Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 32, NWS Little Rock, AR

May 22, 2020Woodruff County, Arkansas

NWS Little Rock, AR issued this tornado warning at May 22, 2020, 3:18 PM CDT for Woodruff County, Arkansas. It was in force for 12 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 22, 2020, 3:18 PM CDT (20:18 UTC)
Expired: May 22, 2020, 3:30 PM CDT
In force: 12 min
Issued by: NWS Little Rock, AR
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

County Woodruff County, AR

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:18 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 22, 3:20 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Ne Tip, AR	THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN WOODRUFF COUNTY AS NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG WITH SEVERAL POWERPOLES. A FEW HOMES RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE DUE TO TREES FALLING ON OR NEXT TO THEM. ESTIMATED PEAK WIND SPEEDS WERE IN THE

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 112 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 132 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -197 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 616 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 307 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 383 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 2.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

035 
WFUS54 KLZK 222018
TORLZK
ARC147-222030-
/O.NEW.KLZK.TO.W.0032.200522T2018Z-200522T2030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
318 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

The National Weather Service in Little Rock has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Woodruff County in eastern Arkansas...

* Until 330 PM CDT.
    
* At 318 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Fair Oaks, or 16 miles east of Augusta, moving
  northeast at 40 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* Locations impacted include...
  Morton...                         Penrose...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3515 9111 3525 9115 3529 9104 3516 9104
TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 250DEG 36KT 3521 9109 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

46

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Little Rock, AR wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 22, 2:44 PM CDT, 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 22, 2:44 PM CDT, 34 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
244 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

.SHORT TERM...Tonight Through Sunday

Persistent swrly flow aloft will remain in place across the region
through the period. No major troughs are expected to transverse
the flow this weekend but a few weak pieces of energy will make
their way across the area providing adequate lift for precip
development.

Surface pattern will be fairly stagnant with ridging over much of
the area and a warm front well to the north. Temps across southern
Arkansas on Saturday may approach 90 F and with Td values in the
upper 60s, heat indices may climb into the lower to mid 90s.

&&

.LONG TERM...Sunday Night Through Friday

An upper ridge will be over the southeast U.S. to begin the long
term period with an upper trough over the northern Plains. The upper
trough dips to the south Monday and Tuesday into Texas but the upper
ridge holds strong through the end of the period. Tuesday night, an
upper low closes off over Texas and does not move much due to the
blocking high through the end of the period.

Several short waves will be able to move over Arkansas during the
period keeping unsettled weather over the area. Rain chances will
continue on Monday as a cold front approaches from the west.
However, the front will get held up by the ridge to the east, and
stall in eastern Oklahoma through much of the coming week.
Temperatures will be near normal through the period.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Batesville AR     67  87  70  87 /  30  30  10  40
Camden AR         70  91  70  90 /  40  30  10  30
Harrison AR       63  83  67  83 /  30  20  10  50
Hot Springs AR    68  87  70  87 /  30  20  10  40
Little Rock   AR  69  88  70  88 /  30  20  10  30
Monticello AR     71  90  72  89 /  20  20  10  30
Mount Ida AR      66  86  68  85 /  40  20  10  40
Mountain Home AR  63  84  67  85 /  30  20  10  40
Newport AR        69  87  70  87 /  30  30  10  40
Pine Bluff AR     70  89  71  88 /  20  20  10  30
Russellville AR   66  87  69  87 /  30  20  10  40
Searcy AR         68  88  69  88 /  30  20  10  30
Stuttgart AR      71  89  72  88 /  20  20  10  30
&&

.LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...NONE.
&&

Short Term...67 / Long Term...51

Hazardous weather outlook, May 22, 2:48 PM CDT, 30 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
248 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-231000-
Boone-Marion-Baxter-Fulton-Sharp-Randolph-Newton-Searcy-Stone-
Izard-Independence-Lawrence-Johnson-Pope-Van Buren-Cleburne-
Jackson-Logan-Conway-Faulkner-White-Woodruff-Scott-Yell-Perry-
Polk-Montgomery-Garland-Saline-Pulaski-Lonoke-Prairie-Monroe-Pike-
Clark-Hot Spring-Grant-Jefferson-Arkansas-Dallas-Cleveland-
Lincoln-Desha-Ouachita-Calhoun-Bradley-Drew-
248 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas.

.DAY ONE...This Evening and Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms will remain possible through the overnight
hours. Widespread severe weather is not expected, but some
thunderstorms may produce gusty winds, hail and locally heavy
rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Showers and storms will be possible virtually every day through
next week with the most widespread activity expected late weekend
into next week. Heavy rainfall and localized flooding will be
possible.

While all storms are accompanied by a lightning threat, some of
the stronger storms may produce locally strong wind gusts and
small hail. A few severe storms are possible, but at this time,
the timing and certainty of any severe threat remains unclear.

With several rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected through
the week, heavy rainfall could allow for rises on area lakes and
rivers.

Your best bet is to continue to monitor the latest forecasts and
outlooks from your National Weather Service as updates will be
made in the coming days.

.Spotter Information Statement...

Spotter activation could be needed this afternoon and evening over
about the northwest half of Arkansas.

&&

Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk.

67

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 22, 12:43 PM CDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
1243 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

ARZ006>008-014>017-023>025-033-221830-
Lawrence AR-White AR-Stone AR-Independence AR-Randolph AR-
Van Buren AR-Sharp AR-Fulton AR-Izard AR-Jackson AR-Cleburne AR-
1243 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STONE...INDEPENDENCE...
NORTHWESTERN RANDOLPH...IZARD...SOUTHWESTERN JACKSON...EAST CENTRAL
VAN BUREN...CLEBURNE...FULTON...NORTHEASTERN WHITE...NORTHWESTERN
LAWRENCE AND SHARP COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM CDT...

At 1243 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Viola to near Higden. Movement was east at
55 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Batesville...                     Heber Springs...
Cherokee Village...               Mountain View...
Fairfield Bay...                  Melbourne...
Salem in Fulton County...         Ash Flat...
Horseshoe Bend...                 Cave City...
Calico Rock...                    Newark...
Highland in Sharp County...       Mammoth Spring...
Greers Ferry...                   Hardy...
Oxford...                         Cushman...
Mount Pleasant...                 Pleasant Plains...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3543 9150 3546 9229 3650 9210 3650 9124
TIME...MOT...LOC 1743Z 263DEG 46KT 3636 9205 3554 9222

67

Local storm report, May 22, 1:00 PM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
100 PM CDT FRI MAY 22 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1130 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WESTERN GROVE           36.10N  92.95W
05/22/2020                   NEWTON             AR   SOCIAL MEDIA

            A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN THE AREA WITH POWER
            OUTAGES IN THIS LOCATION AS WELL.

&&

EVENT NUMBER LZK2000338

JHOOD

Special weather statement, May 22, 1:32 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
132 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

ARZ042-221900-
Garland AR-
132 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL GARLAND COUNTY UNTIL 200
PM CDT...

At 132 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles north of Meyers, or 16 miles east of Mount Ida, moving
northeast at 30 mph.

Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Hot Springs...                    Hot Springs Village...
Mountain Pine...                  Meyers...
Jessieville...                    Lake Ouachita State Park...
Hot Springs National Park...      Avant...
Crystal Springs Landing...        Mountain Valley...
Royal...                          Lena Landing Rec Area...
Gulpha Gorge...                   Hamilton...
Crystal Springs...                Sunshine...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3463 9340 3477 9314 3477 9303 3465 9298
      3464 9298 3464 9297 3452 9292 3445 9340
TIME...MOT...LOC 1832Z 245DEG 28KT 3456 9335

67

Special weather statement, May 22, 1:41 PM CDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
141 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

ARZ007-008-016-017-025-221915-
Lawrence AR-Independence AR-Randolph AR-Sharp AR-Jackson AR-
141 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN INDEPENDENCE...
RANDOLPH...NORTHEASTERN JACKSON...LAWRENCE AND SOUTHEASTERN SHARP
COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM CDT...

At 141 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Attica to 6 miles northeast of Moorefield.
Movement was northeast at 50 mph.

Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Batesville...                     Pocahontas...
Walnut Ridge...                   Hoxie...
Black Rock...                     Lake Charles State Park...
Tuckerman...                      Newark...
Swifton...                        Imboden...
Ravenden...                       Reyno...
College City...                   Portia...
Maynard...                        Biggers...
Strawberry...                     Lynn...
O'Kean...                         Moorefield...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3611 9077 3608 9082 3599 9086 3598 9084
      3595 9087 3588 9087 3588 9103 3570 9104
      3573 9163 3650 9112 3650 9078 3648 9077
      3643 9078 3641 9075 3628 9075 3629 9081
      3615 9081 3615 9075
TIME...MOT...LOC 1841Z 244DEG 56KT 3642 9103 3583 9147

67

Special weather statement, May 22, 2:02 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
202 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

ARZ032-044-045-221930-
Pulaski AR-Lonoke AR-Faulkner AR-
202 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN LONOKE...
SOUTHEASTERN FAULKNER AND NORTHEASTERN PULASKI COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM
CDT...

At 202 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Maumelle, moving northeast at 35 mph.

Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Little Rock...                    North Little Rock...
Sherwood...                       Jacksonville...
Cabot...                          West Little Rock...
Maumelle...                       Downtown Little Rock...
North Little Rock Airport...      Little Rock AFB...
Southwest Little Rock...          Vilonia...
Argenta...                        Burns Park...
Parnell...                        Gravel Ridge...
Morgan...                         Marche...
Chenal Valley...                  Oak Grove in Pulaski County...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3467 9244 3486 9258 3511 9212 3507 9212
      3506 9209 3507 9208 3487 9194
TIME...MOT...LOC 1902Z 239DEG 29KT 3482 9239

67

Special weather statement, May 22, 2:40 PM CDT, 38 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
240 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

ARZ034-044>046-222030-
Pulaski AR-Lonoke AR-Prairie AR-Woodruff AR-
240 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WOODRUFF...
PRAIRIE...LONOKE AND SOUTHEASTERN PULASKI COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM
CDT...

At 240 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Sylvania to near Meto to near Scott to
near Ironton. Movement was east at 25 mph.

Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these
storms.

Locations impacted include...
Little Rock...                    North Little Rock...
Jacksonville...                   Cabot...
Lonoke...                         Des Arc...
Hazen...                          De Valls Bluff...
Ward...                           England...
Carlisle...                       Wrightsville...
Austin in Lonoke County...        Fredonia...
Keo...                            Barrettsville...
Old Austin...                     Parnell...
Ironton...                        Estes...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3491 9135 3491 9137 3489 9137 3471 9146
      3456 9196 3458 9235 3482 9216 3499 9198
      3505 9128
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 263DEG 21KT 3491 9189 3478 9207 3468 9215 3460
9230

62

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 21, 7:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Dallas	43 min
May 21, 11:09 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Arkansas	51 min
May 22, 12:09 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Jefferson	51 min
May 22, 12:16 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Grant, Jefferson	31 min
May 22, 12:30 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Jefferson	45 min
May 22, 12:33 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Jefferson, Lincoln	16 min
May 22, 12:46 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Jefferson	44 min
May 22, 12:49 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Lincoln	41 min
May 22, 12:51 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Grant	39 min
May 22, 1:17 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Jefferson	43 min
May 22, 1:38 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Arkansas, Jefferson, Lincoln	32 min
May 22, 1:52 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Arkansas, Jefferson	38 min
May 22, 2:12 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Arkansas	48 min
May 22, 2:18 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Jefferson	42 min
May 22, 2:19 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Arkansas	41 min
May 22, 2:39 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Arkansas, Jefferson	35 min
May 22, 2:59 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Arkansas	46 min
May 22, 3:09 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Lonoke	51 min
May 22, 3:14 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Arkansas	46 min
May 22, 3:18 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Lonoke	22 min
May 22, 3:39 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Arkansas	51 min
May 22, 3:42 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Perry	48 min
May 22, 3:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Faulkner, Perry, Pulaski	13 min
May 22, 3:56 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Arkansas	49 min
May 22, 3:57 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Lonoke	48 min
May 22, 4:30 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Faulkner	45 min
May 22, 4:34 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Prairie	41 min
May 22, 4:56 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Monroe	49 min
May 22, 5:12 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Prairie	48 min
May 22, 8:31 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Independence	29 min
May 22, 9:52 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	LZK	Prairie, White, Woodruff	28 days
May 22, 10:49 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Boone, Johnson, Newton, Pope	41 min
May 22, 11:07 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Montgomery, Polk	22 min
May 22, 11:29 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Boone, Marion, Newton, Searcy	46 min
May 22, 12:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Baxter, Cleburne, Izard, Marion, Searcy, Stone and 1 more	39 min
May 22, 12:43 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Sharp, Stone	47 min
May 22, 1:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Garland	28 min
May 22, 1:41 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Independence, Lawrence, Randolph	34 min
May 22, 2:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Pulaski	28 min
May 22, 2:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Lonoke, Prairie	50 min
May 22, 2:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LZK	Monroe, Prairie, Woodruff	35 min
May 22, 5:37 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LZK	Polk	38 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 2020 Every tornado warning in 2020 Tornadoes in 2020

Sources

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