Severe storm hits Des Peres

The severe storms that swept the St. Louis metropolitan area on Saturday created havoc in Des Peres.

At approximately 4:15 p.m., tornado warnings sounded, skies darkened and a large funnel cloud was spotted in the area of I-270 and Manchester Road in Des Peres. Witnesses said the cloud passed directly over West County Mall.

"We looked right up above the mall and saw the funnel cloud," said Steve Ryan, manager of the Des Peres Schnucks on Manchester Road, just east of Ballas Road.

Other Schnucks employees reported seeing chunks of debris fall from the funnel cloud.

Tracy Moore, of Crestwood, was driving on Ballas Road near the mall as the funnel cloud passed overhead and a tree crashed through the windshield of her van. Moore said that she did not see the funnel cloud but was told by other witnesses that it was dropping debris.

A passenger in Moore's van said that she saw a large flash of blue light immediately before the tree came through the windshield.

Neither Moore nor her two passengers suffered any injuries.

Police closed Ballas Road to traffic at Sunny Drive, just south of the mall and north of Dougherty Ferry Road, due to downed power lines and fallen trees.

"Five or six houses are pretty severely damaged," Des Peres Police Chief Keith Krumm said, "but so far, there are no reports of any injuries."

The homes that were damaged are located off Ballas Road between Sunny Drive and Dougherty Ferry Road. Witnesses who passed through the area prior to the road being closed reported that there are massive tree trunks split in two in and along the road.

The Des Peres Police station, located directly across Ballas Road from West County Mall, lost power and currently is operating on generator power, Krumm said.

Traffic signals at Manchester Road and Ballas Road also are without power.

Despite reports to the contrary, West County Mall remains open.