Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Arkansas, September 7 to 8, 2001

Name: Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Arkansas, September 7 to 8, 2001
Start: 2001-09-07T21:42
End: 2001-09-08T23:45
Location: Arkansas

September 7 to 8, 2001 · NWS TSA · 14 events in 7 counties and zones

11 thunderstorm wind, 3 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $60,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 14

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 7, 6:07 PM CST, 3 hours 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 7, 6:07 PM CST, 3 hours 35 minutes before

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
707 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 2001

WILL UPDATE FOR NEW TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 720 IN EFFECT UNTIL
MIDNIGHT.

MESONET WINDS AND 3 HOURLY PRESSURE FALLS SUGGEST THAT TORNADO
THREAT SHUD REMAIN N OF I-40.  PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER
THREAT...HOWEVER...WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

ALSO PUSHED OFF POPS FOR FAR SE OK AND NW AR UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT.

UPDATE OUT AROUND 715 PM.

FCSTID = 18

.TSA...
AR...NONE.
OK...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT SATURDAY FOR ZONES
OKZ054>068...OKZ070>071...OKZ073.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 7, 7:57 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

OKZ054-055-059-080230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
857 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 2001

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 720 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR PAWNEE...OSAGE AND
WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA.  THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING OUT OF THESE COUNTIES AND THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER IS OVER.

Local storm report, Sep 7, 8:12 PM CST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
912 PM CDT FRI SEP 07 2001

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

0810 PM    SHAMROCK                  OK    70 MPH TSTM GUST
09/07/01   CREEK                           SPOTTER REPORT.

0810 PM    SHAMROCK                  OK    .75 INCH HAIL
09/07/01   CREEK                           SPOTTER REPORT.

Special weather statement, Sep 7, 8:13 PM CST, 1 hour 29 minutes before

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-081200-

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
913 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 2001

...UPDATE FOR TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 720...

.DISCUSSION...
AT 9PM THE LOW-LEVEL INSTABILITY AXIS EXTENDED FROM NEAR JOPLIN TO
MCALESTER.  THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE SEVERE AS IT
CROSSES THIS AXIS...BUT SHOULD BEGIN TO WEAKEN AS IT MOVES PAST
THE THE GREATEST INSTABILITY AND AS THE ASSOCIATED UPPER-LEVEL
SYSTEM WEAKENS AND ACCELERATES NORTHEAST AWAY FROM THE REGION.

THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN WESTERN ARKANSAS AND FAR SOUTHEAST
OKLAHOMA WILL BE LIMITED IF THE STORMS WEAKEN AS EXPECTED.

SEE SHORT TERM FORECASTS FOR THE LATEST PROJECTIONS ON THIS LINE
OF SEVERE STORMS.

Local storm report, Sep 7, 8:37 PM CST, 1 hour 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
937 PM CDT FRI SEP 07 2001

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

0935 PM    MAZIE                     OK    65 MPH TSTM GUST
09/07/01   MAYES                           SPOTTER REPORT.

Special weather statement, Sep 7, 9:06 PM CST, 36 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1006 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 2001

OKZ057-058-062-063-065>068-070-071-073-080400-
CHEROKEE-CRAIG-DELAWARE-MAYES-MCINTOSH-MUSKOGEE-OKFUSKEE-OKMULGEE-
OTTAWA-PITTSBURG-WAGONER-
1006 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 2001

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 720 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR THE
FOLLOWING OKLAHOMA COUNTIES...

CHEROKEE...CRAIG...DELAWARE...MAYES...MCINTOSH...MUSKOGEE...
OKFUSKEE...OKMULGEE...OTTAWA...PITTSBURG AND WAGONER COUNTIES.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE SEVERE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE
OF HOURS AS IT MOVES ACROSS PARTS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

OKZ056-060-061-064-080400-
CREEK-NOWATA-ROGERS-TULSA-
1006 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 2001

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 720 HAS BEEN CANCELED IN CREEK...NOWATA...
ROGERS AND TULSA COUNTIES.  THE LINE OF SEVERE STORMS HAS MOVED
OUT OF THESE COUNTIES AND THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED.

Special weather statement, Sep 7, 9:13 PM CST, 29 minutes before

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-080515-

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1013 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 2001

...UPDATE FOR TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 720...

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 720 FOR PARTS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA WILL BE
REPLACED BY A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT WILL COVER PARTS OF
EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND MUCH NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

.DISCUSSION...
THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA WILL
CONTINUE SEVERE THROUGH MIDNIGHT WITH SOME WEAKENING LIKELY
THEREAFTER.  HOWEVER THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG WINDS MAY CONTINUE INTO
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WILL BE ISSUED
SOON FOR MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 thunderstorm wind, 3 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: September 7, 9:42 PM CST
Where: Benton County, Gentry
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.267, -94.483

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew large tree limbs down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: September 7, 10:45 PM CST
Where: Benton County, Siloam Spgs
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.183, -94.533

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew a few trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: September 7, 11:05 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Tontitown
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 36.183, -94.233

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew large tree limbs down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When: September 7, 11:30 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, Countywide
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.300, -93.550

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew several trees down across Carroll county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: September 7, 11:40 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, Rudy
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 35.533, -94.283

Thunderstorm Wind, Sebastian

When: September 7, 11:40 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, Central City
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.317, -94.250

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: September 7, 11:45 PM CST
Where: Madison County, Countywide
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.033, -94.700

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down several trees across Madison county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: September 7, 11:45 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Countywide
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.967, -94.200

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew trees and power lines down across Washington county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: September 7, 11:55 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, Countywide
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.583, -93.850

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down several trees across Franklin county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: September 8, 12:15 AM CST
Where: Madison County, Countywide
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.033, -94.700

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs across Madison county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When: September 8, 12:25 AM CST
Where: Carroll County, Countywide
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.300, -93.550

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew trees and power lines down across Carroll county.

Lightning, Sebastian

When: September 8, 11:30 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, Ft Smith
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.199, -94.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Sebastian

When: September 8, 11:35 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, Ft Smith
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.199, -94.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Sebastian

When: September 8, 11:45 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, Ft Smith
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.199, -94.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fort Smith fire departments responded to three house fires sparked by lightning within thirty minutes. Local newspapers reported $25,000 damage to a vacant home. Another fire resulted in damage to home's attic, while a third resulted in moderate damage.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arkansas in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Arkansas, September 2001

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5267947, 5267948, 5267949, 5267952, 5267950, 5267951, 5267953, 5267955, 5267954, 5267956, 5267957, 5267958, 5267959, 5267960.