ST. LOUIS - The National Weather Service reports that the storm that ripped through the region late Friday was the worst it has seen in more than 40 years.

The last time the area saw such severe and widespread damage was on Jan. 24., 1967, when a tornado traveled 21 miles across St. Louis County following an eerily similar path.

Lambert International Airport, smack in the middle of that path, was hit hard, losing part of its roof and seeing its windows shattered throughout the main terminal. There were multiple injuries, none serious. The airport is closed down indefinitely.

The weather service has confirmed tornadoes touched down in New Melle, Maryland Heights and Granite City. Survey teams are out inspecting the damage, to confirm suspected tornadoes elsewhere along that storm route.

Forecasters at the weather service say the region may be at risk for more tornadoes Monday afternoon and evening, when a severe storm system is expected to move back in.

Until then, the rain will continue, which has officials worried about flash floods.

WITNESSES RECALL TERROR

About 30 adults had just started watching Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ," a movie about Jesus' crucifixion, when one of the elders at the Ferguson Christian Church received a text from his wife.

"There's a tornado at Lambert heading your way," the phone said. The group at scrambled downstairs, joining five children who former children's minister Joni Bellinger was tending to.

"It wasn't a minute before we started feeling the pressure," Bellinger said. "Our ears were popping. Everything started flying — brooms, shattered glass . . . Everyone talks about that train sound. It was just a 'Boom! Boom! Boom!' I've never experienced such pressure."
The children cried and the adults huddled around them. Just like that, it was over.

"We all hugged and thanked God that we're all alive," Bellinger recalled on Saturday. (Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch)

Story Date: April 24, 2011