Storm Damage Wednesday, Heat and Storms Possible Today

A hot and stormy Wednesday could repeat itself today as residents and visitors celebrate Independence Day.

The recap from yesterday and a preview of today are below:

A storm develops in the Lakes Region Wednesday evening that causes significant damage to parts of Stone County. 

According to a post on the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District Facebook page, they along with members of the Central Crossing Fire District and other EMS crews responded to areas around the Cape Fair Marina shortly after 8:00 just after the storm moved through. First responders discovered that part of the marina broke away from its mooring with people stranded on the dock. Those individuals were moved off the dock to land by Southern Stone County Fire Rescue Boats. One dock at the marina sustained severe damage while other docks also were damage. The post states that there could be between 15 and 20 boats that were submerged due to the storm.  

Guests at the Cape Fair Marina Campground reported damage to travel trailers from fallen trees. 

No injuries were reported according to the post by Paul O’Neal, Southen Stone County Fire Public Information Officer.

Other areas of Stone County also received damage according to reports by the National Weather Service. Baseball size hail and bigger fell in the Cape Fair area while one-to-two-inch hail was reported between Reeds Spring and Kimberling City. Several tree limbs were reported down on Ance Creek Road near Branson West which did cause some minor damage to homes.

The storm Wednesday that caused damage in areas of Stone County continued to move eastward and strengthen, leading the National Weather Service to issue a Tornado Warning for areas between Kimberling City and Branson around 8:00. No tornado sightings have been reported though areas of Stone County sustained significant damage while in Taney County, most areas saw heavy rain and high winds as the storm moved through. 

Today could be a similar mix as Wednesday as Heat Advisories are once again issued for the Lakes Region with Excessive Heat Warnings are again in effect for areas east of Harrison including Marion and Baxter Counties. Heat Index readings from 105 to 115 are possible during the day. 

More severe storms like the ones that hit the area Wednesday could redevelop tonight with possible hail and strong winds the biggest threat.