A strong storm system brought a line of thunderstorms with several tornadoes on March 1, 2017.
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 LZK wrote it up.
A strong storm system brought a line of thunderstorms with several tornadoes on March 1, 2017.
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 Little Rock, AR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 1, 12:05 AM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 1205 AM CST Wed Mar 1 2017 .UPDATE... Updated to add TOR Watch 50 to the forecast...as well as to adjust forecast for near term trends in temps/dewpts/winds...and POPs/WX. Have also updated to include the 06Z aviation discussion below... && .AVIATION... VFR flight conditions will start the forecast for most terminals, with MVFR conditions with strong to severe storms overnight. Storms will start in northwest AR after midnight, then move southeast overnight as a cold front east to central and southeastern AR. Isolated strong to severe storms will be possible, with strong winds the main threat. The cold front will move out to the state by midday Wednesday. Used VCSH and VCTS in all Tafs. Winds will be south to southwest at 10 to 20 mph with some gusts to 25 mph. Behind the front, winds will shift to the northwest and remain elevated. && .PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 845 PM CST Tue Feb 28 2017) Discussion... Evening convection over central and northern AR continues to move northeast while slowly weakening as it move out of the CWA. This was the first round, while the cold front and upper system will move through AR later after midnight. Current timing is around midnight to 3am into northwest AR, 3am to 6am central and LIT, then 6am to 9am over eastern AR. As mentioned, these storms will mainly be along a line ahead of the cold front, with strong damaging winds the main threat, while large hail and an isolated tornado a lower threat. Winds will remain elevated overnight, and switch to the northwest behind the front. Lows tonight will be mild over central and southern areas with the cold front, while over northern AR around normal values. Latest update removed some tornado watch areas to the southwest, while keeping it in the north to northeast. Late evening update will fine tune pops and severe storm threat. (59) Prev Discussion.../ Issued 259 PM CST Tue Feb 28 2017/ SHORT TERM...Tonight Through Thursday Focus this afternoon is on the chances of showers and thunderstorms for tonight. The latest sounding...18Z...indicates a strong cap at about 3000 feet. The atmosphere will need a little more heating to break this cap and allow thunderstorms develop. A strong jet streak should come across the state around 03Z tonight and provide additional lift. The enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms continues for mainly the northern half of the area with a slight risk elsewhere. The cold front in the plains will not move through the state until after midnight. This will bring another chance of strong thunderstorms. Large hail, storng winds and tornadoes are all possible through the night. Expect the thunderstorms and cold front to exit the eastern part of the state during Wednesday morning. Gusty south winds will be ahead of the front and will turn to the northwest behind the front and remain gusty. Will issue a Lake Wind Advisory due to the strong winds. All rain should be out of eastern Arkansas by noon Wednesday. Expect winds to diminish through the afternoon as the gradient relaxes. High temperatures Wednesday will be in the mid 50s to mid 70s...and upper 50s to mid 60s for Thursday. && LONG TERM...Thursday Night Through Tuesday The period will begin with dry weather, and close to seasonal temperatures. It may be cool enough for a freeze in parts of northern Arkansas Friday morning. After that, a warming trend is expected. This will happen as a large area of high pressure exits toward the southeast United States, and winds around the high become more southerly. As temperatures go up, a storm system will approach from the Plains late in the weekend and early next week. That will result in isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms Sunday and Monday. && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Lake Wind Advisory until noon CST today FOR Arkansas-Baxter- Boone-Bradley-Calhoun-Clark-Cleburne-Cleveland-Conway-Dallas- Desha-Drew-Faulkner-Fulton-Garland-Grant-Hot Spring-Independence- Izard-Jackson-Jefferson-Johnson-Lincoln-Logan-Lonoke-Marion- Monroe-Montgomery-Newton-Ouachita-Perry-Pike-Polk-Pope-Prairie- Pulaski-Saline-Scott-Searcy-Sharp-Stone-Van Buren-White-Woodruff- Yell. && Aviation...62
Hazardous Weather Outlook...Update National Weather Service Little Rock AR 100 AM CST Wed Mar 1 2017 ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-011115- Boone-Marion-Baxter-Fulton-Sharp-Newton-Searcy-Stone-Izard- Independence-Johnson-Pope-Van Buren-Cleburne-Jackson-Logan-Conway- Faulkner-White-Woodruff-Scott-Yell-Perry-Polk-Montgomery-Garland- Saline-Pulaski-Lonoke-Prairie-Monroe-Pike-Clark-Hot Spring-Grant- Jefferson-Arkansas-Dallas-Cleveland-Lincoln-Desha-Ouachita- Calhoun-Bradley-Drew- 100 AM CST Wed Mar 1 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight A cold front will continue to push into the state during the overnight hours. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms will develop in advance of this front during the overnight hours. These storms will be accompanied by gusty and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph and large hail. A tornado is also possible with any of the stronger storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday Through Monday The storm system and cold front will be pushing east of Arkansas on Wednesday, and push the storms east of Arkansas. An isolated strong to severe storm will be possible until the cold front pushes east of Arkansas. Then high pressure will build into the area and bring cooler and dry weather into the weekend. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter Activation will be needed this evening and tonight. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk. 59
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
735 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
ARZ004-005-013-010215-
Baxter AR-Marion AR-Searcy AR-
735 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN IZARD...NORTHEASTERN
SEARCY...SOUTHEASTERN MARION AND CENTRAL BAXTER COUNTIES UNTIL 815 PM
CST...
At 735 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Maumee, or 9 miles north of Marshall, moving northeast at 50 mph.
Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Mountain Home... Norfork...
Salesville... Briarcliff...
Norfork Dam... Diamond Bay...
Evening Star... Shipp...
Herron... Maumee...
Rush... Lion Hill...
Advance... Cartney...
Culp... Gilbert...
Zach... Morning Star...
Maumee Crossing... Rea Valley...
A tornado watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CST for north central
Arkansas.
LAT...LON 3641 9220 3617 9219 3617 9222 3614 9222
3613 9220 3611 9220 3593 9268 3610 9278
TIME...MOT...LOC 0135Z 242DEG 55KT 3605 9265
46Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
840 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
ARZ014-015-010315-
Stone AR-Izard AR-
840 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL STONE...NORTHWESTERN
INDEPENDENCE...IZARD...SOUTHEASTERN FULTON AND SOUTHWESTERN SHARP
COUNTIES UNTIL 915 PM CST...
At 840 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Mountain View, moving northeast at 55 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Mountain View... Melbourne...
Horseshoe Bend... Mount Pleasant...
Franklin... Brandenberg...
Croker... Lone Star...
Gid... Herpel...
Stella... Lunenburg...
Myron... Lacrosse...
Blanchard Springs Campground... Guion...
Allison... Hanover...
Mt Olive in Izard County... Zion...
A tornado watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CST for north central
Arkansas.
LAT...LON 3621 9169 3621 9167 3601 9168 3600 9171
3594 9171 3594 9176 3589 9183 3576 9226
3592 9233 3626 9175 3625 9169
TIME...MOT...LOC 0240Z 237DEG 47KT 3589 9219
CavanaughSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
940 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
ARZ007-010400-
Sharp AR-
940 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL SHARP COUNTY UNTIL
1000 PM CST...
At 940 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Ravenden, or 11 miles east of Cherokee Village, moving northeast at
60 mph.
Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Highland in Sharp County... Williford...
Armstrong... Ozark Acres...
Sitka...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
A tornado watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CST for north central
Arkansas.
LAT...LON 3637 9128 3633 9128 3633 9126 3625 9126
3624 9133 3623 9133 3623 9135 3613 9135
3611 9139 3627 9151 3640 9130
TIME...MOT...LOC 0340Z 238DEG 53KT 3624 9137
226The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:28 UTC.
32 thunderstorm wind, 6 tornado, 5 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
An EF-1 tornado touched down at Lamar, with severe roof damage to a home.
Strong straight line wind damage was surveyed beginning near the intersection of Strawberry Loop Road and Minnow Creek Road and was scattered along a west to east oriented line ending just north of Hagarville at an Adventure Farm just north of town. There were a few outbuildings destroyed within this swath of damage, some of which were well constructed. A wallaby and her baby were killed when a nursery barn was destroyed at the Adventure Farm north of Hagarville. The damage was consistent with thunderstorm winds of 80 to 90 mph. Several trees were also uprooted in between the start and end points of damage.
Widespread wind damage across the county with numerous trees and power lines down.
Several trees were uprooted and power lines were down in the area.
The wind tore a metal roof off a barn...removed structure from porch and threw it into the trees...tore part of siding off of house...and picked up and blew trampoline and basketball goal into the tree line. Winds were estimated over 80 mph.
A 68 MPH wind gust was reported.
Damage was reported in and around Marshall. Roof, tree, and building damage was reported. The county barn was reported demolished.
Trees were down and there was damage to homes in Jerusalem and Cleveland.
Part of a roof was removed from a home and some vehicles were damaged.
The survey team found uplift of door into an outbuilding, that caused significant damage to the roof. Another outbuilding sustained significant damage and was pushed off its foundation. Additionally, several trees were uprooted.
Survey team found partial damage to a roof and a few barns destroyed.
The emergency manager reported several homes and mobile homes were damaged in the Center Ridge area. One camper was destroyed and several trees were down as well.
Thunderstorm winds up to 90 mph damaged dozens of structures from Clinton to Fairfield Bay. Numerous trees and power poles were downed or snapped.
Multiple trees were down and outbuildings damaged. There was shingle damage to houses and sheet metal and other debris was scattered around.
Trained storm spotter estimated winds in excess of 60 mph with trees down in the aea.
Thunderstorm winds downed or snapped numerous trees, with one tree on a mobile home. A window was also blown out.
Trees were blown down, uprooted, or snapped along the path of the tornado. A home had some windows blown out, and some roof damage. Several outbuildings were damaged.
Strong winds downed many trees in the Cove Creek Recreation Area. Likely the rear flanking downdraft from the same storm that produced a tornado at Crossroads.
Roof damage was reported to a home.
Social media shows a large tree has fallen through a house in Heber Springs.
Thunderstorm winds uprooted numerous huge trees, with several of these along Highway 25.
Several trees were down around evening shade.
OEM Director reported windows damaged, yawnings and tree limbs down throughout the area. Personal weather instrument recorded 64 mph wind gust.
Trees and power lines were down. A tree was reported on a house.
Trees and power lines were down. A tree was reported on a house.
Social media reports trees and power lines down in Hardy.
A personal weather instrument recorded a wind gust of 61 mph.
The survey team found extensive tree damage, with numerous trees downed or snapped. In one location, the trees were very large, with one tree crushing a tractor. Several homes had mostly roof damage, with one roof mostly removed. The survey team would like to thank Don Ivie, Jackson County Emergency Manager, for his valuable assistance during this survey.
A 60 MPH wind gust was observed at the Blanchard Springs RAWS site.
The survey team found numerous trees and power poles downed or snapped and structural damage to a few homes. One home had the back of a garage blown out and part of the roof removed in the back. A storage building was hit broadside and thrown. On US 67/167, road signs were obliterated. South of the tornado, there was random damage to structures, including doors blown in at a fire house. This was caused by straight-line winds. Farther east toward the Newport Airport, there was extensive damage at a prison. A mobile home was rolled, and a couple of barns had mostly roof damage. Straight-line winds were estimated at 80-90 mph. Wind gusts reached 66 mph at the Newport Airport. The survey team would like to thank Don Ivie, Jackson County Emergency Manager, for his valuable assistance during this survey.
Social media reported trees and power lines down.
An estimated wind gust of 60 mph was reported just north of Bald Knob.
Law enforcement reported several trailers have been flipped over.
Law enforcement reported several houses damaged and power lines down in the area.
Personal instrument owned by public recorded a 63 mph wind gust.
Extensive damage was found near the Newport airport at a prison. Some structural damage was noted, including a rolled over mobile home and roof damage at a couple of barns. Wind gusts reached at least 90 mph.
A 57 mph wind gust was observed at the KM19 AWOS.
The wind tore a metal roof off a barn...removed structure from porch and threw it into the trees...tore part of siding off of house...and picked up and blew trampoline and basketball goal into the tree line. Winds were estimated over 70 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Arkansas, 2017Warnings in Arkansas, March 2017
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: 684757, 700649, 684129, 684130, 684571, 684132, 684131, 684133, 684134, 684753, 684754, 684136, 699166, 684139, 684140, 699168, 684760, 685211, 684141, 684142, 699167, 684143, 684145, 684158, 684208, 684167, 684209, 684756, 684573, 684210, 684755, 684168, 684170, 684172, 684175, 684181, 684574, 684575, 684217, 684218, and more.