Thunderstorm Wind — Polk, Arkansas

2020-11-24 · near Rocky, Polk, Arkansas

Event narrative

A delayed report was received of trees blown down off of County Road 48.

Wider weather episode

On the 24th, a powerful storm system barreled into the middle of the country from the Rockies, and triggered scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Hit and miss precipitation popped up during the evening of the 24th, mainly from western into central Arkansas. That was followed by a line of showers and storms from the late evening into the predawn hours of the 25th.

There was some concern for severe weather, especially with the line of storms. Wind energy was impressive around the aforementioned system. This gave storms a fast forward speed, and this usually increases the chances of strong to damaging winds. Winds also turned with height, with the possibility of a tornado or two. However, the atmosphere was not exactly unstable (warm/moist). Temperatures were only in the 50s/60s, and dewpoints struggled to get into the 50s. This limited the amount of severe weather that occurred.

Statewide, there were only two reports of wind damage. Trees and power lines were downed just north of Plainview (Yell County). Trees were also toppled a mile west-northwest of Potter (Polk County), and there was minor structural damage as well.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.5600, -94.3600)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 925565. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.