Damaging Wind in Arkansas, February 20, 1997

A cluster of severe thunderstorms moved north northeast across northwest Arkansas during the evening of February 20th and produced considerable wind damage along their path. In Sebastian County, thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour in Fort Smith blew an 18-wheeler over and downed fences, with one fence blocking a roadway. A bridge in downtown Fort Smith was blocked by debris. 3 persons were injured in Fort Smith. Trees were blown down in Hackett. In Crawford County, 1 house and several mobile homes were destroyed in Van Buren by the strong winds, and several roofs were blown off buildings in Van Buren. 3 persons were injured in Van Buren. Strong thunderstorm winds damaged houses in Dora, and a few houses were destroyed and several other houses heavily damaged in Cedarville. Numerous trees were also blown down in Cedarville. Old Union Town Road was the hardest hit area in Cedarville. In Washington County, 2 mobile homes were destroyed and 10 to 15 others were moderately damaged at Shenandoah Villa Mobile Home Village in Fayetteville. McIlroy Bank and Trust and Vandergriff Elementary School were both damaged in Fayetteville, and numerous trees and power lines were also blown down in Fayetteville. 3 persons were injured in Fayetteville. Roofs were blown off a couple houses just east northeast of Fayetteville, and a couple mobile homes were blown over 5 miles east of Springdale.In Madison County, a building was destroyed and blown into a field in St. Paul, and a turkey house in Pettigrew had half its roof blown off. Trees were also blown down onto power lines in Pettigrew. In Benton County, outbuildings were damaged and trees and power lines were blown down in Cave Springs. One of the trees was blown down onto a gas meter in Cave Springs. 3 mobile homes and a 300 foot chicken house were destroyed in Rogers. Approximately 7000 chickens in the chicken house were killed. Prairie Creek Marina 4 miles east of Rogers on the west shore of Beaver Lake was nearly totally destroyed. 15 boats at the marina were sunk, and damage at the marina was estimated to be at least one million dollars. In Carroll County, metal roofs were blown off sheds along State Highway 23 5 miles south of Eureka Springs. Thunderstorms during the evening also produced very heavy rainfall which resulted in flash flooding. Low-lying areas in Lavaca were flooded, and low-lying roads throughout Washington County were under water. Roadways were flooded and some streets were closed in Fayetteville.