Joplin, Missouri – An EF-1 tornado touched down in Joplin early Friday, damaging homes and trees while prompting a federal weather survey.
According to the National Weather Service in Springfield, Missouri, a survey team confirmed the tornado formed around 12:14 a.m. and remained on the ground for approximately five minutes. Peak winds reached 95 mph, placing the storm in the EF-1 category on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
The tornado tracked along the west-northwest side of Joplin, carving a path approximately 1.04 miles long with a maximum width of 200 yards. Survey data indicates the storm caused damage to an outdoor maintenance storage building at a golf course near West 2nd Street and Schifferdecker Avenue.
Officials said the tornado then moved northeast, knocking down numerous trees in a cyclonic pattern. Several homes sustained minor roof damage, and additional properties were impacted by falling trees.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
The National Weather Service noted that damage was primarily structural and tree-related, consistent with lower-end tornado intensity. Crews continue to assess cleanup needs in affected neighborhoods.
For residents, especially early-morning commuters and students, downed trees and debris may still impact some local streets as cleanup progresses.
Additional updates will be provided if further assessments reveal more damage.
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