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F2 tornado in Saline County, Arkansas

Tornado March 1, 1997 · Saline County, Arkansas

Rating

2.0 mi

Path length

352 yd

Path width

$10.0M

Damage as recorded

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The path drawn at its surveyed width of 352 yards (0.20 mi) — zoom in and the swath grows to true scale. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F2 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F2 meant considerable damage: roofs torn off well-built houses, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted; the scale paired it with winds of 113–157 mph, figures later judged too high, especially toward the top of the scale, and revised downward in the Enhanced Fujita scale. Ratings then, as now, came from the damage.

The wider storm

Another tornado formed just south of the main tornado track near Shannon Hills. The tornado was on the ground for approximately 2 miles. Several homes sustained damage. A number of trees were also blown down, as well as several high voltage electrical towers. Much of the damage was mostly F1. However, damage to the high voltage transmission towers was consistent with an F2 rating.

Began near Vimy Ridge (34.5800, -92.4000).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 5592928. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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