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Tornado Update January 9

http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/tornadoupd_394.mp3

The National Weather Service has nearly completed its survey of storm-damaged areas. Meanwhile, flooding continues to cause problems in Southwest Missouri. KSMU's Michele Skalicky has more.

As cleanup continues from the Tuesday night storms, flooding continues to be an issue. Although Steve Lindenberg, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Springfield, says water has subsided in many parts of Southwest Missouri, that doesn't mean you should stop taking precautions. A flood warning for small streams continues until 7 tonight for Barry, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Southern Jasper and Stone Counties until 7 tonight. A flood warning continues for the James River at Galena in Stone County.

"We still have flooding of roads mainly in low-lying areas across the southwest corner of Missouri including McDonald and Newton and Barry Counties in that part of the state, and it might take a little bit of time for the flooding in those areas to go down."

Lindenberg says you should NEVER try to cross water that's flowing over a road.

"If you see a flooded road, turn around and find an alternate route to drive through. A lot of these will normally be closed off by the highway department but the smaller roads might not be and if you do come upon a flooded roadway or water flowing across a roadway just turn around."

Meanwhile, National Weather Service crews headed out again today to investigate reports of damages from the storms that hit the Ozarks. Lindenberg says they might send crews out again tomorrow. He explains what they've learned so far.

"We know that there's been quite a few tornado reports throughout the area. Probably the strongest tornado was located from the northeast of Springfield near Strafford to just north of Marshfield into just south of Conway it looks like. That one there was one path of one tornado and there's been numerous other tornadoes that are still being surveyed right now."

Lindenberg says that particular tornado, which killed 2 people, will be given a strength of EF3.

Links:

  • National Weather Service