A destructive outbreak of 17 tornadoes occurred on February 9–10, 1959, mostly during the overnight hours, causing widespread destruction in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. The strongest of the outbreak was a violent F4 tornado which tore through the northwestern part of St. Louis. An F3 tornado also caused heavy damage to numerous structures in Southern Highland County, Ohio, including a school that was in session at the time the tornado hit. Overall, the outbreak caused 21 fatalities (all in St. Louis), 358 injuries, and $53.713 million in damage. Non-tornadic impacts also caused two more fatalities, and at least 197 more injuries.

Meteorological synopsis Early on February 7, a low-pressure system formed over Southeastern Oregon. This low strengthened as it moved slowly southeastward over the next two days before bottoming out at 992 mbars over Southwestern Colorado. It then accelerated tremendously as it turned eastward and then east-northeastward across the Central Plains. Meanwhile, a trough of low-pressure would move out of the Southwest, which caused an unusual surge of warm weather to be drawn northward into the Midwest in Early-February with temperatures climbing into the 60s°F across the region. The low-pressure system entered the area on February 9, spawning multiple clusters of severe thunderstorms over the Southern Great Plains. These storms would remain severe and tornadic throughout the overnight into the next day as the area of low-pressure moved quickly through the Great Lakes region.

Confirmed tornadoes

February 9 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, February 9, 1959F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width F1Duquesne to Duenweg to W of AtlasJasperMO20:10–20:20This tornado touched down east of Joplin and moved due east before turning northeast. Damage involved multiple buildings "bursting outward", causing $50,000 in damage. One person was also injured in Duenweg. A roaring sound and heavy rain accompanied the tornado, according to witnesses. F1WSW of Erin SpringsGarvinOK03:00–?This weak tornado may have started in Grady County, but is officially recorded in Garvin County. Buildings on three farms were damaged, and strong straight-line winds unroofed a garage and damaged TV antennas in Lindsay. There was $250 in damage from the tornado. F1ESE of Prague to WNW of PadenLincoln, OkfuskeeOK03:30–?This tornado heavily damaged or destroyed multiple outbuildings on several farms. Tree tops were blown off as well, and damages totaled $2,500. The tornado did not have a visible condensation funnel, but a roaring sound was heard as it passed by. F1CrestlineCherokeeKS04:16–?This tornado occurred right next to the Kansas-Missouri state line south of Lawton. Several farm buildings were damaged, four calves were killed, and two pigs were crippled. Damage was estimated at $2,500. The tornado may have crossed into Missouri, but the exact track is unknown. F1Cane HillDade, CedarMO05:01–05:30Cane Hill took a direct hit from this tornado. Farm buildings were damaged, and farm machinery was blown over. A number of animals were killed and injured as well, including a hog that was completely impaled by a 2x4. There was $7,500 in damage. The track of the tornado may have been longer as damage was recorded as far back as Waco in Jasper County with additional damage in Polk County.

February 10 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, February 10, 1959F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width F0Southeastern FlorissantSt. Louis Co.MO07:40–?Damage was noted to several homes in the northern part of St. Louis County, north of the path of the F4 tornado below. The damage was posthumously rated F0 with losses totaling $250. F4SW of Sherman, MO to northwestern St. Louis, MO to S of Madison, ILSt. Louis Co. (MO), St. Louis City (MO), St. Clair (IL), Madison (IL)MO, IL07:40–08:1521 deaths – See section on this tornado – 345 people were injured, and losses totaled $50.25 million. F1NW of Nashville to Irvington to Walnut Hill to S of CartterWashington, Jefferson, MarionIL08:30–?This narrow, intermittent, but long-lived tornado damaged 10 farmsteads in Nashville and four others near Cartter. The towns of Irvington and Walnut Hill also took direct hits from this storm, which caused $250,000 in damage. A "terrific roar" was heard by witnesses to the event. F2NE of New WashingtonClarkIN10:00–?A house and garage were destroyed by this strong tornado. Several other buildings were damaged as well, and losses totaled $25,000. F3BrucevilleKnoxIN10:00–?An intense tornado damaged or destroyed several barns in and around Bruceville, causing $25,000 in damage. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. F1N of PalestineCrawfordIL10:30–?Survey teams confirmed this weak, brief tornado within a much larger swath of wind damage. The tornado itself caused $25,000 in damage, and more than one may have touched down throughout the county. Additionally, the straight-line winds flipped a house trailer at Oblong, injuring one, and 10 farmsteads were damaged. F2NW of HomecroftMarionIN11:50–?This strong tornado hit the Penn Park addition in southern Indianapolis. A total of 20 homes were damaged and a stone garage "exploded", with the roof being tossed to the north. Damage estimates totaled $25,000. F1MorganfieldUnionKY12:15–?A high school was damaged by this brief, but destructive tornado. One wall of the school caved in, and four classrooms were unroofed. The tornado was confirmed by a resident who saw the funnel cloud from the heavy thunderstorm that produced the tornado. Although no other damage occurred, losses still reached $25,000. F2MitchellLawrenceIN13:00–?The western and northern sides of Mitchell were heavily damaged by this strong tornado. The side of a barn was caved in on the west side of town while the north side saw three garages overturned, the roof and the spire of a church damaged, and tombstones knocked over at a cemetery. Damage was estimated at $250,000. Grazulis did not list the tornado as an F2 or stronger. F3Eagle Station to SandersOwen, CarrollKY14:30–?This intense tornado moved northeastward along Eagle Creek. Numerous outbuildings were leveled, 12 barns were flattened, and three homes were destroyed. Additionally, the tornado carried a washing machine . Six people were injured, and losses totaled $2.5 million. F3Sugar Tree Ridge to northern Belfast to SW of North UniontownHighlandOH15:40–?The last tornado to be strong as well as cause casualties first touched down just to the west of Sugar Tree Ridge and quickly reached its peak intensity as it moved eastward directly into the tiny town. About 12 farms incurred damage, including one that saw all its buildings leveled, the house catch fire, and a car thrown into a ditch and destroyed. A garage at another home was ripped off its foundation and tossed into the backyard mostly intact, while another house with four occupants was leveled, although everyone escaped with only minor injuries. The tornado remained strong as it passed south of Folsom, before roaring into northern Belfast. The Belfast school, which was in session at the time of the tornado, sustained heavy damage to its roof, walls, and windows. Two children were injured when a brick chimney fell through the roof of an occupied classroom, scattering debris all over the place. Cars were demolished, and more utility lines were downed and severed in the area as well. Dozens of farm buildings were damaged or destroyed before the tornado weakened and dissipated southwest of North Uniontown. Tornado expert Thomas P. Grazulis classified the tornado as an F2. Six people were injured, and losses totaled $250,000. The tornado may have traveled slightly farther than indicated, as more damage was reported downwind after the tornado supposedly dissipated. F1W of Nelson to SW of TateCherokee, PickensGA22:15–?A tornado damaged or destroyed a number of broiler rooms, barns, and residences over a small area. Damages were estimated at $25,000.

Sherman–Warson Woods–St. Louis, Missouri/Madison, Illinois

This fast-moving, violent tornado first touched down in the southwest corner of St. Louis County just southwest of Sherman, Missouri. The tornado first caused some minor damage to homes in Sherman as it moved northeastward. It continued to cause minor damage to homes and other buildings as it moved through rural areas towards St. Louis. As the tornado entered Warson Woods, it began to intensify sharply, and damage became much more severe as it reached F2 status. Homes and stores had their roofs ripped off, and numerous trees and power lines were downed. The tornado continued to cause major damage as it passed through Rock Hill, Brentwood, and Maplewood.

The tornado then entered St. Louis City, devastating the area. It first damaged dozens of buildings and homes in the neighborhoods of Franz Park, Hi-Pointe, Clayton–Tamm, and Cheltenham before tearing part of the roof off the St. Louis Arena while also knocking down one of its decorative towers, and blowing down the KTVI-2 television tower, which damaged apartment buildings. The tornado then struck the Forest Park Highlands (now the site of St. Louis Community College) in Forest Park, inflicting major damage throughout the amusement park and mangling a large ferris wheel. It then entered the Central West End neighborhood, smashing windows at the St. Louis Children's Hospital and damaging the Mcauley Hall (now the Cathedral Tower). The first two fatalities occurred here when a falling chimney crushed two maintenance men. The tornado then reached its peak intensity as it tore through the northwestern part of St. Louis, where widespread F3 and isolated F4 damage was observed. Along a three-block radius at Olive Street and Boyle Avenue, 11 people died, and 34 others were injured. Many brick apartments, taverns, and family restaurants suffered major damage, with walls knocked down, roofs destroyed, and the destruction of their third stories. A dog was trapped under the rubble of a collapsed three-story building for three days before being rescued. A block away, multiple homes were heavily damaged or destroyed along Whitter Street, including some that were leveled. A destroyed three-story house at the corner of Whitter Street and Delmar Boulevard saw its lower floors completely collapse, causing the attic to completely cave in on the structure while remaining largely intact. Eight people were killed at this location. More buildings were wrecked in the Vandeventer neighborhood along Sarah Street and Cote Brilliante Avenue as buildings were heavily damaged, including some that had their front walls ripped off. More intense damage occurred in the Grand Center Arts District and JeffVanderLou neighborhoods, where two-story homes and apartments west of North Grand Boulevard were heavily damaged or destroyed. Five people were killed in this area was with two more fatalities occurring just to the northeast along Bacon Street. The tornado continued to wreak havoc as it swept through the St. Louis Place, Hyde Park, and Near North Riverfront neighborhoods, with the final fatality occurring in Hyde Park. Throughout the city, numerous other buildings, along with automobiles, trees, and power lines, were damaged or destroyed, with debris littering the streets and hundreds of people trapped in the rubble of the collapsed buildings.

The tornado then weakened and crossed the Mississippi River into Brooklyn, Illinois near the McKinley Bridge in St. Clair County. Minor to moderate F1 damage was inflicted on several factory buildings. The tornado then crossed into Madison County and through southern Venice, doing some additional roof damage before dissipating east of Madison and south of Granite City. Some additional minor damage also occurred south of Edwardsville, but this was most likely unrelated to the tornado.