Thunderstorm Wind in Cleburne County, Arkansas

Thunderstorm winds struck the Hill Creek Marina on Greers Ferry Lake, destroying three docks. One of the docks was thrown on top of another dock. At least 80 boats were damaged or destroyed, including some boats that overturned or sank. Lightning detection equipment and Doppler weather radar indicated the storm had only a brief life-span. From the time cloud-to-ground lightning developed until it dissipated was only 20 minutes. Altogether, only 13 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were detected from the storm. Although people were present at the marina when the storm struck, no one was injured.

Unseasonably warm temperatures and humid air combined with small areas of low pressure aloft to set off afternoon and evening thunderstorms on May 24th through 27th. A few of the storms were severe. The storms moved very slowly, resulting in large amounts of rain falling over relatively small areas.