St. Louis Area including Metro-east Illinois are Impacted by Friday Tornado; causing widespread storm damage
May 16, 2025
Event Summary:
According to the National Weather Service, on the afternoon of Friday, May 16, numerous severe thunderstorms developed over Missouri and tracked northeast. A significant tornado touched down in Clayton around 2:41 PM and rapidly intensified as it moved through northern St. Louis. The National Weather Service rated this tornado as an EF3, with maximum sustained winds reaching 152 mph. The tornado’s path continued across the Mississippi River into Illinois, impacting Venice, Granite City, and Pontoon Beach, before finally lifting near the SIU-Edwardsville campus. (Source: https://www.weather.gov/lsx/05_16_2025)
Impact on Trees:
The EF3 tornado’s powerful winds caused widespread and severe damage to trees throughout its path. The damage can be categorized into two main types:
Trees Uprooted: Many trees were completely uprooted due to the force of the wind. This occurred when the wind’s pressure on the tree’s canopy exceeded the anchoring strength of its root system. The saturated ground from previous rainfall likely exacerbated this, making the soil softer and less able to hold the roots. The uprooted trees likely had their root systems partially or wholly removed from the ground.
Trees Snapped: In numerous instances, the tornado’s winds were strong enough to snap tree trunks and large branches. This type of damage was often seen in both hardwood and softwood species, with the snapping point varying depending on the tree’s health, species, and the wind’s intensity at that specific height.
The extent of the damage varied across the tornado’s path, with areas experiencing the highest winds (EF3) suffering the most severe tree damage. Reports indicate that entire sections of some neighborhoods were significantly altered, with formerly tree-lined streets now open and exposed. The damage was not limited to residential areas; parks, and other green spaces also sustained substantial losses. Although this tornado’s intensity lessened as it crossed the river into Illinois, there were still reports of significant damage throughout Madison County in the following areas:
Power Lines: Fallen trees and branches brought down numerous power lines, causing widespread power outages across the affected areas.
Roads: Many roads were blocked by fallen trees, hindering emergency response efforts and disrupting transportation.
Property Damage: Trees fell on homes, cars, and other structures, causing significant damage. In some cases, trees penetrated roofs and walls, leading to extensive structural damage.
Debris: The tornado generated a large amount of debris, including broken branches, splintered wood, and uprooted root systems, complicating cleanup efforts.
Understanding and Comfort for Homeowners:
We understand that this is an incredibly challenging time for homeowners affected by the tornado. The sight of downed trees, damaged property, and the disruption to daily life can be overwhelming. It’s important to remember that you are not alone, and resources are available to help you through this process.
The cleanup and recovery process will take time, but communities are resilient. Neighbors, local organizations, and government agencies are working together to clear debris, restore services, and provide support.
A large area of the areas affected, are areas we serve. As part of our commitment to the communities impacted by last Friday’s storm system, we are offering a 25% discount on storm damage tree cleanup services to homeowners in the affected areas. We hope this will help ease the financial burden of the recovery process and allow you to focus on rebuilding and healing.
Our services include:
Tree removal (including fallen and hazardous trees)
Branch and debris removal
Stump grinding
Emergency tree services
Please reach out to us for assistance. We are here to help you restore your property and your peace of mind. If you ever have a tree emergency, we offer Emergency Tree Service 24 hours a day – seven days a week.