Arkansas, 2023

Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, February 16, 2023

February 16, 2023 · NWS LZK · 12 events in 6 counties and zones

Storms developed from the evening hours on the 15th and continued through the early morning hours on the 16th. Large hail, measured wind gusts above 60 mph and three tornadoes occurred during this event.

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
2
Property damage
$710,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
12

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 LZK wrote it up.

Storms developed from the evening hours on the 15th and continued through the early morning hours on the 16th. Large hail, measured wind gusts above 60 mph and three tornadoes occurred during this event.

This event had two areas of interest. Across the northeast counties, hit and miss thunderstorms popped up, and these were expected to intensify. Meanwhile, a line of storms arrived in the northwest (Ozark Mountains) from Oklahoma, and forecast models showed a weakening trend. In the end, the northeast storms did not amount to much, and storms in the northwest did not fall apart.

The northwest storms showed rotation at times on radar, and Tornado Warnings were issued. This was understandable as values of instability and shear (acquired through balloon launches/soundings) doubled in six hours (from 600 pm CST on the 15th to 1200 am CST on the 16th)! It was a scary situation because the warnings went out in the middle of the night while people were asleep.|Three tornadoes were spawned, and tracked through portions of Marion, Newton, and Searcy Counties. The strongest of these (rated EF2) cut a swath from near Pindall (Searcy County) to a few miles southeast of Bruno (Marion County). A house on a hilltop (directly exposed to the wind) shifted off of its foundation and partially collapsed. Another home was heavily damaged (loss of roof and an outer wall), and part of a roof was removed from a third home. Barns and sheds were roughed up or destroyed, and trees were uprooted or snapped. At least a half dozen roads were blocked by tree debris including Highway 65 (which was closed temporarily). A couple of people suffered minor injuries.

The other two tornadoes (rated EF1) hit in and around Canaan (Searcy County) and along Highway 21 northeast of Fallsville (Newton County). Mainly tree damage was noted, especially with the latter tornado. Any structural damage was generally minor.

Other than the tornadoes, golf ball size hail was reported at Lurton (Newton County) and Ozone (Johnson County). A 62 mph gust was measured at Conway Regional Airport (Faulkner County).

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 Little Rock, AR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 15, 10:55 PM CST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 15, 10:55 PM CST, 2 hours 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
1055 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Friday)
Issued at 201 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

Frontal boundary remains draped across the state from SW to NE
this afternoon with dewpoints in the 60s F across SE Arkansas
while NW parts of the state are holding on to values in the 30s F.
Through the evening hours this moist air will attempt to spread
northwestward across the area.

H500 cyclone making its way across the Four Corners this
afternoon will continue to lift northeastward through the
overnight period. A sfc cyclone is expected to follow a similar
path, though a bit farther south, northeastward across NW Arkansas
tonight. A trailing cold front will work its way eastward across
the state through Thursday morning, eventually bringing colder and
drier air to the state. Elevated NW winds will also be in place
behind the front.

From this evening into tonight, two distinct areas of convection
appear likely to develop across the region. Initial development
is expected across northern LA, northwest MS and portions of
southeast AR where the LLJ should begin to intensify. The second
area of development is expected along the front, across portions
of southeast OK and northeast TX.

The southern activity is expected to lift rapidly northward across
eastern AR and nearby areas. This corridor appears more favorable
for tornado activity with any of the stronger storms, with
activity most likely from around 8 pm through midnight. The storms
expected to develop to the west will be along the cold front and
will have an initially higher hail risk before working toward
western AR by 10 pm.

Activity will finally push east across the state by Thursday
morning with precip out of the area by mid-morning. Much cooler
air will be seen in the wake of this cold front, with below
freezing temperatures expected Friday morning.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Friday Night through next Wednesday)
Issued at 201 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

To begin the period, high pressure continues to build into the area
promoting calm and dry conditions through much of the long term
period. Late in the period, a weak disturbance brings the chance for
showers across the state before a low pressure system moves south of
the state Wednesday.

As mentioned above, calm and drier conditions are expected for much
of the period as high pressure build in. With it, more seasonable
temperatures and drier weather. This will come to an end late in the
weekend as model guidances suggests a new system moving into the
area late Sunday into the first part of the workweek. Severe weather
chances look low with this system as instability stays further to
the south. But with it being so far out, changes to the forecast are
possible.

Temperatures are expected to be cooler Saturday with highs in the
mid 40s to mid 50s. As the next system approaches towards the end of
the weekend...expect highs to increase into the 60s and 70s as a
more milder pattern moves in. Overnight lows are expected to be in
the mid 20s to 30s increasing into the 40s and 50s late in the
period.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1053 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

MVFR/IFR conds will be present Wednesday night into Thursday morning
across all sites for lowered cigs and reduced vsby for showers and
thunderstorms that will overspread the state at the beginning of the
forecast period. Expect showers and thunderstorms, wind shear, and
surface based wind gusts across all terminals. Conditions will
improve across most terminals by mid-day on Thursday as the frontal
boundary pushes eastward out of the state and conditions will become
VFR for many terminals late in the period.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Batesville AR     54  63  29  47 /  90  20   0   0
Camden AR         55  64  29  51 /  80  30   0   0
Harrison AR       38  52  24  44 /  70  10   0   0
Hot Springs AR    47  59  28  49 /  90  10   0   0
Little Rock   AR  55  66  31  51 /  90  20   0   0
Monticello AR     60  70  32  48 /  90  80   0   0
Mount Ida AR      43  56  27  50 /  90  10   0   0
Mountain Home AR  42  56  26  45 /  80  10   0   0
Newport AR        58  64  30  45 /  90  40   0   0
Pine Bluff AR     58  67  31  48 /  90  50   0   0
Russellville AR   46  58  28  50 /  80  10   0   0
Searcy AR         55  66  29  48 /  90  20   0   0
Stuttgart AR      58  66  31  47 /  90  50   0   0

&&

.LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

SHORT TERM...67
LONG TERM....233
AVIATION...234
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 15, 1:52 PM CST, 11 hours 23 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
152 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

ARZ004>008-014>017-024-025-031>034-039-042>047-052>057-062>069-
103-112-113-121>123-130-137-138-140-141-203-212-213-221>223-230-
237-238-240-241-313-340-341-161100-
Marion-Baxter-Fulton-Sharp-Randolph-Stone-Izard-Independence-
Lawrence-Cleburne-Jackson-Conway-Faulkner-White-Woodruff-Perry-
Garland-Saline-Pulaski-Lonoke-Prairie-Monroe-Pike-Clark-
Hot Spring-Grant-Jefferson-Arkansas-Dallas-Cleveland-Lincoln-
Desha-Ouachita-Calhoun-Bradley-Drew-Boone County Except Southwest-
Newton County Higher Elevations-Searcy County Lower Elevations-
Southern Johnson County-Southern Pope County-
Southeast Van Buren County-Western and Northern Logan County-
Northern Scott County-Northwest Yell County-
Polk County Lower Elevations-
Central and Eastern Montgomery County-
Boone County Higher Elevations-Newton County Lower Elevations-
Northwest Searcy County Higher Elevations-
Johnson County Higher Elevations-Pope County Higher Elevations-
Van Buren County Higher Elevations-
Southern and Eastern Logan County-
Central and Southern Scott County-Yell Excluding Northwest-
Northern Polk County Higher Elevations-
Northern Montgomery County Higher Elevations-
Eastern, Central, and Southern Searcy County Higher Elevations-
Southeast Polk County Higher Elevations-
Southwest Montgomery County Higher Elevations-
152 PM CST Wed Feb 15 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Some strong to severe storms will be possible, mainly from late
this evening into early Thursday morning. The main threats will
be large hail and damaging winds. Isolated tornadoes are also
possible, primarily over portions of central and eastern Arkansas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Windy conditions are expected across the state on Thursday in the
wake of a cold front. Otherwise, hazardous weather is not
expected through the remainder of the period.

.Spotter Information Statement...

Spotter activation will likely be needed late this afternoon and
tonight.

&&

Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk.

67

The radar

The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Newton

When
February 16, 1:15 AM CST to 1:22 AM CST
Where
Newton County, 1.15 mi N of Fallsville to 3.64 mi SW of Edwards Jct
Rating
EF1
Path length
3.4 mi
Path width
200 yd
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.786, -93.467

This tornado touched down approximately one mile north of the community of Fallsville, AR along the ridgeline north of town where it began to track northeastward. Damage consisted of many trees that were snapped or uprooted along with several outbuildings/barns that were damaged or completely destroyed along its path. A few homes had minor structural damage. The tornado lifted just west of Arkansas State Highway 21 after tracking 3.4 miles.

Hail, Johnson

When
February 16, 1:16 AM CST
Where
Johnson County, 0.89 mi NE of Ozone
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
35.640, -93.440

Hail, Newton

When
February 16, 1:52 AM CST
Where
Newton County, Lurton
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.770, -93.080

This was a delayed report.

Tornado, Searcy

When
February 16, 1:59 AM CST to 2:04 AM CST
Where
Searcy County, 2.36 mi SW of Pindall to 2.4 mi E of Pindall
Rating
EF2
Path length
4.25 mi
Path width
250 yd
Continued into
Marion, Ar (LZK)
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
36.042, -92.905

Damage consisted of a couple of houses losing roofing material, barns/sheds damaged or destroyed, and numerous trees uprooted or snapped. The trees blocked half a dozen roads, including Highway 65 which was closed temporarily. The most substantial damage was a house moved from its foundation and then partially collapsing. We would like to thank Searcy and Marion County Emergency Management for assistance with the survey.

Thunderstorm Wind, Searcy

When
February 16, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Searcy County, 0.89 mi SE of Pindall
Measured
80 kt (92 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.060, -92.870

Initial reports of trees and power lines downed were received. Several homes sustained roof damage. This was possibly a tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newton

When
February 16, 2:01 AM CST
Where
Newton County, 2.36 mi NNE of Fallsville
Measured
70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
35.800, -93.450

Debris was noted along with downed trees near Fallsville. This was possibly a tornado.

Tornado, Marion

When
February 16, 2:04 AM CST to 2:13 AM CST
Where
Marion County, 2.18 mi WSW of Verona to 3.82 mi SE of Bruno
Rating
EF2
Path length
6.72 mi
Path width
250 yd
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
36.070, -92.837

Damage consisted of a couple of houses losing roofing material, barns/sheds damaged or destroyed, and numerous trees uprooted or snapped. The trees blocked half a dozen roads, including Highway 65 which was closed temporarily. The most substantial damage was a house moved from its foundation and then partially collapsing. We would like to thank Searcy and Marion County Emergency Management for assistance with the survey.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marion

When
February 16, 2:10 AM CST
Where
Marion County, 1.38 mi S of Bruno
Measured
78 kt (90 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.130, -92.770

Damage to homes were reported along with downed power lines. This was possibly a tornado.

Tornado, Searcy

When
February 16, 2:22 AM CST to 2:25 AM CST
Where
Searcy County, 1.06 mi WSW of Canaan to 0.3 mi NE of Canaan
Rating
EF1
Path length
1.35 mi
Path width
75 yd
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.865, -92.718

This tornado touched down near Dakota Rd. and Highway 27. Along the path, trees were uprooted and snapped, , in addition to a roof removed from a small shed. The tornado appears to have dissipated at 225 am CST.

Thunderstorm Wind, Searcy

When
February 16, 2:46 AM CST
Where
Searcy County, 0.69 mi N of Canaan
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
35.880, -92.700

This a a delayed report. A NWS employee reported large tree limbs down along AR State Highway 27 just southwest of Marshall.

Thunderstorm Wind, Van Buren

When
February 16, 2:53 AM CST
Where
Van Buren County, 2.98 mi SSE of Una
Measured
70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.660, -92.760

This is a delayed report. A NWS employee on a tornado survey noted several trees down and large limbs snapped along AR State Hwy. 16.

Thunderstorm Wind, Faulkner

When
February 16, 3:15 AM CST
Where
Faulkner County, 0.57 mi E of Bessie
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
35.020, -92.560

What these are

Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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

More

Every storm in Arkansas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Arkansas, 2023Warnings in Arkansas, February 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: 1081382, 1080976, 1080977, 1081383, 1080978, 1080979, 1081384, 1080980, 1081386, 1080981, 1080984, 1080989.