EF0 tornado in Columbia County, Arkansas

An EF0 tornado touched down near the town of Emerson, Arkansas near the intersection of Hwy. 79 and CR. 26. After the initial touchdown, the tornado crossed Hwy. 79 and moved north northeast. Sporadic tree damage associated with this tornado was observed just east of Hwy. 79 up to just north of Hwy. 98. Winds were estimated at 75 to 85 mph.

Widespread showers and thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a strong cold front as a powerful upper level storm system plowed into the southern plains during the afternoon hours of October 29th. Strong shear was in place across the region such that several tornadic thunderstorms developed...producing widespread wind damage across portions of northeast Texas, southwest Arkansas as well as northern Louisiana. These storms trained across the same general area such that flooding was widespread. Flooding was severe across northwest Louisiana where flooding was reported in many homes and businesses. Area bayous, creeks, rivers and lakes were already at high levels from the excessive heavy rainfall that fell earlier in the month. Thus, some lakes and bayous approached and succeeded their all time record stage levels.