Pilot Grove tornado: Report reveals timeline of destruction
Erika McGuire
PILOT GROVE, Mo. (KMIZ)
More than seven months after an EF-2 tornado hit the small town of Pilot Grove, a report obtained by ABC 17 News through a Missouri Sunshine Law request breaks down the timeline of events on April 2. 2025.
According to the agency, the morning began with dangerous conditions as the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issued a rare risk level 5 of 5 for severe thunderstorms for several states, including Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. A severe line of thunderstorms developed and moved from southwest Missouri to the northwest, passing through Cooper County.
Timeline
A line of storms moved into Cooper County early that morning, and a tornado watch was issued around 2:30 a.m.
Conditions escalated quickly. Around 8:29 a.m., the NWS reported a severe thunderstorm near Pilot Grove. At roughly the same time, an EF-2 tornado touched down southwest of town and began tracking northeast.
A tornado warning was issued four minutes later, at 8:33 a.m. Sirens were activated across Cooper County, but not all areas were included in the polygon, and Pilot Grove’s siren did not sound because the tornado had already damaged power lines.
The Cooper County Emergency Management Agency set the outdoor siren off twice within minutes of each attempt, following protocol, according to agency Director Larry Oerly.
Over the next 20 minutes, multiple tornado warnings were issued for different parts of the county as the storm moved toward Boonville. Reports of damage, downed power lines and homes hit by the tornado began coming in between 8:45 and 9 a.m.
By 9:01 a.m., fire and EMS crews were dispatched to Pilot Grove as search and damage assessment operations began.
At 9:02 a.m., another tornado warning was issued for northwestern Cooper County until 9:30 a.m.
The After Action Report noted multiple hazards were encountered, such as downed power lines with broken utility poles, debris blocking roads and gas leaks from broken propane lines.
Utility companies were notified and made their way to Pilot Grove and the surrounding area. The Missouri Department of Transportation was notified and blocked off Highway 135 in the impacted area.
A command post was set up at 16851 Highway 135.
The EF-2 tornado damaged or destroyed 16 homes, 12 commercial buildings and two public buildings. Damage to vehicles, farm equipment and trees was also reported.
A total of 29 different agencies responded to the aftermath.
Watch ABC 17 News at 10 p.m. Tuesday to see what emergency managers learned and hear from tornado victims.