DE SOTO, Mo. – The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down just south of the De Soto area on Friday night, cutting a near five-mile path through rural Jefferson County.

The tornado struck just before 9 p.m., with wind speeds reaching over 100 miles per hour and a maximum width of 300 yards. The storm left behind significant damage, particularly along Big River Heights Road.

“We were all very lucky, but we lost a lot of trees. And it’s going to take a while to clean up,” one resident said.

Lynn Lee, who lives on Big River Heights Road, described the moment the tornado hit.

“I went out on my back porch and clouds were going in one direction, and I went out on the front, and they were coming the other way. I thought, we’re gonna get it,” she said.

After a full-day survey, the National Weather Service confirmed the tornado’s classification and its impact on Sunday. A total of 53 buildings were damaged, with 12 sustaining heavy damage. Despite the destruction, no injuries have been reported.

“All the neighbors showed up in their side-by-sides and everybody was helping everybody making sure everyone was okay. Nobody got hurt, thank God,” said another resident.

In the aftermath, the Jefferson County community is coming together, supporting one another through cleanup and recovery efforts.

This tornado adds to a growing trend across Missouri, which has seen a higher-than-usual number of tornadoes this year.