NWS Little Rock, AR - Severe Storms on May 21-26, 2024 (2024)

NWS Little Rock, AR - Severe Storms on May 21-26, 2024 (1)
Storm Reports
Are you interested in what happened during a recent event? Check out the report below.

NWS Little Rock, AR - Severe Storms on May 21-26, 2024 (2)Severe Storms on May 21-26, 2024NWS Little Rock, AR - Severe Storms on May 21-26, 2024 (3)
NWS Little Rock, AR - Severe Storms on May 21-26, 2024 (4)
In the picture: High temperatures were in the 80s to lower 90s on 05/21/2024 (well above normal highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s).
Heading into late May, there was a lot to be concerned about in Arkansas. Several potent storm systems were set to traverse the middle of the country. Fronts pushed into the state from the Plains, and then waffled back to the north after the systems exited to the east. The fronts encountered well above average temperatures at times, and moisture levels were almost tropical. Scattered to numerous severe storms were in the forecast.
NWS Little Rock, AR - Severe Storms on May 21-26, 2024 (5)
In the picture: The WSR-88D (Doppler Weather Radar) showed classic signs of a tornado (hook echo, strong rotation, etc) as a supercell tracked through Russellville (Pope County) during the evening of 05/21/2024.

During the evening of the 21st, there were supercells (storms with rotating updrafts) along the Arkansas River west of Little Rock (Pulaski County). Several Tornado Warnings were issued, and signs were ominous (on radar) that a tornado was spawned at Russellville (Pope County). While a funnel cloud was witnessed, it did not reach the ground. There were power lines downed on the south side of town (due to damaging straight-line winds). Farther east, a tree was blown onto a house in Greenbrier (Faulkner County).

In Jonesboro #arwx pic.twitter.com/w7NZbyjsH6

— Matt Conatser (@matt_conatser) May 22, 2024
In the video: A severe thunderstorm produced damaging straight-line wind and hail at Jonesboro (Craighead County) on 05/22/2024. The video is courtesy of Matt Conatser via X (formally Twitter).

On the 22nd, the focus shifted mainly to the northeast counties. The storm of the day rocked Jonesboro (Craighead County) with up to golf ball size hail and unleashed a 70 mph wind gust at the airport. Numerous trees were toppled and homes/businesses sustained minor wind damage. Elsewhere, quarter size hail was reported at Fair Oaks (Cross County), Harrisburg (Poinsett County), Marianna (Lee County), and Whelen Springs (Clark County). Trees were uprooted at Caraway (Craighead County) and near Watkins Corner (Phillips County), and power poles were pushed over between Osceola and Blytheville (both in Mississippi County) along U.S. Highway 61. East of Blevins (Hempstead County), nineteen head of cattle were killed by lightning while standing under a tree.

Early on the 23rd, a downpour and more than five inches of rain washed out a ten foot section of a county road around New Hope (Hempstead County). Residents in the area were unable to leave or access their homes.

NWS Little Rock, AR - Severe Storms on May 21-26, 2024 (6)
In the picture: The WSR-88D (Doppler Weather Radar) and satellite showed scattered severe storms east of Little Rock (Pulaski County) early in the evening, with a cluster of strong to severe storms to the southwest. Over time (through midnight CDT), the cluster moved into central and east central sections of the state, and was respsonsible for widespread hail and wind damage.

Activity picked up a lot on the 24th. During the predawn hours, a weak tornado (rated EF1) touched down between De Queen and Lockesburg (both in Sevier County), and was on the ground for eight miles. Mostly tree damage was noted, although outbuildings and sheds were roughed up. The late afternoon/evening began with softball size hail at Slovak (Prairie County) and golf balls at Lexa (Phillips County). There was also a 63 mph wind gust at the Stuttgart Municipal Airport at Fairmount (Prairie County), and a 61 mph gust south of at McCreanor (Lonoke County). That was followed by a cluster of severe storms that marched from southwest through central and east central Arkansas. Trees were mowed down from Blevins (Hempstead County) and Kirby (Pike County) to Benton (Saline County), Little Rock (Pulaski County), Sheridan (Grant County), and Pine Bluff (Jefferson County). Quarter to hen egg size hail occurred in places. A 64 mph gust was measured at Maumelle (Pulaski County), with 50 to 55 mph gusts at airports in Camden (Ouachita County) and Pine Bluff (Jefferson County).

NWS Little Rock, AR - Severe Storms on May 21-26, 2024 (7)
In the picture: Parts of Arkansas near the Missouri border were very close to an enhanced to moderate risk of severe weather (considered significant) going into the nighttime hours of 05/25/2024 and early the next morning.

If you thought the 24th was bad, conditions were horrific before dawn on the 26th. The environment looked ominous from the central and southern Plains to southern Missouri and extreme northern Arkansas.

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Radar loop of the tornado producing supercell and line of storms following it last night through northern Arkansas. #ARWX #ARStormTeam pic.twitter.com/J3QlbO21M8

— Todd Yakoubian (@ToddYakoubian) May 26, 2024
In the video: A supercell (storm with rotating updrafts) spawned multiple tornadoes (some deadly) in extreme northern Arkansas during the predawn hours of 05/26/2024. The video is courtesy of Todd Yakoubian via X (formally Twitter).

Multiple tornadoes were spawned from Benton County eastward through Carroll, Boone, Marion, Baxter, and Fulton Counties. At Olvey (Boone County), a survey confirmed at least EF3 damage.

Major storm damage in Rogers, AR on Walnut St. from a likely tornado. Buildings destroyed vehicles flipped and powerlines down blocking the road. @weatherchannel @NWStulsa @weatherdan @4029Darby #ARwx pic.twitter.com/bJtH49P5GE

— Charles Peek (@CharlesPeekWX) May 26, 2024
In the pictures: Extensive damage was found in Rogers (Benton County) following a tornado early on 05/26/2024. The photos are courtesy of Charles Peek via X (formally Twitter).

Homes and businesses were heavily damaged or destroyed, and at least eight fatalities have been counted. Power was knocked out to at least 125,000 utility customers. More details will emerge as surveys are completed.

Back to May, 2024 Monthly Summary
https://www.weather.gov/lzk/svr0424a.htm
NWS Little Rock, AR - Severe Storms on May 21-26, 2024 (2024)

FAQs

Which part of Arkansas gets the most tornadoes? ›

Since 1950, counties with 50 or more tornadoes are mostly clustered along Interstate 30 and U.S. Highway 67/167. This includes areas from Benton (Saline County) and Little Rock (Pulaski County) to Jonesboro (Craighead County). Tornado deaths are highest in this part of the state as well.

What part of Arkansas does not get tornadoes? ›

On the western side of the state, there seems to be a couple of areas that have had fewer reports of tornadoes. These areas correlate fairly well with the Ozark National Forest and the Ouachita National Forest. The low density of people in these National Forests may lead to fewer reports.

What state has the most tornadoes? ›

Texas leads the nation in the number of tornadoes that occur each year on average, followed by Kansas. Texas leads the nation for the average number each year only because of its size.

What is tornado season in Arkansas? ›

Arkansas sees an average of 8 tornadoes in May and an average of just 1 in June. Tornadoes are possible all year, but you can see from the graph above that there are two distinct seasons where they are most common. The primary tornado season occurs in the Spring with a secondary season in the Fall/Winter.

What town in Arkansas was destroyed by the tornado? ›

ROGERS, Ark.

One of the hardest-hit towns was Rogers, in the northwest corner of the state. "Shock is really the best way to describe what we're all feeling right now," Rogers resident Tiffany Rea told FOX Weather. "It feels surreal.

Has Arkansas ever had an F5 tornado? ›

Late on the afternoon of April 10th 1929, a tornado ranked as F5 (the maximum intensity on the Fujita scale of tornado intensity) struck northern Jackson County. This is the only F5 tornado ever documented in Arkansas.

What is the best place to live in Arkansas? ›

7 Best Places to Live in Arkansas
#CityCommunity Well-Being Score
1.Fayetteville55/100
2.Bentonville57/100
3.Cave Springs57/100
4.Bella Vista57/100
3 more rows
Jun 25, 2024

When was the worst tornado in Arkansas? ›

The deadliest outbreak in Arkansas history, however, occurred on March 21, 1952, when 112 people lost their lives. Bald Knob (White County) and Judsonia (White County) were the hardest hit, suffering over fifty fatalities.

What state barely gets tornadoes? ›

Alaska, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. rarely see tornadoes — they averaged zero tornadoes annually over the last 25 years, according to our analysis of NOAA data.

What is the new Tornado Alley in 2024? ›

Tornado Alley in the U.S. is shifting: According to a report published in the April 2024 issue of the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, since 1951 tornado activity has been shifting away from the Great Plains and toward the Midwestern and Southeast U.S. Scientists aren't entirely sure of the reasons for ...

Which state has the most tornadoes in 2024? ›

The majority of tornadoes in 2024 have touched down in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Ohio has also experienced a surge in tornadoes, with 54 reports so far. Preliminary tornado reports by state between Jan. 1 and May 8, 2024.

Do they have tornadoes in Russia? ›

“[In Europe] the country with most reported tornadoes is Russia because of its large surface area, where 76 tornadoes are reported per year in the European part of the country,” Groenemeijer said. “However, the greatest tornado density is in Italy where 48 tornadoes are reported.

What animal can sense a tornado? ›

One of the many cool facts about cats and dogs is that they have, all around, more heightened senses. This can mean that when a storm is brewing, your four-legged friend will often be able to tell if things in their environment are changing due to alterations in the atmospheric or barometric pressure.

Can dogs smell tornadoes? ›

Dogs can seem to tell when storms and tornadoes are coming likely by sensing the barometric air pressure dropping and the electrostatic changes beforehand, smelling the oncoming rain, or hearing the wind. They'll tell you by pacing, whining, hiding, or cuddling up to your side. Don't get caught unaware by a tornado.

How many tornadoes has Arkansas had in 2024? ›

In this weather blog, we are going to recap the 11 tornadoes that have touched down in the state and see how this severe weather season so far compares to years past. The 1st tornado of 2024 occurred on February 9th in Saline County. It was an EF-1 tornado with a path length of 2.5 miles.

Is Arkansas located in Tornado Alley? ›

While Arkansas is not normally included on maps of the infamous Tornado Alley, which is usually considered to stretch from north Texas northward through Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska, the state has suffered many devastating tornado outbreaks.

Do the Ozarks in Arkansas get tornadoes? ›

The risk of tornado damage in Ozark is much lower than Arkansas average and is higher than the national average.

Where is the Dixie Alley? ›

Dixie Alley includes much of the area of the lower Mississippi Valley. It stretches from eastern Texas and Arkansas across Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and mid to western Kentucky to upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina; the area reaches as far north as southeast Missouri.

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