Buildings damaged in series of tornadoes in American Midwest

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A dangerous storm system produced dozens of tornadoes for the second consecutive day Tuesday in the U.S. Midwest, demolishing a racetrack grandstand and damaging buildings in a wild animal park in Missouri but sparing St. Louis, the biggest city in its path.

A tornado warning was issued on Tuesday, when the skies grew dark over St. Louis and surrounding suburbs before nightfall, but the storm passed overhead without producing the rotation that often spawns tornadoes and the city was mostly spared except for heavy rain.

Storms Monday evening flipped campers at Lucas Oil Speedway in Hickory County, Missouri, injuring seven people, four of whom were taken to hospitals. The speedway's grandstand was also destroyed, forcing cancellation of racing this weekend that was expected to draw about 3,000 campers.

Two workers clear debris from a home destroyed by a tornado in Missouri, July 29, 2011. /VCG Photo

Another twister Tuesday afternoon hit a drive-thru wild animal park in southern Missouri. Buildings were damaged near Strafford, but there were no reports that people or animals were injured and all of the animals were accounted for, according to Tom Simmons, Webster County Emergency Management Director.

The severe weather this time started in the Southern Plains Monday night and moved to the northeast. Missouri and parts of Illinois and Arkansas were in the crosshairs Tuesday.

Heavy rain was also called a contributing factor in the deaths of two people in a traffic accident Tuesday near Springfield, Missouri. An SUV skidded across the center of U.S. 160 and struck a tractor-trailer, killing both people in the car, Brandon Beasley and his wife, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The foundation of a home is all that remains after a tornado destroyed many houses in Missouri, July 29, 2011. /VCG Photo

Missouri authorities also reported several water rescues from flash flooding. Among them was an 18-year-old woman who was swept off a flooded road near Joplin Monday and stranded overnight until nearby residents heard her yelling. She had only minor injuries.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson declared a state of emergency, citing worsening flood concerns and soil inundation, as well as forecasts calling severe storms and possible tornadoes into Wednesday morning.

By Wednesday, the storm will move into Great Lakes region, where it will weaken. But another storm system was gathering steam for later this week, potentially covering an area from Texas to Chicago, according to the U.S. National Weather Service.

Source(s): AP