EF1 Tornado — Madison, Arkansas

2025-05-19 · near Whitener, Madison, Arkansas

Event narrative

This tornado developed just east of CR 7505, along CR 7500 where trees were uprooted and large tree limbs were snapped. The tornado moved northeast, then turned to the east-southeast along CR 7755. After crossing CR 7855, the tornado moved east across the north side of Huntsville, and continued moving just south of Highway 412 until it dissipated after crossing CR 2315. The tornado snapped and uprooted numerous trees, and destroyed outbuildings. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 100 to 105 mph.

Wider weather episode

Severe thunderstorms developed over central Oklahoma along and ahead of a dry line during the afternoon of the 19th, as an upper level disturbance approached the Southern Plains. These thunderstorms moved northeast off the dry line and across portions of northwestern Arkansas during the evening hours. The atmosphere east of the dry line across northwestern Arkansas became very unstable during the afternoon and evening, and this instability combined with strong deep-layer and low-level wind shear, resulted in the development of a severe squall line. Multiple tornadoes and large hail up to quarter size occurred with these thunderstorms across portions of northwestern Arkansas. Locally heavy rainfall also produced some flash flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.0890, -93.8490)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1264155. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.