2011 Joplin tornado facts for kids
| EF5 tornado | |
|---|---|
View of the rain-wrapped tornado in Joplin
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| Formed | May 22, 2011, 5:34 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
| Duration | 38 minutes |
| Dissipated | May 22, 2011, 6:12 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) |
| Max rating1 | EF5 tornado |
| Highest winds |
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| Damage | $2.8 billion (2011 USD) (Costliest tornado in U.S. history) $3.64 billion (2025 USD ) |
| Total fatalities | 158 direct fatalities (+8-9 indirect), 1,150 injuries |
| Areas affected | Jasper County and Newton County, Missouri; mostly the city of Joplin (part of a larger outbreak) |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale | |
The 2011 Joplin tornado was an extremely powerful tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, on the afternoon of May 22, 2011. It was rated as an EF5, which is the highest rating for a tornado, meaning its winds were incredibly strong, over 200 miles per hour (320 km/h). This tornado caused a lot of damage, hurting 1,150 people and sadly causing 158 deaths. It also caused about $2.8 billion in damage, making it the most expensive tornado in U.S. history. This was the third tornado to hit Joplin since May 1971.
Contents
How the Joplin Tornado Formed
Tornadoes like the one in Joplin happen when specific weather conditions come together. On May 21, 2011, there was an area of low pressure over South Dakota. This kind of low pressure helps pull air upwards, which is important for storms.
Understanding the Weather Conditions
The air also had "steep lapse rates," which means the temperature dropped very quickly as you went higher in the atmosphere. This makes the air unstable. There were also high "dewpoints" (above 60°F or 15°C), meaning there was a lot of moisture in the air. These conditions were perfect for forming very strong thunderstorms called supercells.
The Role of Weather Fronts
By the morning of May 22, weather experts predicted a cold front would move through the area. A cold front is where colder air pushes into warmer air. A "dryline" was also expected to meet the cold front in Kansas. A dryline separates dry air from moist air. When these weather features, along with the low pressure system, came together, they created a very strong environment for severe storms to develop.
Warnings Before the Storm
By 11:30 a.m. on May 22, it was clear that severe weather was very likely. A public severe weather outlook was issued. This warning told people that tornadoes, large hail, and strong winds were all possible threats that afternoon.
What Happened After the Tornado
After the tornado hit, experts from the National Weather Service began to study the damage. This helps them understand how strong the tornado was.
Measuring the Tornado's Strength
Initially, the tornado was rated as a high-end EF4. However, after looking more closely at the damage, they found even more intense destruction. Because of this, the tornado's rating was upgraded to an EF5. This means its winds were estimated to be over 200 miles per hour (320 km/h), possibly reaching 225 to 250 mph (360 to 400 km/h).
Damage to Joplin City
The tornado caused massive damage to Joplin. About 25% of the city was destroyed, and between 10% and 20% of the city's buildings were completely ruined. In total, nearly 7,000 houses were destroyed, many flattened or blown away. Over 850 other homes were also damaged.
Impact on Services and Communication
The tornado knocked out power and communication systems in many areas. With cell towers down, temporary ones had to be set up quickly. Within two days, some cell towers were working again, helping people connect with loved ones.
Unusual Help After the Storm
Interestingly, a traveling circus that was supposed to perform in Joplin couldn't because of the damage. So, the circus employees brought their two adult elephants to help! The elephants were used to drag damaged cars and other heavy debris out of the streets, clearing paths.
Rebuilding Joplin
After the tornado, the community worked hard to rebuild. Many homes and businesses have been reconstructed. Joplin High School reopened in September 2014. St. John's Regional Medical Center, which was badly damaged, was rebuilt and reopened as Mercy Hospital in 2015.
Why the Joplin Tornado Was So Important
The 2011 Joplin tornado stands out in history for several reasons.
One of the Deadliest and Costliest Tornadoes
It is considered one of the deadliest tornadoes in Missouri and U.S. history, similar to the Tri-State Tornado and the 1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado. It is also the most expensive single tornado in U.S. history, causing $2.8 billion in damage.
Rare EF5 Tornado
This was the first EF5 tornado in Missouri since May 20, 1957. It was only the second EF5 tornado in Missouri's history since 1950. It was also the deadliest U.S. tornado since April 9, 1947, and the seventh-deadliest in U.S. history. It was the first single tornado since June 8, 1953, to cause 100 or more deaths.
Images for kids
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Destroyed area in the tornado's damage path
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EF5 damage to the St. John's Regional Medical Center, which later had to be torn down due to deformation of its foundation and underpinning system.
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Aerial view of the St. John's Regional Medical Center campus
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Safe deposit box vault after the tornado, having remained intact despite the destruction of the bank building that housed it
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Radar image of the supercell that produced the tornado
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Damage in Joplin one day after the tornado
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Joplin 10 days after the tornado.
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President Obama greets a tornado survivor on May 29, 2011
See also
In Spanish: Tornado de Joplin de 2011 para niños
