On Friday night, April 3, 2026, a line of storms moving into the western Ozarks region brought with it heavy rainfall and some severe weather. At 11:17 PM CDT, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield, MO had issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning that included southeast Cherokee County, Kansas, northern Newton County, Missouri and southwest Jasper County, Missouri. The NWS radar did show some broad rotation moving across the state line from near Galena, KS (Cherokee County) into Jasper County, MO. Later, broadcast media (KOAM-TV) reported a cloud lowering (possible funnel) over the city of Joplin with a photo looking towards downtown. Another photo (not shown) was seen on social media of a lowering photo taken from an apartment complex near 24th and Texas Avenue. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B6K6RSLvA/ At 11:25 PM CDT, the NWS issued a Severe Weather Statement that included the wording, “Remain alert for a possible tornado. Tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado, go at once into the basement or small central room in a sturdy structure. For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.” At 11:39 PM CDT, the Redings Mill Fire Department (RMFD) reported quarter-size hail at their main station. Note: Earlier in the evening, around 8:30 PM CDT, a semi-truck traveling through the Hornet community on Highway 43 (south of Joplin) hauling glass jars was overturned by very strong winds as the short yet pre-frontal strong line of storms moved into Newton County, Missouri from Oklahoma. https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/news/local/truck-driver-injured-as-storms-flip-semi-truck-on-highway-43/ Later in the night further east, two separate Tornado Warnings would be issued for the Springfield metropolitan area based on radar rotation. At the time of the post no damage or injuries were reported. Additional storm reports came in from the Fort Smith, Arkansas metro area, mainly for down trees and power lines due to high winds. My house in Joplin got very heavy rain for a time and some small hail briefly mixing in with the rain. The total rainfall from the event was 1.15 inches according to the rain gauge. There was little to no wind at the time, but lots of lighting.
