EF3 Tornado — Jackson, Arkansas

2010-04-30 · near Weldon, Jackson, Arkansas

Event narrative

This was the fifth of five tornadoes spawned by the same supercell thunderstorm. This tornado passed through the south side of Shoffner. A church was destroyed and a power substation was damaged. A hangar at a flying service was destroyed and an aircraft used for agricultural application was damaged. A mobile home was overturned and destroyed. Significant roof damage occurred to homes. A grain elevator was badly damaged. An irrigation pivot was overturned. Outbuildings were destroyed or damaged. Trees were blown down.

Wider weather episode

Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico surged into Arkansas at the end of April, so conditions in the state became warm and humid. On the 30th, a strong area of low pressure aloft approached from the west, resulting in the development of thunderstorms. Wind shear, a change in wind direction and speed with height, was present. This created a favorable environment for the formation of tornadoes.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.4460, -91.2711)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 219961. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.