Missouri
Tornadoes, rainfall made extreme weather the climate story of 2025 in Missouri and Illinois
In 2025, St. Louis saw a city-shuttering snowstorm, the most April showers on record, a deadly tornado and humid heat waves.
The weather was unpredictable, to put it mildly. That shows in the weather data from last year, which local scientists are now releasing. Climatologists for Missouri and Illinois found both states were warmer than average, but extreme weather was the most notable trend in 2025.
Missouri may have broken its all-time record for the most documented tornadoes in 2025, and Illinois was close to doing the same.
The deadly EF3 tornado that hit St. Louis on May 16 caused an estimated $1.6 billion in damage. It joins 22 other catastrophes nationally that will cost more than $1 billion each to recover from in 2025, making last year the third highest on record for billion-dollar disasters, according to Climate Central.
Outbreaks of tornadoes in Missouri caused significant destruction and death outside St. Louis, too.
“Preliminary data shows that we had 120 tornadoes this year, which would be the state’s all-time record,” said Zack Leasor, University of Missouri state climatologist.
Most of those tornado reports were concentrated east of 1-44 and happened in the first half of the year, he said. That includes the tornado that hit Rolla in March.
The total number of tornadoes will likely come down as federal agencies verify all documented reports, Leasor said, but he expects 2025 to finish with having the most or second-most tornadoes in Missouri history.
Illinois may have nearly broken the record of 139 tornadoes set in 2024, with a preliminary count of 146 tornadoes in 2025.
“This year probably comes in at number two behind 2024,” said Trent Ford, Illinois state climatologist at the Prairie Research Institute. “But what was really interesting is the vast majority, almost all of the tornadoes that happened in 2025, happened before July 1.”
Warm but not scorching
After two years when average annual temperatures broke the top five in St. Louis, 2025 was a bit cooler in St. Louis. It was the 18th-warmest year on record in Illinois and the 16th warmest in Missouri.
“It was a warm year, although gosh, you know, it’s probably more remarkable when we get a year that’s colder than normal,” Ford said.
St. Louis recorded its 14th-warmest year in 2025, according to the National Weather Service, while 2024 and 2023 are the second- and third-warmest years, respectively.
“Even in a year like this where we did see a relative decline in those temperatures compared to the past two years, still we are well warmer than average,” Leasor said. “And this lines up with what we’ve seen really over the past 30 years in Missouri, where we have this notable upward trend in temperatures.”
Thirteen of St. Louis’ 15 warmest years have happened since 1990. The recent concentration of warmth shows how human-caused climate change is affecting the region, Ford said.
“Eighteenth warmest on record in Illinois is not headline-grabbing, but it’s also nothing to downplay either because we have 131 years of records,” Ford said.
In hotter years, warm winters have pushed St. Louis into the top five, like the record-breaking February heat in 2024.
“The past couple of years, we’ve had some very anomalously warm winter months, which can kind of skew some of that annual average as well,” Leasor said.
That didn’t happen in 2025, when winter months were cooler on average than in recent years, including the coldest January statewide in more than a decade.
But St. Louis still recorded its warmest December day on record, reaching 78 degrees on the 28th and breaking a monthly record of 76 degrees set in 2021.
April showers
Both Missouri and Illinois swung between deluges of rain and drought in 2025, according to Ford and Leasor.
“Even in drought years … we’re breaking hundreds of precipitation records because when we do get rain, it comes in giant bunches,” Ford said.
St. Louis recorded its wettest April on record, with 10.85 inches of rainfall, breaking a record set in 1893. Heavy rain on just five April days made up most of that total.
Climate change is creating heavier and more frequent rainfall events in the Midwest, according to the 2023 National Climate Assessment.
But on average, both Missouri and Illinois had drier-than-average years.
“Now we’ve had five consecutive drier-than-average months to end the year, and that kind of contributed to that annual average being dry as well,” Leasor said. “So still plenty of drought going into 2026 left around from this past year.”
Large swaths of Missouri and Illinois are now in moderate or severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 2, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 2 drawing
15-26-43-48-60, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 2 drawing
Midday: 6-2-1
Midday Wild: 4
Evening: 0-2-0
Evening Wild: 2
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 2 drawing
Midday: 4-9-6-4
Midday Wild: 5
Evening: 1-3-6-4
Evening Wild: 9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 2 drawing
Early Bird: 13
Morning: 04
Matinee: 04
Prime Time: 08
Night Owl: 12
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from June 2 drawing
01-10-15-19-31
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The date for the last matchup in the current Border War series is set.
Missouri men’s basketball will face Kansas in the Border War game on Dec. 6 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, according to a post from the Jayhawks’ official X/Twitter account Tuesday. The tipoff time and TV designation for the matchup will be released at a later date.
Kansas released its full nonconference schedule Tuesday, including the sixth and final game against Mizzou on the current competition contract.
The historic rivals have not yet signed a contract to renew the series beyond this season, according to a recent batch of competition contracts obtained by the Tribune through an open records request.
Missouri is yet to announce its nonconference schedule for the 2026-27 season, but there are three other known or reported games for this upcoming season.
Mizzou will face Howard at Mizzou Arena in the last leg of a three-game series, which will take place on a still-to-be-determined date.
The Tigers also have three more neutral-site games on their schedule. The annual Braggin’ Rights matchup against Illinois likely will fall in mid- or late- December at Enterprise Center, and Mizzou has agreed to a Nov. 15 trip to United Center in Chicago to face Marquette. Missouri also reportedly will face Saint Louis on Nov. 6 at Enterprise Center, according to Jon Rothstein at CBS Sports and College Hoops Today.
This season’s Border War matchup will include the first direct transfer between the two schools when Bryson Tiller suits up for Missouri after spending last season, his freshman year, at Kansas.
KU has won four of the five games since the series was renewed in 2021, including an 80-60 win in Kansas City last season. Missouri won the 2024-25 season matchup at Mizzou Arena, but has not beaten Kansas outside of Columbia since 2003.
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The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested eleven people in north Missouri between May 29, 2026, and June 1, 2026. The arrests involved a variety of alleged offenses, including driving while intoxicated, felony drug possession, resisting arrest, and outstanding felony warrants. Arrests were reported in Grundy, Clinton, Caldwell, Shelby, Marion, Ralls, Monroe, Clark, and Macon counties.
It is important to note that, while all the individuals listed below have been reported as arrested, they may not have been physically transported to a detention center. Depending on the circumstances, an individual may be issued a summons, which includes a court date. When the Missouri State Highway Patrol issues a summons with a court date, it is considered an arrest, even if the individual is not physically transported to a detention center.
Diego G. Gavilanes-Tigse, 31, of Trenton, was arrested in Grundy County at 6:36 p.m. on May 29, 2026. He was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and failure to signal. Gavilanes-Tigse was held at the Grundy County Law Enforcement Center and was placed on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold.
Heather S. Starchman, 37, of Kansas City, was arrested in Clinton County at 7:52 p.m. on May 29, 2026. Authorities reported she was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of a synthetic narcotic, felony tampering with evidence, felony resisting arrest, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with a prior offense, cutting in on an overtaken vehicle, failure to yield, failure to register a motor vehicle, no insurance, no valid driver’s license, and failure to wear a seat belt. Starchman was taken to Cameron Regional Medical Center and later released.
Alcides Blazimiro Sagastume Gonzalez, 52, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, was arrested in Shelby County at 6:50 p.m. on May 29, 2026. He was charged with driving without a valid license and driving while intoxicated. He was held in Shelby County before being released.
Ernesto J. Carames Lopez, 27, of Kansas City, was arrested in Clinton County at 4:03 a.m. on May 30, 2026. Troopers reported he was wanted on a Clarke County, Iowa, felony warrant for larceny and was also charged with careless and imprudent driving resulting in an accident. He was held in Clinton County and was listed as bondable.
Mariah R. Vandervelden, 31, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, was arrested in Marion County at 2:56 p.m. on May 30, 2026. She was charged with driving while intoxicated and was held in the Marion County Jail before being released.
Chad A. Woolfolk, 46, of Hannibal, was arrested in Marion County at 3:50 p.m. on May 30, 2026. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while revoked, and no insurance. Woolfolk was held in the Marion County Jail and later released.
Jo A. Kennedy, 62, of Louisiana, Missouri, was arrested in Ralls County at 5:35 p.m. on May 30, 2026. Troopers charged her with driving while intoxicated involving alcohol and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway. Kennedy was held by the Ralls County Sheriff’s Office before being released.
Ethan Z. White, 25, of Huntsville, was arrested in Monroe County at 5:40 p.m. on May 30, 2026. He was charged with felony resisting arrest, two counts of speeding 26 mph or more over the limit, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving on the left side of the roadway when the view was obstructed, driving while intoxicated involving alcohol, and consumption of alcohol while driving. White was taken to the Randolph County Jail and placed on a 24-hour hold.
Brian D. Brooks, 66, of Keokuk, Iowa, was arrested in Clark County at 9:53 p.m. on May 30, 2026. He was charged with felony driving while intoxicated as an aggravated offender, no valid license, and failure to comply with ignition interlock requirements. Brooks was held by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office on a 12-hour hold.
Justus Garway, 30, of Altoona, Iowa, was arrested in Macon County at 11:30 a.m. on May 31, 2026. He was charged with felony driving while intoxicated as an aggravated offender, failure to comply with an ignition interlock system, failure to secure a child younger than 8 years old, and speeding. Garway was held in the Macon County Jail on a 24-hour hold.
Justin L. Bittiker, 44, of Independence, was arrested in Caldwell County at 8:22 a.m. on June 1, 2026. Troopers charged him with felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, and turning from a direct course when unsafe. Bittiker was held at the Caldwell County Detention Center on a 24-hour hold.
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