Alert archive / Arkansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Little Rock, AR

March 2, 1997Clark County, Arkansas

NWS Little Rock, AR issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 2, 1997, 2:20 PM CST for Clark County, Arkansas. It was in force for 65 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 2, 1997, 2:20 PM CST (20:20 UTC)
Expired
Mar 2, 1997, 3:25 PM CST
In force
65 min
Issued by
NWS Little Rock, AR
Area
Whole counties

County Clark County, AR

The radar

The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 121 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:21 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Shreveport, LA (KSHV), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 183 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Shreveport, LA at 12:00Z on 1997-03-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Shreveport, LA at 12:00Z on 1997-03-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 94 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
483 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
68 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
94 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
98 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KLIT 022021 RRA
SVRLIT
ARC019-022125-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
220 PM CST SUN MAR 2 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK AR HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 325 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN SOUTHWESTERN ARKANSAS

   ...EASTERN CLARK COUNTY
 
AT 219 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS DETECTED BY DOPPLER RADAR
11 MILES SOUTH OF GURDON OR 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WHELEN SPRINGS
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
WHELEN SPRINGS               AROUND 225 PM CST  ...
GURDON                       AROUND 230 PM CST  ...
GUM SPRINGS                  AROUND 240 PM CST  ...
ARKADELPHIA                  AROUND 245 PM CST  ...
CADDO VALLEY                 AROUND 250 PM CST  ...

THE MAIN THREAT WITH THIS STORM IS DIME SIZE HAIL OR LARGER.STRONG AND
GUSTY WINDS MAY ALSO BE PRODU$CED IN AREAS AFFECTED BY THE STORM. REPORT
ANY SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS...AND ASK THAT
THE REPORT BE FORWARDED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

209/208

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 8:34 AM CST, 5 hours 46 minutes before
ARZ003>009-012>018-020>028-030>073-021730-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
835 AM CST SUN MAR 2 1997

...RAIN AND SOME THUNDERSHOWERS IN THE TORNADO CLEAN-UP AREAS TODAY...

THE COLD FRONT THAT HELPED TO SET OFF THE SEVERE WEATHER IN ARKANSAS HAS
STALLED ACROSS THE EXTREME SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE STATE. MEANWHILE...
LOW PRESSURE ALOFT MOVING OUT OF TEXAS HAS CAUSED MOISTURE TO BEGIN
OVERRUNNING THE STALLED FRONT.

THE RESULT HAS BEEN AN INCREASING AREA OF RAIN AND SOME THUNDERSHOWERS
OVER THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF ARKANSAS THIS MORNING.

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...THE RAIN AND THUNDERSHOWERS WILL CONTINUE
TO ADVANCE TO THE NORTH. LATER IN THE DAY...THE RAIN AREA SHOULD BEGIN
SINKING BACK TO THE SOUTHEAST.

FOR THE AREAS WHERE TORNADO CLEAN-UP IS IN PROGRESS TODAY...

WIDESPREAD RAIN AND SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSHOWERS CAN BE EXPECTED FOR
MUCH OF THE DAY.

THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL FALL OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE...
WHERE LOCALLY HEAVY SHOWERS WILL DROP AS MUCH AS 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH OF RAIN
IN AN HOUR.

THERE WILL BE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING FROM TIME TO TIME...AND THIS
WILL PRESENT A HAZARD TO THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN RESCUE AND CLEAN-UP
OPERATIONS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS OR TORNADOES ARE UNLIKELY IN
THE CLEAN-UP AREAS TODAY. HOWEVER...THERE COULD BE A FEW INSTANCES WHERE
A THUNDERSTORM BRIEFLY PRODUCES SMALL HAIL.

28
Special weather statement, Mar 2, 8:35 AM CST, 5 hours 45 minutes before
ARZ003>009-012>018-020>028-030>073-021730-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
835 AM CST SUN MAR 2 1997

...RAIN AND SOME THUNDERSHOWERS IN THE TORNADO CLEAN-UP AREAS TODAY...

THE COLD FRONT THAT HELPED TO SET OFF THE SEVERE WEATHER IN ARKANSAS HAS
STALLED ACROSS THE EXTREME SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE STATE. MEANWHILE...
LOW PRESSURE ALOFT MOVING OUT OF TEXAS HAS CAUSED MOISTURE TO BEGIN
OVERRUNNING THE STALLED FRONT.

THE RESULT HAS BEEN AN INCREASING AREA OF RAIN AND SOME THUNDERSHOWERS
OVER THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF ARKANSAS THIS MORNING.

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...THE RAIN AND THUNDERSHOWERS WILL CONTINUE
TO ADVANCE TO THE NORTH. LATER IN THE DAY...THE RAIN AREA SHOULD BEGIN
SINKING BACK TO THE SOUTHEAST.

FOR THE AREAS WHERE TORNADO CLEAN-UP IS IN PROGRESS TODAY...

WIDESPREAD RAIN AND SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSHOWERS CAN BE EXPECTED FOR
MUCH OF THE DAY.

THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL FALL OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE...
WHERE LOCALLY HEAVY SHOWERS WILL DROP AS MUCH AS 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH OF RAIN
IN AN HOUR.

THERE WILL BE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING FROM TIME TO TIME...AND THIS
WILL PRESENT A HAZARD TO THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN RESCUE AND CLEAN-UP
OPERATIONS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS OR TORNADOES ARE UNLIKELY IN
THE CLEAN-UP AREAS TODAY. HOWEVER...THERE COULD BE A FEW INSTANCES WHERE
A THUNDERSTORM BRIEFLY PRODUCES SMALL HAIL.

28
Local storm report, Mar 2, 1:10 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
110 PM CST SUN MAR 2 1997

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0105 PM    WESTERN GROVE             AR   .75 INCH HAIL
03/01/97   NEWTON

0150 PM    NEWPORT                   AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   JACKSON                        REPORTED ON HWY 14 WEST
                                          OF NEWPORT.

0235 PM    10 SW ARKADELPHIA         AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   CLARK                          STRUCK TRUCK STOP ON I-30
                                          AT HWY 53.

0245 PM    2 SW ARKADELPHIA          AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   CLARK                          REPORTED 1/4 MILE WEST OF
                                          I-30...APPROACHING
                                          ARKADELPHIA.

0246 PM    ARKADELPHIA               AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   CLARK                          *** 6 DEAD ***
                                          EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN
                                          DOWNTOWN AREA.

0250 PM    ANTIOCH                   AR   WIND DAMAGE
03/01/97   WHITE                          FUNNEL CLOUD AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN

0257 PM    5 NW AUSTIN               AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   LONOKE                         REPORTED AT HWYS 5 AND
                                          319...TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN...PEOPLE
                                          TRAPPED IN DEBRIS.

0303 PM    BENTON                    AR
03/01/97   SALINE                         DEBRIS FALLING ON WEST
                                          SIDE OF BENTON.

0308 PM    2 N FURLOW                AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   LONOKE                         TRAILERS TURNED OVER...
                                          ROOFS OFF HOUSES.

0316 PM    MALVERN                   AR
03/01/97   HOT SPRING                     FUNNEL CLOUD MOVING TOWARD
                                          GLEN ROSE AND TRASKWOOD.

0317 PM    5 E MALVERN               AR
03/01/97   HOT SPRING                     FUNNEL CLOUD WITH DEBRIS
                                          FALLING OUT OF THE SKY.

0330 PM    SARDIS                    AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   SALINE                         *** 10 DEAD ***
                                          DOZENS OF HOMES DAMAGED OR
                                          DESTROYED AROUND SARDIS...
                                          ALEXANDER...AND VIMY RIDGE

0335 PM    BRYANT                    AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   SALINE                         TREES DOWN AND SHINGLES
                                          OFF.

0335 PM    DENMARK                   AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   JACKSON                        *** 2 DEAD ***
                                          TREES DOWN...TREE ONE ON A
                                          HOUSE...HIGHWAY BLOCKED.

0340 PM    3 SE OIL TROUGH           AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   INDEPENDENCE

0342 PM    2 S LITTLE ROCK           AR
03/01/97   PULASKI                        FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED
                                          ON CHICOT RD.

0343 PM    LITTLE ROCK               AR
03/01/97   PULASKI                        FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED
                                          AT ARCH ST AND PRATT RD.

0343 PM    JERUSALEM                 AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   CONWAY                         *** 1 INJURED ***
                                          STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND
                                          INJURIES REPORTED.

0343 PM    5 S LITTLE ROCK           AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   PULASKI                        IN WILLOW SPRINGS/ARCH ST
                                          PIKE AREA.

0345 PM    APPLETON                  AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
03/01/97   POPE

0349 PM    3 S LITTLE ROCK           AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   PULASKI                        *** 4 DEAD ***
                                          TORNADO MOVED THROUGH ARCH
                                          ST PIKE/DIXON RD AREA AND
                                          THEN ON THROUGH COLLEGE
                                          STATION...BUSINESSES AND
                                          HOUSES DESTROYED.

0353 PM   LITTLE ROCK                AR   TORNADO
03/01/97  PULASKI                         STRUCK MOTEL JUST OUTSIDE
                                          LITTLE ROCK AIRPORT...
                                          DEBRIS WAS BLOWN ONTO
                                          RUNWAYS...CLOSING AIRPORT
                                          FOR AWHILE.

0354 PM                              AR   .88 INCH HAIL
03/01/97   PULASKI                        NICKEL SIZE HAIL AT GRAVEL
                                          RIDGE.

0356 PM    BRYANT                    AR   FLOODING
03/01/97   SALINE                         STREET FLOODING.

0415 PM    JACKSONPORT               AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   JACKSON                        30 HOMES AND TRAILERS
                                          DAMAGED OR DESTROYED...
                                          MANY INJURIES.

0428 PM    10 N LONOKE               AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   LONOKE                         REPORTED ON HWY 31.

0502 PM    OIL TROUGH                AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   INDEPENDENCE

0550 PM    CAMDEN                    AR   .88 INCH HAIL
03/01/97   OUACHITA

0630 PM    WHITEHALL                 AR
03/01/97   JEFFERSON                      3 INCHES OF RAIN MEASURED
                                          IN ONE HOUR.

0645 PM    5 SE RISON                AR   WIND DAMAGE
03/01/97   CLEVELAND                      TREES DOWN.

THIS REPORT UPDATES THE STORM REPORT TRANSMITTED SATURDAY EVENING. IT
INCLUDES THE LATEST FATALITY REPORTS PROVIDED BY THE ARKANSAS OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO THE DEATHS...THE TORNADOES CAUSED
MORE THAN 245 INJURIES...ACCORDING TO THE LATEST COUNT.

PLEASE NOTE...THE REPORT ISSUED YESTERDAY CONTAINED A NUMBER OF
INCORRECT TIMES. THIS WAS DUE TO A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT PUT THE
TIMES IN CDT INSTEAD OF CST. ALL OF THESE TIMES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED
TO CST IN THIS REPORT.

28
Local storm report, Mar 2, 1:13 PM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
110 PM CST SUN MAR 2 1997

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0105 PM    WESTERN GROVE             AR   .75 INCH HAIL
03/01/97   NEWTON

0150 PM    NEWPORT                   AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   JACKSON                        REPORTED ON HWY 14 WEST
                                          OF NEWPORT.

0235 PM    10 SW ARKADELPHIA         AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   CLARK                          STRUCK TRUCK STOP ON I-30
                                          AT HWY 53.

0245 PM    2 SW ARKADELPHIA          AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   CLARK                          REPORTED 1/4 MILE WEST OF
                                          I-30...APPROACHING
                                          ARKADELPHIA.

0246 PM    ARKADELPHIA               AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   CLARK                          *** 6 DEAD ***
                                          EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN
                                          DOWNTOWN AREA.

0250 PM    ANTIOCH                   AR   WIND DAMAGE
03/01/97   WHITE                          FUNNEL CLOUD AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN

0257 PM    5 NW AUSTIN               AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   LONOKE                         REPORTED AT HWYS 5 AND
                                          319...TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN...PEOPLE
                                          TRAPPED IN DEBRIS.

0303 PM    BENTON                    AR
03/01/97   SALINE                         DEBRIS FALLING ON WEST
                                          SIDE OF BENTON.

0308 PM    2 N FURLOW                AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   LONOKE                         TRAILERS TURNED OVER...
                                          ROOFS OFF HOUSES.

0316 PM    MALVERN                   AR
03/01/97   HOT SPRING                     FUNNEL CLOUD MOVING TOWARD
                                          GLEN ROSE AND TRASKWOOD.

0317 PM    5 E MALVERN               AR
03/01/97   HOT SPRING                     FUNNEL CLOUD WITH DEBRIS
                                          FALLING OUT OF THE SKY.

0330 PM    SARDIS                    AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   SALINE                         *** 10 DEAD ***
                                          DOZENS OF HOMES DAMAGED OR
                                          DESTROYED AROUND SARDIS...
                                          ALEXANDER...AND VIMY RIDGE

0335 PM    BRYANT                    AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   SALINE                         TREES DOWN AND SHINGLES
                                          OFF.

0335 PM    DENMARK                   AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   JACKSON                        *** 2 DEAD ***
                                          TREES DOWN...TREE ONE ON A
                                          HOUSE...HIGHWAY BLOCKED.

0340 PM    3 SE OIL TROUGH           AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   INDEPENDENCE

0342 PM    2 S LITTLE ROCK           AR
03/01/97   PULASKI                        FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED
                                          ON CHICOT RD.

0343 PM    LITTLE ROCK               AR
03/01/97   PULASKI                        FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED
                                          AT ARCH ST AND PRATT RD.

0343 PM    JERUSALEM                 AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   CONWAY                         *** 1 INJURED ***
                                          STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND
                                          INJURIES REPORTED.

0343 PM    5 S LITTLE ROCK           AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   PULASKI                        IN WILLOW SPRINGS/ARCH ST
                                          PIKE AREA.

0345 PM    APPLETON                  AR   1.75 INCH HAIL
03/01/97   POPE

0349 PM    3 S LITTLE ROCK           AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   PULASKI                        *** 4 DEAD ***
                                          TORNADO MOVED THROUGH ARCH
                                          ST PIKE/DIXON RD AREA AND
                                          THEN ON THROUGH COLLEGE
                                          STATION...BUSINESSES AND
                                          HOUSES DESTROYED.

0353 PM   LITTLE ROCK                AR   TORNADO
03/01/97  PULASKI                         STRUCK MOTEL JUST OUTSIDE
                                          LITTLE ROCK AIRPORT...
                                          DEBRIS WAS BLOWN ONTO
                                          RUNWAYS...CLOSING AIRPORT
                                          FOR AWHILE.

0354 PM                              AR   .88 INCH HAIL
03/01/97   PULASKI                        NICKEL SIZE HAIL AT GRAVEL
                                          RIDGE.

0356 PM    BRYANT                    AR   FLOODING
03/01/97   SALINE                         STREET FLOODING.

0415 PM    JACKSONPORT               AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   JACKSON                        30 HOMES AND TRAILERS
                                          DAMAGED OR DESTROYED...
                                          MANY INJURIES.

0428 PM    10 N LONOKE               AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   LONOKE                         REPORTED ON HWY 31.

0502 PM    OIL TROUGH                AR   TORNADO
03/01/97   INDEPENDENCE

0550 PM    CAMDEN                    AR   .88 INCH HAIL
03/01/97   OUACHITA

0630 PM    WHITEHALL                 AR
03/01/97   JEFFERSON                      3 INCHES OF RAIN MEASURED
                                          IN ONE HOUR.

0645 PM    5 SE RISON                AR   WIND DAMAGE
03/01/97   CLEVELAND                      TREES DOWN.

THIS REPORT UPDATES THE STORM REPORT TRANSMITTED SATURDAY EVENING. IT
INCLUDES THE LATEST FATALITY REPORTS PROVIDED BY THE ARKANSAS OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO THE DEATHS...THE TORNADOES CAUSED
MORE THAN 245 INJURIES...ACCORDING TO THE LATEST COUNT.

PLEASE NOTE...THE REPORT ISSUED YESTERDAY CONTAINED A NUMBER OF
INCORRECT TIMES. THIS WAS DUE TO A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT PUT THE
TIMES IN CDT INSTEAD OF CST. ALL OF THESE TIMES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED
TO CST IN THIS REPORT.

28

The office that day

Everything else NWS Little Rock, AR issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 1, 6:33 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleveland32 min
Mar 1, 6:39 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKWoodruff51 min
Mar 1, 6:52 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKJefferson33 min
Mar 1, 7:23 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLZKJackson, White, Woodruff3 hr
Mar 1, 7:40 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLZKArkansas, Jefferson, Lonoke3 hr
Mar 1, 7:40 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLZKMonroe, Prairie3 hr
Mar 1, 8:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleveland35 min
Mar 1, 9:07 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKArkansas33 min
Mar 1, 10:25 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLZKArkansas, Monroe3 hr
Mar 1, 10:25 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLZKCleveland, Jefferson, Lincoln3 hr
Mar 2, 12:47 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningLZKDesha3 hr
Mar 2, 12:47 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningLZKBradley, Drew3 hr
Mar 2, 3:31 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningLZKDesha, Drew3 hr
Mar 2, 3:31 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningLZKBradley3 hr
Mar 2, 3:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFranklin50 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arkansas, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.