Saturday severe thunderstorm damages areas of Jefferson County

(Jefferson County) Several counties in Missouri were impacted by a severe thunderstorm that moved into the area on Saturday night. Tornado warning sirens began warning area residents in Jefferson County around 6:15. Lydia Jaja is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. She says this storm was building in strength as it entered central Jefferson County.

The storm impacted nearly all of Jefferson County. Areas in Hillsboro, Festus, and Crystal City were hit with heavy winds, while Pevely and Herculaneum may have seen the most damage.

Las Brisas Mexican restaurant in Pevely suffered damage to their outdoor patio area. Kade’s Playground in Herculaneum suffered damage including the nearby pavilion collapsing. There were reports of numerous downed trees and large branches covering roadways, and many reports of roof damage to homes and businesses. Lots of power outages in various areas of the county, with Pevely and Hillsboro, impacted the most.

Main & Mill Brewing Company in Festus closed early due to water leaking into the building, and several businesses on Festus Main Street lost power resulting in most of them closing early.

The National Weather Service was surveying storm damage in Valley Park, Hillsboro, and Herculaneum to determine if it was indeed a tornado or just extreme winds.