Sunday tornadoes hurl through Randolph County

By Janet Morales

Showers came to Moberly on Friday. But it was Good Friday and it seems it always rains on Good Friday – it’s symbolic.

Sunday was a time for church and family. Rothwell Park was filled Sunday afternoon with people taking advantage of the great weather. Kids were running to repeat turns on the new giant slide in Candy Cane City. Blue gill were being lured from the lake. Walkers with strollers, dogs or friends made use of the walking paths. Families played at tennis or gathered in one of the shelters just to hang out. Spring was here finally after a long winter.

But, as sometimes happens in spring, seemingly out of nowhere violent weather appeared.

Residents headed inside as skies got dark. As winds picked up and lightning strikes could be seen, Code Red calls were sent out warning of severe weather. This call was followed shortly by another upgrading the storm to a tornado warning and advising residents to seek shelter. A report of a tornado on the ground in Mt. Airy triggered the sounding of the early warning sirens for Randolph County.

The Moberly area experienced a deluge of rain with reports of hail up to a half-dollar size in some places. Moberly Police Department reported the traffic on Highway 63 came to a standstill due to the accumulation of hail.

Western Commissioner Randy Asbury, who lives in Yates, reported seeing rotations but no touchdowns near his home which is halfway between Higbee and Roanoke.

By the time the storm moved on to Audrain County, there were reports of three separate rotating weather systems.

No injuries were reported. Moberly Police said they had been told of downed power lines and tree limbs and some roof damage on barns and a limited number of residences.

Residents who have not signed up for the Code Red Weather Warnings are encouraged to do so by going to the City of Moberly’s web page at www.cityofmoberly.org or the Randolph County’s web page at www.randolphcounty-mo.gov.

Those individuals that do not have access to the Internet can complete forms for the service at the following locations: Moberly City Hall, Moberly Police and Fire Departments, Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, Randolph County 911 Office and Randolph County Ambulance District.