St. Louis Tornado Leaves 5 Dead, Thousands of Homes Damaged
An EF-3 tornado devastated St. Louis on May 16, 2025, killing five, injuring dozens.
St. Louis is grappling with widespread devastation after an EF-3 tornado tore through the city on May 16, 2025, killing at least five people, injuring 38, and damaging more than 5,000 structures. Packing winds up to 165 mph, the twister left a trail of ruin across neighborhoods including The Ville, Clayton, and Forest Park. It’s one of the most destructive storms to hit the region in decades.
The EF-3 tornado first touched down in the early evening, taking residents by surprise despite earlier warnings from the National Weather Service. Streets were left impassable due to debris, downed power lines, and uprooted trees. Entire blocks of homes were reduced to rubble, and emergency responders worked through the night to locate missing residents and provide aid.
In response, Mayor Cara Spencer enacted a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew across the hardest-hit zones. “We are asking for the public’s cooperation as we prioritize life-saving and cleanup efforts,” said Spencer. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has activated the State Emergency Management Agency, and federal support is expected soon, with FEMA on standby to deploy resources.
Volunteers have been crucial in the recovery effort. At the Urban League headquarters on Kingshighway, community groups are distributing meals, bottled water, tarps, and hygiene supplies. Residents, though shaken, are showing resilience as they begin to clear out debris and rebuild.
This tornado was part of a larger outbreak that ravaged parts of the Midwest and South. In Kentucky, at least 14 people died as tornadoes ripped through rural areas and small towns. Meteorologists say unseasonably warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico fueled the outbreak.
Source: KSDK News
The National Weather Service continues to monitor storm patterns as additional severe weather is forecasted later this week. “We urge residents to stay informed and have an emergency plan in place,” said NWS spokesperson Angela Hines.
Insurance companies are beginning to assess the damage, with early estimates putting insured losses in the hundreds of millions. For uninsured residents, local aid organizations are setting up relief funds and temporary shelters.
For now, St. Louis is in recovery mode. While the pain is fresh, the city’s spirit remains unbroken. “We’ve been through hard times before,” said longtime resident Jerome Miller. “We help each other, we rebuild, and we move forward.”