Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, February 5, 2008

Power lines were blown down and trees were snapped and uprooted. Also, storage buildings were destroyed and a roof was blown off of a saw mill. Trees and power lines were blown down across Arkansas Highway 35. Trees blown down onto power lines caused power outages on Old Deane Road, Old Troy Road, and Midway Route.

Hail covered the ground on Arkansas Highway 922.

What was to become a very long-tracked tornado began in Yell County. Only minor tree damage was noted. The tornado then tracked into the Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Pope County.

The tornado from Yell County tracked into the Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Pope County. Damage was limited to trees being blown down on the southeast side of the refuge. The tornado then tracked back into Yell County, in the Carden Bottoms area.

After exiting the Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Pope County, the tornado re-entered Yell County in the Carden Bottoms area. There was minor damage to two structures and a number of trees were blown down. The tornado then crossed the Arkansas River, moving back into Pope County in the area southwest of Atkins.

The tornado moved out of the Carden Bottoms area of Yell County, crossing the Arkansas River, and re-entering Pope County southwest of Atkins. The intensity and width of the tornado increased quickly within just a couple of miles after it moved across the Arkansas River. According to a survey by the Red Cross, damage included 46 houses destroyed, 19 houses with major damage, 37 houses with minor damage, and 2 other houses affected. In addition, 6 mobile homes were destroyed, 1 mobile home had major damage, and 4 others suffered minor damage. Several businesses were damaged as well. Numerous trees, power lines, and power poles were blown down. Several vehicles were blown off Interstate 40 as the tornado crossed the highway. One fatality occurred in the Lucky Landing area when a woman was thrown from her mobile home. Three fatalities, all members of a single family, occurred at a house on the east side of Atkins. Another fatality occurred in the Happy Bend community when a man left his mobile home and took shelter in a large, metal, intermodal shipping container. The container was blown hundreds of yards into the woods. The tornado then moved into Conway County, in the area west of Hattieville.

A Red Cross survey indicated that 3 houses had major damage, 5 had minor damage, and 5 others were affected. In addition, 3 mobile homes were destroyed, 3 had major damage, and 2 had minor damage. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down as well. The tornado continued into Baxter County, just east-southeast of Cotter.

The tornado moved out of Pope County, northeast of Atkins, into Conway County, west of Hattieville. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 56 residences (both houses and mobile homes) suffered damage. Altogether, 32 residences were destroyed, 6 had major damage, and 18 had minor damage. Several chicken houses were destroyed, and approximately 80,000 chickens were killed. Numerous trees, power lines, and power poles were blown down. An elderly couple was killed about 3.2 miles south-southwest of Cleveland when their mobile home was destroyed. The tornado then moved into Van Buren County, south-southeast of Beverage Town.

The tornado moved from Marion County, north-northeast of Rea Valley, into Baxter County, just east-southeast of Cotter. A survey by the Red Cross indicated 21 houses were destroyed, 23 suffered major damage, 35 had minor damage, and 147 others were affected. In addition, 9 mobile homes were destroyed, 12 suffered major damage, 10 had minor damage, and 10 others were affected. One fatality occurred in a mobile home park. Most of the residential structures were in the area around Gassville. A number of businesses in Gassville, along U.S. Highway 62/412, were damaged. Numerous trees, power lines, and power poles were blown down. The tornado dissipated before reaching Mountain Home.

The tornado moved from Conway County, northeast of Cleveland, into Van Buren County, south-southeast of Beverage Town. A Red Cross survey indicated that 41 houses were destroyed, 26 suffered major damage, 29 had minor damage, and 30 others were affected. In addition, 21 mobile homes were destroyed, 4 suffered major damage, 2 had minor damage, and one other was affected. A boat factory was destroyed, and a church and a number of businesses were damaged. Three fatalities occurred: One in a house 3.2 miles south-southwest of Clinton, one at the boat factory in Clinton, and one in a mobile home 2.5 miles west of Shirley. The tornado continued into Stone County, south-southwest of Rushing.

A tornado knocked down some trees on private property, well away from any public roads.

A carport was blown over and landed in a living room.

The tornado moved from Van Buren County, north of Shirley, into Stone County, south-southwest of Rushing. According to a Red Cross survey, 24 houses were destroyed, 11 suffered major damage, 11 had minor damage, and 21 others were affected. Mobile home damage included 14 destroyed, 4 with major damage, 4 with minor damage, and 6 others affected. Major damage to businesses occurred near the intersection of Arkansas Highways 5 and 14 on the southeast side of Mountain View. A car dealership was destroyed and some of the cars on the sales lot were thrown across the highway. One car was lofted over a building across the highway and then thrown down into a ravine. Nearby, a utility pole was pulled up by the tornado, and then a large part of the pole was jammed back into the ground with all the wires still attached. The Stone County Medical Center suffered substantial damage, and a number of doctors' offices nearby were destroyed. Other businesses destroyed included a body shop, a paint shop, and a car parts store. A fire station had major damage. A major electrical transmission line outside of Mountain View was destroyed. It was nearly a week before the line could be rebuilt and power restored. One person was killed in a house just east of the Highway 5/14 intersection. The tornado continued into Izard County, in the area just northwest of Guion.

Three large pine trees fell on a home in Hot Springs Village. A pine tree fell on a golf course. Also, an 80-foot tree fell on a home.

The tornado moved out of Stone County, northeast of Mountain View, into Izard County, just northwest of Guion. A survey by the Federal Emergency Management Agency indicated 106 residential structures (houses and mobile homes) suffered damage. This included 43 residences destroyed, 14 with major damage, 36 with minor damage, and 13 others affected. A cattle farmer lost hundreds of cattle to the tornado. Two fatalities occurred: One in a mobile home in the Rose Trail area, and the other in a mobile home at Zion. The tornado continued into Sharp County, in the area northwest of Evening Shade.

Golf ball sized hail was reported at Stuttgart Airport.

Sardis Road between Shannon Hills and southwest Little Rock was closed due to limbs and trees blocking the road.

The tornado moved out of Izard County, south of Horseshoe Bend, and into Sharp County, northwest of Evening Shade. According to a survey by the Red Cross, 30 houses were destroyed, 7 suffered major damage, 17 had minor damage, and 11 others were affected. In addition, 10 mobile homes were destroyed, 1 had major damage, 2 had minor damage, and 1 was affected. Two apartments had minor damage and two others were affected. At least 40 businesses along U.S. Highway 62/412 in Highland were damaged or destroyed. Also, a church was destroyed and vehicles were overturned along the highway. The fire department in Highland lost most of its building and equipment. The Highland High School had minor damage. The tornado finally ended its long path northeast of Highland.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Roofs were damaged on a number of homes by fallen trees.

Trees and power lines were blown down in the Cabot area.

A downed power pole was reported on Central High Road.

Trees and power lines were blown down, a barn was destroyed, and part of an old chicken house collapsed. The tornado continued into White County, in the area southwest of El Paso.

Lightning struck the school campus, causing damage to the school and surveillance system.

The tornado moved from Faulkner County, east of Vilonia, into White County, southwest of El Paso. Trees and power lines were blown down, and a mobile home was destroyed.

A chicken house was destroyed in Floral.

Several dozen trees were blown down or snapped off, power lines were blown down along Arkansas Highway 39, and shingles were taken off a few roofs.

Between 12 to 15 trees were blown down on roadways in south Bradley County.