A tornado warning was in effect for Joplin at the time the storm struck, yet it was not enough to prevent so many deaths.

A national network of Doppler radars scans the skies for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, and scientists’ understanding of the factors that lead to tornadoes has improved dramatically during the past two decades. The Joplin tornado's death toll was especially shocking to weather forecasters, since during the past two decades billions of dollars have been spent upgrading the nation’s weather warning systems to provide timely tornado watches and warnings. The High School itself was destroyed during the tornado, and students spent the past year taking classes in a temporary facility. Joplin is being rebuilt using state and federal funds, and the morale of the community received a boost when President Obama delivered the commencement address at Joplin High School on Monday evening. Others have estimated losses at closer to $3 billion. Additionlly, the Joplin tornado was also one of the most expensive tornadoes on record, having caused direct insured losses of $1.9 billion, according to Missouri officials. It also ranks as the seventh deadliest in U.S. to result in more than 100 fatalities since a tornado struck Flint, Mich., in 1953. The Joplin tornado was the first single tornado in the U.S. It devastated the city of 50,000, killing 161 and injuring more than 1,000.

The twister’s winds were estimated to be more than 200 mph, making the tornado an EF-5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which measures a tornado’s intensity. The ferocious tornado that tore the city of Joplin, Mo., apart exactly one year ago today stunned the nation with its tragic death toll and staggering damage.

Joplin missouri tornado path length