Tornado in Franklin County, Arkansas

This is the second segment of a two segment tornado that moved into Franklin County from Sebastian County. The tornado produced a tornadic debris signature (TDS) from the KSRX WSR-88D that persisted from at least 722 pm through 728 pm. The TDS/debris was likely a result of damage to trees, based on aerial imagery. An NWS Tulsa survey team attempted to investigate the area where the damage occurred, but could not access the area. Since no damage could be evaluated, the tornado was rated EF-unknown.

Severe thunderstorms moved through northwestern Arkansas during the evening of the 4th. The atmosphere became moderately unstable ahead of a cold front approaching from the north and a dry line approaching from the west. Deep layer and low level wind shear increased during the afternoon and evening across the area, with the approach of a strong upper level disturbance, and became very strong by early evening. The combination of moderately strong instability and strong to very strong wind shear resulted in some supercell thunderstorm structures, as well as a severe squall line that moved through the region. Multiple tornadoes occurred across northwestern Arkansas, along with damaging wind gusts.