EF1 tornado in Jefferson County, Arkansas

The NWS Little Rock survey team found evidence of an EF-2 tornado in Jefferson and Arkansas counties. This tornado likely began near Reydell in Jefferson County where power poles were snapped near the intersection of State Hwy 11 and Gibson Road. It travelled 3.31 miles northeast crossing Bayou Meto near the southwest corner of Rodgers Reservoir, moving into Arkansas County. Witnesses reported the tornado, and video was captured and shared through social media.

The National Weather Service of Little Rock visited the affected area, with the most damage at a rice production plant. Metal was torn off of buildings and grain bins, a roof collapsed, and a shop was destroyed. Thirty or so utility poles were snapped.

It was was repeat performance on March 25th. Just like the 17th, there was another high risk of severe storms, with a tornado outbreak expected just to the east of Arkansas. We dealt with hail from southwest into central portions of the state from the evening of the 24th into the wee hours of the 25th. Golf ball size hail was reported near Dierks (Howard County), with half dollar size stones at Foreman (Little River County) and west of Lono (Hot Spring County). After the hail, here came areas of heavy rain.

On the 27th, it was our turn. It sure felt like tornadoes by 400 pm CDT, with temperatures well into the 70s to lower 80s (warm) in southern and eastern Arkansas. Dewpoints were in the mid and upper 60s (moist). By that time, thunderstorms were just starting to flare up in the south/east. From there, storms took off and continued well into the evening.

Between 530 pm and 730 pm CDT, there was three inch diameter hail (slightly larger than baseballs) at South Bend (Lonoke County), baseball size hail at Gurdon and Whelen Springs (both in Clark County), lime size hail at Newport (Jackson County) and Stuttgart (Arkansas County), golf ball size hail at Galloway (Pulaski County), and half dollar size hail at Furlow (Lonoke County). Ping pong balls pelted Camden (Ouachita County) at 900 pm CDT.

Trees were downed by thunderstorm winds near Princeton (Dallas County), Stephens (Ouachita County), and Woodberry (Calhoun County).

Two storms in the southeast were monitored closely as both exhibited strong rotation. One of the storms dropped a tornado (rated EF2/19 mile track) from Reydell (Jefferson County) to four miles east-southeast of DeWitt (Arkansas County). The tornado lasted for a half hour (823 pm to 854 pm CDT).

Witnesses reported the tornado, and video was captured and shared through social media. The National Weather Service visited the affected area, with the most damage at a rice production plant. Metal was torn off of buildings and grain bins, a roof collapsed, and a shop was destroyed. Thirty or so utility poles were snapped.

Just before 1030 pm CDT, a short-lived tornado (rated EF2) hit a few miles north of Monticello (Drew County). Several structures had roof damage, and multiple trucks at a construction company were tossed into a nearby field. Big trees were also uprooted.