A storm brings large hail and a damaging tornado to the Sycamore area north of Independence.

 

A tornado was seen by spotters and reported by Montgomery County Emergency Management.  The tornado was observed on radar crossing highway 75 at Sycamore around 7:15 p.m.

 

Large baseball to softball-size hail was also reported, and U.S. 75 is closed between Independence and U.S. 400 due to a barn that was blown over the roadway.

 

A brief tornado was also located on the Wilson-Montgomery County line 5 miles northwest of Sycamore, in addition to a report of a tornado on the ground in Altamont.

 

As of 9:50, tornado warnings are still in effect for Cherokee County, with a tornado reported in the Oswego area.  Flood and flash flood warnings have also been issued for southern Neosho, northern Labette and Cherokee Counties.

 

Photo: David Cowan, Independence City Manager