EF1 tornado in Franklin County, Arkansas

This is the first segment of a three segment tornado. The tornado developed east of Highway 23, and crossed Highway 309, where trees were uprooted and large tree limbs were snapped. It then moved briefly across a small portion of Logan County. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 90 to 95 mph.

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.