EF3 tornado in Union County, Arkansas

A strong tornado developed under a supercell thunderstorm which moved northeast across the county. Damage was largely confined to heavily wooded areas with less than 20 structures sustaining damage. Six of these structures received heavy damage near the community of Strong, Arkansas. Numerous snapped and fallen large trees were also observed.

The extent of the damage ranged from shingles off some homes to others completely demolished. Of the 6 homes that were severly damaged...two were mobile homes. The tornado began in extreme southwest Union County near Junction City where a metal roof was blown off a pharmacy on Route 167. The tornado produced sporadic tree damage along Welloo and Welch roads. Moving northeast...the tornado downed additional trees across Caledonia and Iron Mountain roads. The tornado continued in a northeast direction...crossing Hwy 82 and intensified as it crossed Old Strong highway. Here a well build brick home was mostly demolished. The tornado traveled a half mile east and demolished a double wide trailer blowing the debris 150 to 200 yards downstream. Several other homes were affected from this storm before the storm lifted near the community of New London. Five injuries were reported from this tornado with no fatalities. At the most damaging point of the storm after it crossed Hwy 82...the storm was rated an EF3 on the new enhanced Fujita scale. A monetary damage amount was not available for this publication.

The Damage Indicator for the event was (DI): FR 12 while the Degree of Damage for the event was (DOD): 8.

A vigorous upper level storm system moved into the southern plains and lower mississippi valley during the morning and afternoon hours of the 24th. The atmosphere became very unstable ahead of this system as a dryline moved into southwest Arkansas during the late morning and afternoon hours. Severe thunderstorms developed rapidly in the ustable airmass and enough shear was present such that tornadoes developed across portions of southwest Arkansas.