DE SOTO, Mo. – An apparent tornado swept through Jefferson County on Saturday evening, just south of De Soto city limits, leaving behind some damaged structures, but not reported injuries.
Tom Fitzgerald, Chief of the De Soto Fire Protection District, tells FOX 2 that his agency’s preliminary mapping data shows the tornado significantly damaged 12 structures and passed through an estimated 53 properties along its path. It’s not immediately clear how many of those are homes.
The tornado is believed to have traveled seven miles, according to Fitzgerald’s mapping data. He says the hardest-hit areas included Big River Heights Road off of Highway 21 and Wilson Hollow Road. Both are round four miles south of De Soto.
There are also various damages to trees and power poles around the area.
A fast-moving, tornado-warned storm rolled through parts of Jefferson, St. François and Washington counties around 7 p.m. Saturday. The National Weather Service had not formally issued a watch before the warning.
Additional details are limited at this time as damage assessments continue.