Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 38, NWS Shreveport, LA

April 25, 2026Hempstead County, Arkansas

NWS Shreveport, LA issued this tornado warning at Apr 25, 2026, 11:15 PM CDT for Hempstead County, Arkansas. It was in force for 45 min. 3 reports 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: Apr 25, 2026, 11:15 PM CDT (04:15 UTC)
Expired: Apr 26, 2026, 12:00 AM CDT
In force: 45 min
Issued by: NWS Shreveport, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.75 in

County Hempstead County, AR

The radar

The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 134 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:20 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
Apr 25, 11:20 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 W Washington, AR	There were a number of trees down from straight line winds along and near County Road 14 and County Road 306 east of Columbus AR.
Apr 25, 11:33 PM CDT	HAIL 1.5	1 Nnw Washington, AR	Walnut sized hail reported just north of Washington, Arkansas.
Apr 25, 11:44 PM CDT	HAIL 2.75	Hope, AR	Reports from social media of baseball size hail in Hope, Arkansas.

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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 25, 10:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Shreveport, LA (KSHV), launched 00:00Z, 4.3 hours before the alert went out and 130 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: 1997 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -72 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 974 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 118 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 113 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.8
Supercell composite: 5.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

661 
WFUS54 KSHV 260415
TORSHV
ARC057-260500-
/O.NEW.KSHV.TO.W.0038.260426T0415Z-260426T0500Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1115 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Hempstead County in southwestern Arkansas...

* Until midnight CDT.

* At 1115 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
  tornado was located near Washington, or 11 miles northwest of Hope,
  moving southeast at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball 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...
  Hope, Washington and Oakhaven.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from 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.

Tornadoes are difficult to observe at night. Take cover now!

&&

LAT...LON 3376 9383 3383 9375 3363 9348 3358 9348
      3349 9373 3352 9374 3353 9374 3353 9375
      3375 9384 3375 9383
TIME...MOT...LOC 0415Z 324DEG 25KT 3377 9375

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

13

3 follow-up statements

538 
WWUS54 KSHV 260430
SVSSHV

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1130 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

ARC057-260500-
/O.CON.KSHV.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-260426T0500Z/
Hempstead AR-
1130 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN HEMPSTEAD COUNTY...

At 1130 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Washington, or 9 miles northwest of Hope, moving
southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch 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...
  Hope, Washington and Oakhaven.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from 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.

Tornadoes are difficult to observe at night. Take cover now!

&&

LAT...LON 3377 9376 3379 9370 3363 9348 3358 9348
      3349 9373 3352 9374 3353 9374 3353 9375
      3370 9382
TIME...MOT...LOC 0415Z 325DEG 15KT 3378 9376

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

13

871 
WWUS54 KSHV 260435
SVSSHV

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1135 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

ARC057-260500-
/O.CON.KSHV.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-260426T0500Z/
Hempstead AR-
1135 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN HEMPSTEAD COUNTY...

At 1135 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 5 miles south of Washington, or near Hope, moving
southeast at 25 mph. If you live in Hope, Arkansas, take cover
immediately.

HAZARD...Tornado and baseball 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...
  Hope and Oakhaven.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from 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.

Tornadoes are difficult to observe at night. Take cover now!

&&

LAT...LON 3375 9374 3377 9367 3363 9348 3358 9348
      3349 9373 3352 9374 3353 9374 3353 9375
      3367 9381
TIME...MOT...LOC 0430Z 316DEG 20KT 3372 9369

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.75 IN

$$

13

073 
WWUS54 KSHV 260450
SVSSHV

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1150 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

ARC057-260500-
/O.CON.KSHV.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-260426T0500Z/
Hempstead AR-
1150 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN HEMPSTEAD COUNTY...

At 1150 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Hope, moving southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch 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...
  Hope and Oakhaven.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from 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.

Tornadoes are difficult to observe at night. Take cover now!

&&

LAT...LON 3367 9369 3373 9362 3363 9348 3358 9348
      3353 9363 3356 9364 3363 9367
TIME...MOT...LOC 0435Z 316DEG 20KT 3370 9366

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

13

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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 25, 7:02 PM CDT, 4 hours 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Issued at 136 AM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026
Severe weather round two is expected late Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning with this next round potentially more impactful than Friday night's event.
The area of greatest concern with this next round is again along and north of I-30 where an Enhanced to Moderate Risk is highlighted for the threat of significant hail and tornadoes.
The forecast will remain largely unsettled into next week, but we may see a brief lull in convection early in the week before rain chances increase once again by mid to late week.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 25, 7:02 PM CDT, 4 hours 13 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
702 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 136 AM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

 - Severe weather round two is expected late Saturday afternoon
   through Sunday morning with this next round potentially more
   impactful than Friday night's event.

 - The area of greatest concern with this next round is again
   along and north of I-30 where an Enhanced to Moderate Risk is
   highlighted for the threat of significant hail and tornadoes.

 - The forecast will remain largely unsettled into next week, but
   we may see a brief lull in convection early in the week before
   rain chances increase once again by mid to late week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1146 AM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

Recent hi-res model guidance has the main round of convective
initiation occurring along an OK warm front this evening,
northwest of McCurtain Co, OK. These storms are expected to move
southeastward into the Ark-La-Tx this evening and continue through
the overnight hours. An increasingly unstable environment will be
building this afternoon, which increases the concern for severe
weather impacts, especially in our northwest zones. Large hail
(possibly exceeding 3 inches), damaging wind gusts, and some
strong tornadoes will all be possible for the region. SPC's
outlook highlights our northwestern zones as being the highest
risk for severe hazards due to the favorable environment and the
storm mode leaning toward supercells. The storms are expected to
morph into more of a QLCS as it moves into Deep East TX, northwest
LA, and southern AR later in the night with the loss of daytime
heating. A marginal risk still exists for much of these areas due
to the risk of severe wind gusts that this line could still be
capable of. Due to this event occurring in the evening and
overnight hours, be sure you have multiple ways to receive weather
information and be woken up, if necessary.

There may still be some lingering convection from Saturday night
that bleeds into Sunday morning and clear by midday. The sfc
southerly flow that has been funneling in moisture over recent
days will continue to help keep us warm, with many places seeing
afternoon highs in the mid to upper 80s for the first half of the
work week.

A continuously active pattern will keep rain chances in the
forecast through the end of the week. SPC has a portion of the
forecast area included in 3 of the next 4 outlooks, highlighting
the potential for more severe weather to be included with the
additional rainfall. More detail will come with future forecasts,
but expect a warm and rainy next few days. The added rain will
hopefully work to help the drought conditions across the region
and bring high temperatures back into the 70s by the end of the
week.

57

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 632 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

For the 26/00Z TAF update, a lingering round of -TSRA/SHRA will
pass through the airspace from 26/06Z through 26/18Z, producing
MVFR vis/cigs as a result in this timeframe. Surface winds will
remain out of the south, gaining speed to near 10 kts through the
end of the period. /16/

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Issued at 136 AM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

Spotter activation will likely be needed late Saturday afternoon
through Saturday night and early Sunday for the threat of severe
thunderstorms.

/19/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV  68  89  71  90 /  50  30  10  20
MLU  67  88  70  90 /  40  50  10  10
DEQ  61  83  67  84 /  80  30  30  30
TXK  66  86  71  87 /  70  40  20  30
ELD  63  85  68  87 /  70  50  20  20
TYR  71  88  72  88 /  40  20  10  20
GGG  69  88  71  88 /  50  40  10  20
LFK  70  89  71  90 /  20  10   0  20

&&

.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...None.
LA...None.
OK...None.
TX...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...57
AVIATION...16

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 25, 8:11 PM CDT, 3 hours 4 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
811 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

1125 PM     Hail             4 SE Longview           32.47N 94.72W
04/24/2026  M1.00 Inch       Gregg              TX   Public

            Delayed Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00
            in.).

&&

BB

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 10:32 PM CDT, 43 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1032 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

ARZ051-060-260400-
Hempstead AR-Howard AR-
1032 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL HEMPSTEAD AND EAST
CENTRAL HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

At 1032 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Center Point, or 8 miles southeast of Dierks, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Nashville, Dierks, Corinth, Center Point and Muddy Fork.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

This storm 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 3401 9403 3420 9400 3417 9382 3401 9382
      3401 9375 3400 9374 3400 9371 3399 9370
      3398 9368 3398 9366 3391 9368
TIME...MOT...LOC 0332Z 279DEG 17KT 3406 9391

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

13

The office that day

Everything else NWS Shreveport, LA issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 25, 10:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	SHV	Howard	28 min
Apr 25, 10:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Hempstead, Howard	41 min
Apr 25, 10:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	SHV	Hempstead, Howard	48 min
Apr 25, 11:02 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	SHV	Hempstead, Howard, Nevada	58 min
Apr 25, 11:49 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	SHV	Hempstead, Lafayette, Nevada	56 min
Apr 25, 11:53 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	SHV	Hempstead	52 min
Apr 26, 12:10 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	SHV	Hempstead, Lafayette, Nevada	65 min
Apr 26, 12:18 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	SHV	Hempstead	3 hr
Apr 26, 12:40 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Columbia, Hempstead, Lafayette, Miller, Nevada, Union	65 min
Apr 26, 1:23 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Columbia, Lafayette, Union	67 min
Apr 26, 2:13 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Columbia, Union	62 min
Apr 26, 2:16 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	SHV	Hempstead, Little River	44 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 2026 Every tornado warning in 2026 Tornadoes in 2026

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.