Morning storms leave a trail of damage across Mid-Missouri

Early on Monday, severe storms swept through parts of Missouri, leaving behind broken power lines, downed trees, and damaged buildings. Reports suggest a possible tornado hit Randolph and Monroe counties, though officials haven’t confirmed it yet. Homes, grain storage units, and infrastructure in the Middle Grove area took the brunt of the hit. Luckily, no injuries were reported, but the damage was enough to knock out power for hundreds of people. Power outages spread quickly as the storms rolled in. Utilities like Ameren and local co-ops saw thousands of customers left in the dark. Schools in Slater had to switch to online classes because of the blackouts. Strong winds—gusting up to 62 mph—added to the chaos, especially north of Moberly. The damage wasn’t just in Randolph County; places like Chariton, Saline, and Macon counties also felt the storm’s punch.Prisons weren’t spared either. Storms damaged two facilities in Farmington and Moberly, forcing temporary changes to operations. A water treatment plant in Moberly had to run on backup power, though it kept pumps working. Meanwhile, roads in Howard County were blocked by fallen trees and live power lines, closing a key highway. The worst may not have passed yet. Heavy rain caused flash flood warnings in Boone County, and the Grand River in Chariton County was expected to rise even higher. Farmers in Slater faced extra losses when a storm destroyed a grain elevator, adding to the day’s troubles.