Editor's Note: Last updated at 3:16 p.m.

A spokesperson for the Metro West Fire Department said up to 50 homes in Ballwin may have been seriously damaged by Friday's weather. Some homes sufferred collapsing tree branches, which also damaged parked cars. The subdivisions that were hit most seriously include Danbury, Please Grove and Stoddard Mill, emergency response officials said.

From the National Weather Service:
"At 11:30am ... National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a severe squall line capable of producing damaging straight line winds and rain-wrapped tornadoes.  These dangerous storms were located along a line extending from defiance to Dittmer ... moving northeast at 55 mph. Locations impacted include:

• Weldon Spring
• Cottleville
• Festus
• Byrnes Mill
• Clarkson Valley
• Ellisville
• Herculaneum
• Chesterfield
• St. Peters
• Pevely
• High ridge
• Ballwin
• Antonia
• Murphy
• House Springs
• Mapaville
• Scotsdale
• Otto
• Parkdale
• Peerless Park

"Precautionary/preparedness actions: Take cover now. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in a mobile home, a vehicle or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

"This line of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of your home or business."