EF1 tornado in Faulkner County, Arkansas

This tornado started in the northern edge of Camp Robinson Army Base just southeast of the intersection of AR Hwy 89 and Clinton Rd., evident in areal footage. The tornado traveled generally east-southeast, mainly uprooting trees and blowing down tree limbs. This tornado crossed Cato Rd. north of the community of Cato, uprooting more trees. The tornado lifted near the intersection of Batesville Pike and Fortson Rd. Sporadic wind damage was noted south of this tornado, likely due to the rear flank downdraft winds over 60 mph.

A strong storm system brought multiple rounds of severe weather that led to fairly widespread rainfall and eventually river flooding. One round of severe weather occurred on Monday, April 11th. Large, individual thunderstorms known as supercells developed along the Arkansas River valley of western Arkansas. As these storms slowly drifted east, they produced four tornadoes across Sebastian, Franklin and Logan Counties and hail as large as 4.5 in diameter across Logan County. Later in the evening, storms began to develop across central Arkansas and move generally eastward. Two storms caused the most widespread severe weather across central into eastern Arkansas during the evening hours of the 11th. The main storm of interest developed across Perry and Faulkner Counties and moved east southeastward toward Lonoke County. As this storm intensified it produced a tornado as well as 3 hail near Cabot. The other main storm developed over portions of Garland County and moved east across Saline County. Before weakening, it produced a swath of hail as large as golf balls from Hot Springs Village to Bryant.

Ahead of a cold front that moved across the state on the 13th, additional rain and thunderstorms developed and moved across the state. Fairly widespread rain, some of which was heavy and led to flash flooding, and thunderstorms shifted east across the area on the 13th. A swath of heavy rain in excess of 2-4 inches occurred from portions of southwest to east central Arkansas as well as across northwest sections of the state. Sadly, one person died after a tree fell on a mobile home in Cleveland County on April 13th. On the same day, flash flooding claimed the life of a 70 year old woman in Carroll County when she attempted to cross a flooded low water crossing.