Tornado Warnings, Flood Alerts Hit Southwest Missouri Sunday Morning
A dangerous line of severe storms swept through southwestern Missouri Sunday morning, prompting tornado warnings for Barton, Cedar, Vernon, and Dade counties alongside multi-day flood warnings for six rivers.
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI — The National Weather Service in Springfield issued multiple tornado warnings and flood warnings for southwestern Missouri early Sunday morning, as a line of severe thunderstorms moved east at 35 mph across the region, threatening several small communities with tornado activity, damaging winds, and rising floodwaters.
Tornado Warnings Issued for Multiple Counties
At 8:26 a.m. CDT, the NWS Springfield office issued a tornado warning for northeastern Barton County, southwestern Cedar County, southeastern Vernon County, and northwestern Dade County, all in southwestern Missouri, lasting until 9:00 a.m. CDT. At that time, severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado were located along a line extending from 7 miles east of Sheldon to near Lamar.
A second tornado warning followed at 8:38 a.m. CDT, also in effect until 9:00 a.m. CDT, as the storm system continued pushing east. Radar-indicated rotation placed the threat along a line stretching from 13 miles west of Stockton to 15 miles east of Sheldon to 11 miles north of Golden City.
According to the National Weather Service, communities in the path of the warnings included Jerico Springs, Milford, Olympia, Filley, Wagoner, Cedarville, and Sylvania. Officials warned that flying debris would be dangerous to anyone caught outside without shelter, that mobile homes could be damaged or destroyed, and that roofs, windows, vehicles, and trees were all at risk.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Preceded Tornado Activity
Before the tornado warnings were issued, NWS Springfield put out two separate severe thunderstorm warnings for the region. At 7:51 a.m. CDT, a warning was issued for Morgan County in central Missouri until 8:30 a.m. CDT, citing radar-indicated 60 mph wind gusts. Storms at that time were located along a line from near Stover to near Versailles to 8 miles northwest of Laurie, moving northeast at 50 mph.
Communities in that warning included Lake of the Ozarks, Versailles, Stover, Barnett, Syracuse, Gravois Mills, and Florence. A second severe thunderstorm warning, issued at 8:15 a.m. CDT until 8:45 a.m. CDT, covered storms along a line from Sheldon to near Lamar, again moving east at 30 mph with hazardous 60 mph wind gusts. That warning affected Lamar, Golden City, Sheldon, Montevallo, Lamar Heights, Irwin, Milford, Kenoma, Oakton, and Boston.
Flood Warnings Cover Multiple Rivers Through Midweek
Alongside the tornado and storm threats, NWS Springfield issued flood warnings at 8:15 a.m. CDT for a series of rivers across southwestern Missouri and eastern Kansas. Moderate flooding is forecast on the Little Osage River near Horton affecting Vernon County, the Little Osage River at Fulton affecting Bourbon County, the Marmaton River near Nevada affecting Vernon County, the Marmaton River at Fort Scott affecting Bourbon County, and the Sac River near Caplinger Mills affecting Cedar County. Minor flooding is forecast on the Osage River at Taberville affecting St. Clair and Vernon Counties.
The flood warning for the Marmaton River near Nevada runs from late Sunday night until Thursday morning, June 25, 2026. At 28.0 feet, floodwaters impact Highway 54 along Route H, according to the National Weather Service. The warning for the Sac River near Caplinger Mills extends from late Sunday night until early Wednesday morning, June 24, 2026. The flood warning for the Little Osage River near Horton begins Sunday evening and remains in effect until further notice. On the Osage River at Taberville, the warning was set to begin late Monday night and also remains in effect until further notice, with flood impacts noted at 27.5 feet affecting all low-lying areas near the gauge site.
Residents in the affected counties are urged to monitor official NWS alerts and avoid flooded roadways. All warnings and watches were issued by the National Weather Service office in Springfield, Missouri.
