Missouri Says Hurricane-Force Winds Recorded in Tuesday Storms

If you doubted the strength of thunderstorms making their way through northeast Missouri Tuesday evening, here's certifiable proof. Missouri weather stations have confirmed hurricane-force winds have already been recorded and the storms have just begun.

UPDATE: New high wind speed in Missouri is now 89 mph in Jackson County, Missouri according to NOAA.

ORIGINAL STORY: As of this writing which is Tuesday, July 2 at around 8:30pm, the highest wind speed in Missouri was confirmed by the NOAA's Storm Prediction Center in Clay County near Excelsior Springs.

Wind gusts already equaling what would be category 1 hurricane-force wind speeds based on the Saffir-Simpson Scale if they were sustained winds like you experience during a hurricane. It's important to not underestimate the power and/or the damage that straight-line winds can do. No, they're not the continuous strength of a real hurricane, but 75 mph winds can take down trees and power lines and often do.

These thunderstorms are expected to be strong for the rest of Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. Time will tell if another weather station in Missouri exceeds the 75 mph winds in Clay County, Missouri tonight.