Thunderstorms developed across portions of northwestern Arkansas during the afternoon of the 16th. The strongest storms produced hail up to quarter size and damaging wind.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS TSA wrote it up.
Thunderstorms developed across portions of northwestern Arkansas during the afternoon of the 16th. The strongest storms produced hail up to quarter size and damaging wind.
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 16, 2:15 PM CST, 53 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 315 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016 .DISCUSSION... It has been an interesting radar evolution over the past several hours...as we started this morning with two outflow boundaries with which to focus storms. The western MCS weakened as it moved into NE Oklahoma...and most spots received just light precipitation. In fact...KTUL only received 0.02" since 12z with KRVS picking up 0.05". Area mesonet sites show the highest amounts were along the KS/OK border and just west of our CWA. The storms forming along the northern outflow slowed their southward propagation as the western MCS moved in and the upper wave approached. The active area now is across western AR where scattered storms have developed but will likely dissipate by early evening. Water vapor shows the upper wave over eastern OK is quickly moving east and will take the moisture/lift with it. Have lowered pops for the overnight period based on current radar trends, stabilized airmass, and departing large scale forcing with upper wave. Synoptic front is in KS...with a convectively generated boundary in the TX panhandle. Will have to monitor these areas for development...but these are the best options for any storms overnight. Although the global models suggest precipitation overnight and Saturday...the last few runs of the experimental HRRR are not. Will keep low chance pops just in case for Saturday if anything is able to develop overnight. Otherwise...by Saturday afternoon...upper trough will be across the Great Lakes. By Sunday we will be drying out as trough axis is east of us. Upper ridge builds in for Monday/Tuesday with another round of hot days with highs in the upper 80s/90s. Corfidi && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 68 87 65 87 / 40 20 20 20 FSM 71 90 69 88 / 30 30 10 40 MLC 70 89 67 88 / 20 20 20 40 BVO 65 86 61 85 / 50 20 20 20 FYV 65 85 62 82 / 40 30 10 20 BYV 66 82 64 83 / 30 40 10 20 MKO 69 87 66 86 / 40 20 20 20 MIO 66 85 62 84 / 40 20 10 20 F10 69 87 68 87 / 40 20 20 40 HHW 71 91 70 91 / 20 20 10 30 && .TSA Watches/Warnings/Advisories... OK...None. AR...None. && SHORT TERM...07 LONG TERM....06
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 129 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-171030- ADAIR OK-BENTON AR-CARROLL AR-CHEROKEE OK-CHOCTAW OK-CRAIG OK- CRAWFORD AR-CREEK OK-DELAWARE OK-FRANKLIN AR-HASKELL OK-LATIMER OK- LE FLORE OK-MADISON AR-MAYES OK-MCINTOSH OK-MUSKOGEE OK-NOWATA OK- OKFUSKEE OK-OKMULGEE OK-OSAGE OK-OTTAWA OK-PAWNEE OK-PITTSBURG OK- PUSHMATAHA OK-ROGERS OK-SEBASTIAN AR-SEQUOYAH OK-TULSA OK-WAGONER OK- WASHINGTON OK-WASHINGTON AR- 129 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...LIMITED. AREA..FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. ONSET...ONGOING. FLASH FLOOD. RISK...LIMITED. AREA...NEAR THE KANSAS BORDER IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA. ONSET...ONGOING. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...LIMITED. AREA...NEAR THE KANSAS BORDER IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA. ONSET...ONGOING. DISCUSSION... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THRU THE AFTERNOON HOURS, AHEAD OF AN UPPER WAVE. DAMAGING WINDS AND MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THE COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON TO THE NORTH AND WEST OF OUR AREA, AND THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE REGION TONIGHT. THE SEVERE RISK IS LOW WITH THIS ACTIVITY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN COULD CAUSE SOME MINOR FLOODING WHERE STORMS ARE ABLE TO TRAIN OVER THE SAME AREAS. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... LOCAL SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL. MONDAY THRU THURSDAY...NO HAZARDS. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL SHIFT DOWN INTO SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS ON SATURDAY WITH THE FRONT. A COMPACT BUT POTENT UPPER WAVE WILL SLIDE ACROSS THE REGION ON SUNDAY, BRINGING ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS. RIDGING ALOFT NEXT WEEK WILL MAINTAIN DRY AND TRANQUIL WEATHER. WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TULSA CONTAINS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. LACY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1014 AM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016
OKZ049-064>066-071-073-161545-
PUSHMATAHA OK-OKFUSKEE OK-CREEK OK-PITTSBURG OK-MCINTOSH OK-
OKMULGEE OK-
1014 AM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR OKFUSKEE...WESTERN OKMULGEE...
WESTERN MCINTOSH...PITTSBURG...NORTHWESTERN PUSHMATAHA AND CREEK
COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 AM CDT...
AT 1013 AM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF STROUD TO NEAR LAMAR TO 5 MILES
NORTHEAST OF LANE. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
LOCALIZED POCKETS OF WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
MCALESTER... OKMULGEE...
BRISTOW... OKEMAH...
OKFUSKEE... HENRYETTA...
KREBS... BEGGS...
BOLEY... WELEETKA...
DEWAR... KIOWA...
SAVANNA... SCHULTER...
DEPEW... CROWDER...
ALDERSON... INDIANOLA...
GRAYSON... HANNA...
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
INTERSTATE 40 IN OKLAHOMA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 214 AND 251.
INTERSTATE 44 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 178 AND 202.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3580 9662 3616 9646 3548 9575 3445 9551
3433 9578 3450 9578 3451 9567 3459 9567
3459 9588 3468 9589 3468 9605 3485 9609
3505 9609 3515 9598 3529 9598 3529 9632
3568 9662
TIME...MOT...LOC 1513Z 209DEG 22KT 3571 9659 3512 9611 3437 9595
LACYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
326 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016
ARZ001-162100-
BENTON AR-
326 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL BENTON COUNTY UNTIL 400
PM CDT...
AT 326 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 2 MILES NORTH OF PEA RIDGE TO 2 MILES EAST OF SILOAM
SPRINGS. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
ROGERS... BENTONVILLE...
SILOAM SPRINGS... BELLA VISTA...
PEA RIDGE... GENTRY...
GRAVETTE... CAVE SPRINGS...
DECATUR... HIGHFILL...
SPRINGTOWN... HIWASSE...
MILLER... CENTERTON...
SULPHUR SPRINGS... AVOCA...
HILL TOP... HEALING SPRINGS...
GALLITIN... VAUGHN...
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 49 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 82 AND 84...AND
BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 86 AND 93.
LAT...LON 3621 9427 3621 9433 3615 9434 3615 9456
3617 9456 3650 9447 3650 9393
TIME...MOT...LOC 2026Z 220DEG 13KT 3649 9413 3620 9450SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 355 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016 ARZ001-010-OKZ069-162130- WASHINGTON AR-BENTON AR-ADAIR OK- 355 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN BENTON... NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHEASTERN ADAIR COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CDT... AT 355 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 2 MILES EAST OF SILOAM SPRINGS TO 3 MILES NORTH OF MARYETTA. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... ROGERS... BENTONVILLE... SILOAM SPRINGS... TONTITOWN... LINCOLN... CAVE SPRINGS... WESTVILLE... HIGHFILL... WATTS... SPRINGTOWN... CINCINNATI... BARON... ELM SPRINGS... BALLARD... LAKE FRANCIS... HARMON... SUMMERS... RHEA... FAIRMOUNT... ROCKY COMFORT... THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 49 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 82 AND 84. LAT...LON 3635 9415 3590 9439 3588 9469 3623 9453 TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 241DEG 20KT 3620 9450 3589 9466
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
406 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016
ARZ001-162145-
BENTON AR-
406 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN BENTON COUNTY UNTIL
445 PM CDT...
AT 406 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 2 MILES EAST OF PEA RIDGE TO CAVE SPRINGS. MOVEMENT
WAS NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
SPRINGDALE... ROGERS...
BENTONVILLE... LOWELL...
PEA RIDGE... BETHEL HEIGHTS...
CAVE SPRINGS... GARFIELD...
GATEWAY... AVOCA...
LARUE... BLAND...
WALNUT HILL... HILL TOP...
MONTE NE...
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 49 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 76 AND 84...AND
BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 86 AND 88.
LAT...LON 3640 9388 3639 9388 3638 9389 3624 9397
3622 9429 3650 9412 3650 9387 3641 9387
TIME...MOT...LOC 2106Z 243DEG 12KT 3645 9408 3626 9423The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 114 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:06 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong thunderstorm wind damaged the roofs of several homes.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, September 2016
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: 659244, 659245.