Hail and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, April 15, 2023

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, April 15, 2023
Start: 2023-04-15T13:36
End: 2023-04-15T14:52
Location: Arkansas

April 15, 2023 · NWS TSA · 31 events in 6 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms developed over far eastern and southeastern Oklahoma and moved through northwestern Arkansas during the afternoon of the 15th, as a cold front moved into the area. Moderately strong instability combined with strong deep-layer wind shear to support the development of some supercell thunderstorms.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $803,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 31

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.

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 15, 11:32 AM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 15, 11:32 AM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
1232 PM CDT Sat Apr 15 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(The rest of today )
Issued at 948 AM CDT Sat Apr 15 2023

This morning, a cold front is just now entering western portions of
the forecast area with the boundary near a KPNC-KCQB-KSRE line. There is
also a pre-frontal trof just west of the Tulsa metro. The airmass ahead
of the boundaries is rather unstable with minimal cap. Surface based
CAPE of 2000/3000 j/kg is common ahead of the boundaries. Some the latest
CAM solutions suggest a few storms may develop across northeast Oklahoma
over the next couple of hours. However, the better chance of storms will
be early to mid afternoon across far eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas
as the cold front surges to the east. Temperatures will be falling behind
the cold front today creating a bit of a forecasting challenge. Fire weather
concerns will ramp up again this afternoon across Osage and Pawnee Counties in
northeast Oklahoma as winds gust to around 35 mph behind the front.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tonight through Friday)
Issued at 308 AM CDT Sat Apr 15 2023

Much drier air spread across the region in wake of the cold front
with gusty northerly winds continuing on Sunday. Fire weather
concerns increase area wide on Sunday afternoon and especially
across NE OK where portions of the region remain in drought
conditions. Pleasant day Monday as sfc ridging expands across the
region.

Return flow commences Tuesday with a minor wave passing through
the southern Plains. Guidance suggest at least low precip chances
return Tuesday though coverage continues to appear low. Gusty
winds develop Wednesday with low level moisture increasing and
eventually an unstable warm sector develops ahead of the next wave
currently timed to pass through the Plains on Thursday. Timing of
the this wave and the associated cold front will be the focus for
upcoming forecasts and whether a severe threat develops locally
or focuses further east.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1228 PM CDT Sat Apr 15 2023

A cold front is slicing through the area this afternoon with mostly
VFR conditions ahead of the front and MVFR conditions behind it.
Thunderstorms will possibly impact the western arkansas sites early
in the forecast period as the cold front advances to the east.
MVFR ceilings persist at the NE OK sites into this evening and
even longer into tonight across NW AR. Mostly VFR conditions return
on Sunday.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TUL   42  67  41  81 /   0   0   0   0
FSM   45  68  43  79 /   0   0   0   0
MLC   42  68  43  78 /   0   0   0   0
BVO   37  67  36  81 /   0   0   0   0
FYV   38  63  40  76 /   0   0   0   0
BYV   41  61  41  73 /  10   0   0   0
MKO   41  66  41  77 /   0   0   0   0
MIO   41  63  38  74 /   0   0   0   0
F10   41  67  41  78 /   0   0   0   0
HHW   44  68  44  77 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...None.
AR...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...10
LONG TERM....07
AVIATION...10

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 15, 12:01 PM CST, 1 hour 35 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
101 PM CDT Sat Apr 15 2023

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-161030-
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-
101 PM CDT Sat Apr 15 2023

This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as
much of Eastern Oklahoma.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and Tonight.
TORNADO.
RISK...Limited.
AREA...western Arkansas.
ONSET...Ongoing.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
RISK...Elevated.
AREA...Far eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas.
ONSET...Ongoing.

SIGNIFICANT WINDS.
RISK...Limited.
AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.
ONSET...Ongoing.

FIRE WEATHER DANGER.
RISK...Limited.
AREA...Northeast Oklahoma.
ONSET...Ongoing.

DISCUSSION...
A cold front currently moving across eastern Oklahoma will sweep through
the remainder of the area this afternoon. Storms are expected to develop
along the front across far eastern Oklahoma through western Arkansas during the
afternoon hours. Severe weather is possible with these storms with potential
for very large hail with the strongest storms. The severe weather threat
will end by early evening as storms quickly spread further eastward.
Additionally, gusty winds behind the passing cold front will raise grassland fire spread
rates across northeast Oklahoma this afternoon

SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Likely.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.
SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Very High Fire Weather Potential...High Wind Potential.
THURSDAY...Severe Thunderstorm Potential...Very High Fire Weather Potential...High Wind Potential.
FRIDAY...Very High Fire Weather Potential...High Wind Potential.

EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
Grassland fire spread potential will increase area wide on Sunday
and especially areas of northeast Oklahoma where drought conditions
persist. Winds will gradually decrease by Monday.

Low thunderstorm chances return Tuesday along with increasing winds
Tuesday and especially Wednesday. The increasing winds will again
raise grassland fire weather concerns for portions of northeast
Oklahoma. A stronger storm system influences the region by
next Thursday and a risk of severe weather may develop.

weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 15, 1:21 PM CST, 15 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
221 PM CDT Sat Apr 15 2023

ARZ001-010-011-152000-
Madison AR-Benton AR-Washington AR-
221 PM CDT Sat Apr 15 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of eastern Benton,
northwestern Madison and northern Washington Counties through 300 PM
CDT...

At 220 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 4 miles
northwest of Prairie Grove, moving northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects
         is possible.

Locations in or near the path include...
Fayetteville...                   Springdale...
Rogers...                         Bentonville...
Huntsville...                     Lowell...
Farmington...                     Prairie Grove...
Elkins...                         Tontitown...
West Fork...                      Cave Springs...
Greenland...                      Garfield...
Hindsville...                     Hobbs State Park...
Clifty...                         Withrow Springs State Park...
War Eagle...                      Drake Field Airport...

This includes Interstate 49 between mile markers 55 and 85.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for
northwestern Arkansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3590 9436 3606 9450 3649 9403 3612 9366
TIME...MOT...LOC 1920Z 232DEG 37KT 3602 9436

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

69

The radar

The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

28 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Washington

When: April 15, 1:36 PM CST to 1:39 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 2 mi ESE of Wheeler to 2 mi WSW of Johnson
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.109, -94.217

Hail, Sebastian

When: April 15, 1:50 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, 0.56 mi W of Oak Park
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.430, -94.390

Hail, Sebastian

When: April 15, 1:50 PM CST to 1:57 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, 0.76 mi NNW of Ft Smith to 0.89 mi SE of Oak Park
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.391, -94.423

Golf ball to hen egg size hail damaged homes, businesses, and vehicles.

Hail, Washington

When: April 15, 1:51 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Springdale
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 36.180, -94.130

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: April 15, 1:54 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 2 mi NE of Highfill
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.291, -94.325

Strong thunderstorm wind blew down trees and damaged a horse shed.

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 1:55 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 2 mi SE of Centerton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.330, -94.255

Hail, Crawford

When: April 15, 1:55 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, 0.9 mi SW of Smeltzer
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.459, -94.329

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 1:55 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 2 mi SSW of Bentonville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.343, -94.234

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: April 15, 1:55 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 2 mi SSW of Bentonville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.343, -94.234

Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph.

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 1:56 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 3 mi SE of Centerton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.319, -94.242

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 1:56 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 2 mi ESE of Centerton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.339, -94.247

Hail, Crawford

When: April 15, 1:59 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, 2 mi WNW of Shibley
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.461, -94.333

Ping pong ball size hail damaged vehicles and homes.

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 1.02 mi E of Bentonville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.372, -94.202

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 2:01 PM CST
Where: Benton County, Bentonville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.370, -94.220

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 2:02 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 1 mi E of Bentonville
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.370, -94.202

Half dollar size hail damaged vehicles and homes.

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 2:05 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 4 mi NW of Pea Ridge
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.491, -94.171

Half dollar size hail damaged vehicles and homes.

Hail, Crawford

When: April 15, 2:08 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, 0.56 mi E of Dean Spg
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.520, -94.210

Hail, Crawford

When: April 15, 2:10 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, 0.51 mi NNE of Alma
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.487, -94.227

Tennis ball size hail damaged homes, businesses, and vehicles.

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 2:14 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 1 mi N of Bentonville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.385, -94.220

Thunderstorm Wind, Sebastian

When: April 15, 2:21 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, 3 mi SE of Ft Smith
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.349, -94.382

Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs, and blew shingles from the roofs of homes.

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 2:23 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 1 mi S of Garfield
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.435, -93.970

Hen egg size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Benton

When: April 15, 2:24 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 3.46 mi ENE of Bentonville Branch J
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 36.340, -94.059

Hail, Crawford

When: April 15, 2:29 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, 2 mi N of Mulberry
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.529, -94.050

Tennis ball size hail damaged homes, businesses, and vehicles.

Hail, Crawford

When: April 15, 2:30 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, 3 mi E of Dyer
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 35.500, -94.077

Hen egg size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Crawford

When: April 15, 2:30 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, 0.17 mi NW of Mulberry
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.502, -94.052

Hail, Sebastian

When: April 15, 2:37 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, 0.53 mi NNE of Witcherville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.137, -94.266

Golf ball size damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Washington

When: April 15, 2:40 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 1.12 mi NNW of Elkins
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.014, -94.011

Hail, Sebastian

When: April 15, 2:40 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, 2.36 mi WSW of Burnville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.170, -94.220

Golf ball size hail damaged vehicles and homes.

Hail, Franklin

When: April 15, 2:44 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 5 mi NW of Ozark
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.551, -93.893

Golf ball size hail damaged vehicles and homes.

Hail, Sebastian

When: April 15, 2:46 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, 0.93 mi E of Burnville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.180, -94.164

Hail, Carroll

When: April 15, 2:52 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, 2 mi ESE of Beaver
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.459, -93.737

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

Every storm in Arkansas in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in Arkansas, April 2023

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: 1084410, 1084411, 1084412, 1086209, 1086237, 1086210, 1086216, 1086220, 1086221, 1086211, 1086212, 1089536, 1086213, 1086214, 1086215, 1086217, 1086218, 1086235, 1086219, 1089537, 1086223, 1086225, 1086236, 1086224, 1086227, 1086230, 1086226, 1086233, 1086232, 1086228, 1086231.