Aggregator

Villa Ridge, a small community in Franklin County, Missouri, took a direct hit from Friday evening's severe storms, leaving behind a trail of devastation.

There was no calm before the storms Friday as powerful winds fueled devastating fires in the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors.

The victim was 43-year-old Jennifer Brewington, according to the family.

Around two dozen structures and hundreds of acres burned Friday afternoon in Camden County after several wind-driven wildfires crossed highways and charred dried-up vegetation.

One day after an intense tornado-warned storm system ripped through the St. Louis region, shock and devastation linger across many communities.

ALTON — The Alton Fire Department responded to approximately seven weather-related incidents during a severe storm that swept through the area on Friday, March 14, 2025, according to Deputy Chief Matt Fischer. The calls included reports of downed trees, arcing wires, and fire alarms. In addition, Fischer confirmed that the department dealt with a residential house fire and a car fire that was suspected to be related to lightning. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries associated with these incidents. “Alton was pretty lucky,” Fischer remarked, noting the impact of the storm despite the occurrence of several power outages. The department's swift response helped to manage the situation as the storm passed through the region.

Continue Reading

WOOD RIVER — A two-vehicle crash in Wood River on Illinois Route 143 near the Federico Kia Dealership on Saturday, March 15, 2025, resulted in one person being taken to an area hospital, while three others involved in the incident declined medical attention. The collision occurred when a vehicle, traveling eastbound, pulled out of the Midwest Petroleum Gas Station and collided with another vehicle. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells confirmed the details of the incident. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Continue Reading

If you still have a power outage from Friday's storm, you may need to prepare a cooler for freezer items.

WOOD RIVER - Wood River Fire Chief Wade Stahlhut reported a series of incidents sparked by arcing power lines that ignited brush fires along Tyler Timmins Drive, behind the KIA dealership, on the afternoon of Friday, March 14, 2025. The brush fire, which took approximately 30 minutes to contain, was part of a larger pattern of emergency calls linked to strong winds that preceded a storm in the area. Stahlhut noted that the fire department responded to multiple incidents on Friday related to the high winds and the arcing of transformers. "Most of it was power lines arcing and transformers, things of that nature," he said. The winds also caused fencing along Highway 143, near the BP property, to collapse, leading to additional hazards along the roadway. The fire chief indicated that the department had to prioritize calls due to the volume of incidents that occurred almost simultaneously. "We actually had a large number of incidents due to strong consistent winds with heavier wind gusts,"

Continue Reading

Perryville High School and several other district buildings in the school district took a heavy hit from Friday evening's intense storms.

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Farmers Market: 8 am to 4 pm Saturdays,  April 5th, April 12th, April 19th, April 26th, May 24th, May 31st. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day. Now thru April 15th On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub … Continue reading St. Louis Area Seed and Plant Swaps and Sales →

Severe storms swept through parts of Missouri and Illinois on Friday evening, March 14, 2025, leaving behind a trail of destruction and resulting in at least 10 fatalities in Missouri, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP). The storms, which featured wind gusts reaching up to 80-90 mph, prompted numerous emergency calls and reports of significant damage across multiple counties. In total, MSHP reported six fatalities in Wayne County, two in Ozark County, and one each in Jefferson and Butler counties. The National Weather Service (NWS) is currently conducting storm surveys to confirm the number of tornadoes that occurred during the event, with preliminary reports indicating possible tornado activity in areas such as Rolla, Union, Villa Ridge, Bridgeton, Florissant, and Arnold in Missouri, as well as O’Fallon and Lebanon in Illinois. An NWS meteorologist said he wasn't sure when the discovery team would hit the Illinois side in their research. Reports of damage

Continue Reading

NWS survey crews surveyed damage from Wednesday night's storms. Here's how many tornadoes they've confirmed so far.

Lifelong Midwesterner Elizabeth Friend did something she rarely does: she took cover during the storm.