Hail, Franklin
- When
- April 9, 12:30 PM CST
- Where
- Franklin County, 1.38 mi SSE of Altus
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 35.432, -93.759
Hail and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, April 9, 2021
Strong to severe thunderstorms moved northward across northwestern Arkansas during the early afternoon of the 9th, as a warm front moved across the area. The strongest storms produced hail up to nickel size and damaging wind.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 7
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 happened
The episode as NWS TSA wrote it up.
Strong to severe thunderstorms moved northward across northwestern Arkansas during the early afternoon of the 9th, as a warm front moved across the area. The strongest storms produced hail up to nickel size and damaging wind. Another round of thunderstorms developed into northwestern Arkansas during the evening, with the approach of a cold front from the west. The strongest of these storms produced damaging wind across portions of the area.
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 Apr 9, 11:50 AM CST, 40 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 9, 11:50 AM CST, 40 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 1250 PM CDT Fri Apr 9 2021 .AVIATION... CONCERNING TAF SITES KTUL/KRVS/KBVO/KMLC/KXNA/KFYV/KFSM/KROG. Showers and thunderstorms will affect all sites later this afternoon into this evening, with MVFR or lower conditions and strong and gusty winds in the vicinity of storms. Winds will shift to the northwest following the passage of a cold front this evening. MVFR conditions will continue into Saturday morning at all sites except KMLC. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 1144 AM CDT Fri Apr 9 2021/ DISCUSSION... Elevated convection has developed as expected across southeast Oklahoma. This activity will persist into early afternoon with a limited severe risk in the form of hail. A more significant severe weather threat will develop after about 3 pm across northeast Oklahoma, mainly along and to the north of Interstate 44. Large hail, damaging winds, and perhaps a tornado or two will be possible with initial storms in this area through about 6 pm. After 6 pm, storms will begin to congeal into a squall line, and will also develop farther to the south. This squall line will then surge east and southeast, with the main severe weather threat transitioning to damaging winds, although isolated QLCS tornadoes will also remain possible. The current forecast is mostly on track, but have raised afternoon high temperatures a bit with some places already at the previous forecast highs. Update on the way. && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. AR...None. && AVIATION.....05
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 9, 12:22 PM CST, 8 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 122 PM CDT Fri Apr 9 2021 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-101000- 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- 122 PM CDT Fri Apr 9 2021 This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. TORNADO. RISK...Elevated. AREA... Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. ONSET...After 3 pm. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...Significant. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. FLASH FLOOD. RISK...Limited. AREA...Mainly Northeast Oklahoma. ONSET...Late Afternoon. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...Elevated. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. ONSET...Late Afternoon. SIGNIFICANT WINDS. RISK...Limited. AREA...Northeast Oklahoma. ONSET...Early Evening. FIRE WEATHER DANGER. RISK...Limited. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. DISCUSSION... Scattered thunderstorms are occurring across parts of far eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas early this afternoon. These storms will have a limited risk of severe hail through mid afternoon as they continue moving northeast. Conditions will become increasingly supportive of severe weather after about 3 pm, especially across northeast Oklahoma initially. A cold front will move into northeast Oklahoma late this afternoon and focus storm development. Storms will likely quickly become severe with large hail and damaging wind potential. Initial storms ahead of the cold front may pose a risk of tornadoes, otherwise storm coverage will steadily increase along the advancing front with damaging winds becoming the predominant hazard. Farther south across southeast Oklahoma, uncertainty exists on whether storms can develop prior to the cold frontal passage. Should storms develop ahead of the front, the potential for all severe weather hazards will exist including tornadoes. Storms ongoing along the advancing front will also sweep across this region with a continued risk of severe weather. Severe weather potential will extend through western Arkansas this evening, primarily associated with the line of storms along the cold front. Damaging winds will be the most likely hazard by this evening, with isolated large hail and QLCS type tornadoes also possible. Storms will exit western Arkansas by midnight. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. SATURDAY...Very High Fire Weather Potential...High Wind Potential. SUNDAY...Very High Fire Weather Potential. MONDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Very High Fire Weather Potential. TUESDAY through THURSDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... Gusty north winds will continue on Saturday which will raise fire weather concerns for locations which receive little to no rainfall today. The next chance for showers and isolated thunderstorms returns by early next week. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Apr 9, 11:41 AM CST, 49 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tulsa OK 1241 PM CDT Fri Apr 9 2021 ARZ019-020-029-091815- Sebastian AR-Franklin AR-Crawford AR- 1241 PM CDT Fri Apr 9 2021 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN... SOUTHEASTERN CRAWFORD AND NORTHEASTERN SEBASTIAN COUNTIES UNTIL 115 PM CDT... At 1240 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 4 miles northwest of Lavaca, moving northeast at 40 mph. Nickel size hail will be possible with this storm. Locations in or near the path include... Ozark... Alma... Barling... Lavaca... Mulberry... Dyer... Fern... Kibler... Central City... Piney... Toney... Cecil... Lonelm... Cravens... This includes Interstate 40 in Arkansas between mile markers 14 and 33. LAT...LON 3531 9427 3538 9432 3568 9400 3546 9381 TIME...MOT...LOC 1740Z 239DEG 35KT 3539 9422
Special weather statement, Apr 9, 12:11 PM CST, 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
111 PM CDT Fri Apr 9 2021
ARZ020-091845-
Franklin AR-
111 PM CDT Fri Apr 9 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY
UNTIL 145 PM CDT...
At 111 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 5 miles southwest of
Denning, moving northeast at 45 mph.
Nickel size hail will be possible with this storm.
Locations in or near the path include...
Ozark... Altus...
Denning... Wiederkehr Village...
Caulksville... Etna...
Peter Pender... Alix...
Meg... Cecil...
This includes Interstate 40 in Arkansas between mile markers 37 and
42.
LAT...LON 3538 9371 3537 9375 3542 9380 3531 9381
3532 9392 3541 9399 3558 9371
TIME...MOT...LOC 1811Z 244DEG 41KT 3537 9382The radar
The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 57 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:28 UTC.
Event by event
5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Madison
- When
- April 9, 1:30 PM CST
- Where
- Madison County, Clifty
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 36.230, -93.800
Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll
- When
- April 9, 1:48 PM CST
- Where
- Carroll County, 3 mi S of Eureka Spgs
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Fire Department/Rescue
- Coordinates
- 36.357, -93.730
Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind, Washington
- When
- April 9, 8:20 PM CST
- Where
- Washington County, Cincinnati
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 36.030, -94.500
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm Wind, Washington
- When
- April 9, 8:35 PM CST
- Where
- Washington County, Tontitown
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 36.180, -94.230
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm Wind, Washington
- When
- April 9, 8:54 PM CST
- Where
- Washington County, (Fyv)fayetteville Ar
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 36.000, -94.170
The ASOS at Drake Field measured 59 mph thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind, Sebastian
- When
- April 9, 9:32 PM CST
- Where
- Sebastian County, Ft Smith
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.380, -94.420
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Florida, April 9 to 10, 2021
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, April 9, 2021
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Mississippi, April 9 to 10, 2021
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, April 9, 2021
- Hail in West Virginia, April 9, 2021
- Flash Flood and Hail in Mississippi, April 9 to 10, 2021
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Mississippi, April 9, 2021
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, April 9, 2021
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, April 9, 2021
- Tornado and Hail in Arkansas, April 9, 2021
- Hail and Lightning Strike in Tennessee, April 9, 2021
- Hail in Oklahoma, April 9, 2021
More
Every storm in Arkansas in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, April 2021
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: 949890, 949884, 949891, 949897, 949899, 949895, 949901.