several dozen head of
livestock were killed.
March 18, 1952 – A category F2 tornado formed a mile south of
Farmington, then moved east to Weingarten.  Two homes were
destroyed and at least 16 more were unroofed or damaged. [occurred
at 1735 hours - 5:35pm]
March 1, 1972 – A category F1 tornado touched down briefly,
damaging a large barn near Highway 32, about four miles west of
Weingarten.  The cattle and horses in the barn were unharmed,
although the roof and upper part of the center of the barn were
destroyed. [occurred at 1750 hours - 5:50pm]
April 11, 1979 – A large part of the front of a farmhouse in
Coffman was torn off and the back of the house was bent out of shape
during a category F1 tornado.  A heavy freezer was thrown
across the yard, but four cartons of soda place against the wall
were not disturbed.  The large barns were scattered across a
field.
November 9, 1984 – a building in Weingarten was knocked over
by a category F1 tornado [occurred at 1600 hours - 4pm]
April 13, 1998 – a category F1 tornado destroyed the Country
Tavern and a mobile home on Route Y, also damaging other property in
the area.  Two people escaped injury by taking shelter in the
bar’s meat cooler.