EF1 Tornado — Craighead, Arkansas

2025-05-16 · near Elm Grove, Craighead, Arkansas

Event narrative

An EF1 tornado formed in a field north of County Road 618 just south of Lunsford, overturning a center-pivot irrigation system. The tornado moved northeast, snapping several power poles along County Road 817. One outbuilding and a home sustained roof damage on County Road 815. The tornado crossed the St. Francis River near Sandy, producing minor tree damage on County Road 848 near the Mangrum community before lifting. Peak winds were estimated at 90 mph.

Wider weather episode

A mid-level jet moved across the region during the overnight hours, enhancing lift and weakening the capping inversion. Robust development occurred overnight in a very unstable airmass with plentiful shear. These storms moved east of the region by mid-morning.

The airmass was able to quickly recover as warm, moist air, quickly advected into the region. A cold front moved into the region, triggering storms ahead of the front during the late afternoon. Plentiful shear, helicity, and steep lapse rates supported severe storms that produced all hazards.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.7392, -90.4925)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1260260. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.