Strong Thunderstorms Tracked Near Bunker, Missouri Wednesday Evening
A line of strong storms packing 50 mph wind gusts and nickel-size hail swept through the Missouri Ozarks Wednesday, targeting state parks and scenic riverways.
BUNKER, MISSOURI — A cluster of strong thunderstorms moved through a rural stretch of south-central Missouri Wednesday evening, prompting the National Weather Service in Springfield to issue a Special Weather Statement as the system tracked northeast at 15 mph.
At 5:21 p.m. CDT on June 24, Doppler radar placed the storms approximately 10 miles southwest of Bunker, or 25 miles southeast of Salem, according to the National Weather Service.
Hazards and Potential Impacts
The NWS identified wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel-size hail as the primary hazards associated with the storm cluster. Radar indicated both threats, according to the agency.
Gusty winds carried the potential to knock down tree limbs and send unsecured objects airborne. Minor hail damage to vegetation was also considered possible, the NWS said.
Areas in the Storm’s Path
The following locations were identified by the National Weather Service as being in the path of the storms:
- Echo Bluff State Park
- Current River State Park
- Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- Bunker
- Round Spring
- Midridge
Several of the affected areas are popular recreational destinations along the Current River corridor in the Missouri Ozarks, including federally managed lands within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
No Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued
The National Weather Service classified the alert as a Special Weather Statement rather than a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, indicating the storms did not meet the threshold for severe classification — typically 58 mph wind gusts or one-inch diameter hail — at the time of the statement.
Residents and visitors in affected areas were advised to secure loose outdoor items, seek shelter if storms approach, and monitor updated forecasts from the National Weather Service Springfield office.
