EF2 Tornado — Hempstead, Arkansas

2025-04-05 · near Sprudel, Hempstead, Arkansas

Event narrative

An EF-2 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 115 mph touched down just north of Interstate 30 along Hempstead 2, and remained on the ground tracking east-northeast just north of I-30 to near Hope. The tornado was strongest on Hempstead 2 where widespread major tree damage yielded a peak wind speed of 115 mph. Tree damage remained significant through the Highway 15 and Hempstead 2 intersection and the maximum width was estimated to have been achieved near this latter intersection. After this intersection, the tornado began gradually weakening and decreasing in size, with the last trace of contact with the ground being minor tree damage on North Hazel Street on the north side of Hope. Along the tornado's path, the majority of the damage was to hardwood and softwood trees, although some structures were damaged. Most of the structure damage was to outbuildings and carports, including the Hope Volunteer Fire Department. There was at least one recreational vehicle rolled with a mobile home pushed off of its foundation. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported from this tornado.

Wider weather episode

A stationary front extended across portions of Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas during the early morning hours on April 4th, but lifted north into Southeast Oklahoma and Western Arkansas during the day. This was in response to an intensifying low level jet that developed ahead of a large upper trough that extended from the Intermountain West into the Plains, which provided the necessary lift across the very warm, moist, and unstable air mass in place south of this front across much of the region. As a result, numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across the area during the afternoon and evening, which produced damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. As these storms moved repeatedly over the same areas, flash flooding also became an issue across Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas through the 5th, where total rainfall amounts of 4-8 inches fell. These totals resulted in the overtopping of McKinney Bayou west of Garland on the 5th, which continued through the 7th. However, the levee did not breach.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.6255, -93.7618)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1256658. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.