A cold front moving across Oklahoma toward Arkansas interacted with a stalled front across southern Arkansas. Strong to severe storms were triggered along the boundary and the setup along the cold front prompted the development of clusters of thunderstorms which produced damaging winds and multiple tornadoes.
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 cold front moving across Oklahoma toward Arkansas interacted with a stalled front across southern Arkansas. Strong to severe storms were triggered along the boundary and the setup along the cold front prompted the development of clusters of thunderstorms which produced damaging winds and multiple tornadoes.
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 Jun 18, 12:07 AM CST, 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 107 AM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Monday Night ) Issued at 1248 AM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023 Thru Sat night and into Sun morning, a complex severe weather event is expected to unfold across portions of N/Wrn, Wrn, S/Wrn and potentially Cntrl and Srn AR. Latest radar observations indicated multiple severe thunderstorm bow echo complexes moving across portions of Ern OK, S/Ern OK into Wrn AR, and Cntrl Srn OK into S/Ern OK. Additionally, clusters of storms have developed and begun some upscale growth across much of S/Wrn AR. Most of these bow echoes of radar evidence of significant and damaging wind gusts, w/ ground truth reports supporting significant warning wording. 00Z CAM guidance up to this point in time has been performing extremely well, w/ most of the current convective features well located in space and time. So, putting some more significant weight on the fcst based on model guidance, the evolution of these storms is expected to remain complicated as the night progresses. Ongoing bow echoes are expected to persist across N/Wrn, Wrn, and S/Wrn portions of the FA thru Sun morning, w/ additional development still evident behind the closer complexes. Local mesoanalysis data indicates significant instability across Wrn AR and the ARKLATEX, w/ a strong gradient oriented from N/W to S/E over the lower Red River Valley. Most complexes along or south of this gradient should propagate along this axis thru the overnight hours. Primary hazards thru the overnight hours wl primarily consist of straight line damaging winds, and some instances of large hail. QLCS tornadoes will also be a hazard given a primary storm mode of linear complexes and bow echoes, though the risk is relatively lower. By Sun afternoon and thru the remainder of the PD, a more settled wx pattern is fcst w/ PoPs tapering off and temps remaining near normal values thru the early portion of the work week. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday through Saturday) Issued at 1248 AM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023 The upper closed low will be east of the state at the start of the long term period...with AR remaining on the west side of this upper low for much of this week. This will keep most days dry next week as a result...but some very isolated afternoon convection may still be seen each day. This upper low may meander back towards AR late in the forecast...which may bring some slightly increased POPs to the forecast by Fri and/or Sat afternoons. Temps look to start off near or just above normal for highs early in the long term period...then as the upper low attempts to wobble back west some...expect temps to cool slightly. Lows each day will remain in the 60s to mid 70s. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1248 AM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023 Not much change to advertise with 06Z TAFS... A complex fcst is expected thru the PD. Recent composite radar imgry depicted several TS complexes developing across S/Wrn and Wrn AR, w/ additional TS complexes expected to move into the FA from OK. Multiple lines of TSRA are expected to move through the FA from W to E, impacting Nrn, Cntrl, and Srn AR thru the overnight hrs into daybreak on Sun. Have kept much of the prev fcst w/ regard to timing of TS and category changes, w/ a mix of prevailing and TEMPO groups based on confidence. MVFR VISBYS/CIGS wl lkly accompany the strongest TS. Sig wind gusts may also be seen w/ these storms if they move over or near terminals... higher confidence exists across Nrn and Wrn terminals, so have kept sig VRB wind gusts accordingly, but introduced VRB gusts at most terminals thru Sun morning. By late Sun morning, stronger TSRA around the area should be moving into SErn AR, w/ condns improving elsewhere in the state and BKN to OVC mid lvl clouds lingering thru the day... some VCSH/TS may be possible in the wake of stronger storms Sun morning/afternoon. Winds Sun afternoon wl bcm Srly, and may be stronger/gusty at times. /72/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 82 66 89 67 / 90 40 0 0 Camden AR 86 68 91 70 / 90 30 0 10 Harrison AR 78 64 87 65 / 90 20 0 0 Hot Springs AR 85 67 92 69 / 90 10 0 10 Little Rock AR 86 70 92 72 / 90 20 0 0 Monticello AR 88 72 91 72 / 90 60 10 10 Mount Ida AR 84 65 92 68 / 90 10 0 10 Mountain Home AR 79 65 87 65 / 90 20 0 0 Newport AR 83 68 88 69 / 90 40 10 0 Pine Bluff AR 86 69 91 70 / 90 40 0 10 Russellville AR 83 67 92 69 / 80 10 0 0 Searcy AR 85 68 91 69 / 90 30 0 0 Stuttgart AR 85 70 90 71 / 90 40 0 10 && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...72 LONG TERM....62 AVIATION...72
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Little Rock AR 855 AM CDT Sat Jun 17 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- 237-238-240-241-313-340-341-181000- 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- 855 AM CDT Sat Jun 17 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to approach western parts of the state shortly after midnight and continue to move into Arkansas through Sunday morning. These storms will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts, hail and locally heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Thunderstorms will persist across the state from Sunday through Sunday night before exiting to the east by Monday morning. As these storms move eastward across the state they will be capable of producing hail larger than golfballs, wind gusts to 80 mph and possibly a tornado or two. Localized heavy rainfall could lead to some flash flooding concerns in a few locations. From Monday through Friday the threat of hazardous weather appears low. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk. 67/56
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
1147 PM CDT Sat Jun 17 2023
ARZ140-141-237-240-241-340-341-180530-
Southwest Montgomery County Higher Elevations AR-
Polk County Lower Elevations AR-Central and Southern Scott County AR-
Southeast Polk County Higher Elevations AR-
Northern Montgomery County Higher Elevations AR-
Northern Polk County Higher Elevations AR-
Central and Eastern Montgomery County AR-
1147 PM CDT Sat Jun 17 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Scott, Polk and
northwestern Montgomery Counties through 1230 AM CDT...
At 1147 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Mountain Fork to near Polk County
Fairgrounds to near Cossatot River State Park. Movement was northeast
at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Mena... Waldron...
Mount Ida... Oden...
Beauchamp... Opal...
Mimosa... Cossatot River State Park...
Mountain Fork... Polk County Fairgrounds...
Mena Intermountain Airport... Shady...
Hartley... Morgan Springs...
Caney Creek Wilderness... Queen Wilhelmina State Park...
Mauldin... Bard Springs Recreation Area...
Acorn... Big Fork...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for
western and central Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3480 9445 3492 9431 3493 9426 3486 9371
3475 9371 3474 9364 3458 9356 3435 9411
3436 9423 3453 9436 3456 9446
TIME...MOT...LOC 0447Z 238DEG 35KT 3464 9450 3456 9431 3441 9420
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
46Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
1219 AM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023
ARZ130-137-138-141-230-237-238-241-180600-
Northwest Yell County AR-Northern Scott County AR-
Western and Northern Logan County AR-Yell Excluding Northwest AR-
Central and Southern Scott County AR-
Northern Montgomery County Higher Elevations AR-
Southern and Eastern Logan County AR-
Central and Eastern Montgomery County AR-
1219 AM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Logan, Scott, Yell
and northwestern Montgomery Counties through 100 AM CDT...
At 1219 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Morgan Springs to 9 miles south of Waldron
to near Oden. Movement was northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Booneville... Waldron...
Paris... Danville...
Mount Ida... Ola...
Mansfield... Magazine...
Subiaco... Oden...
Scranton... Ratcliff...
Blue Mountain... Beauchamp...
Cardiff... Petit Jean River WMA...
Midway in Logan County... Mauldin...
Mosley... Muddy Creek WMA...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for
western and central Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3493 9445 3496 9437 3497 9424 3506 9425
3510 9414 3514 9414 3514 9403 3523 9403
3523 9392 3532 9391 3532 9381 3543 9381
3536 9375 3540 9367 3538 9362 3540 9357
3513 9312 3453 9364 3468 9393 3487 9445
TIME...MOT...LOC 0519Z 205DEG 47KT 3490 9440 3477 9403 3459 9376
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
46Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
1240 AM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023
ARZ042-052>055-062-141-341-180615-
Hot Spring AR-Pike AR-Grant AR-
Southwest Montgomery County Higher Elevations AR-Clark AR-Dallas AR-
Garland AR-Central and Eastern Montgomery County AR-
1240 AM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Clark, Pike,
northwestern Grant, northwestern Dallas, Garland, southeastern
Montgomery and Hot Spring Counties through 115 AM CDT...
At 1239 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Daisy State Park to near Arkadelphia. Movement
was northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Hot Springs... Arkadelphia...
Malvern... Murfreesboro...
Glenwood... Gurdon...
Mountain Pine... Rockport...
Amity... Caddo Valley...
Tull... Prattsville...
Poyen... Perla...
Okolona... Daisy...
Lonsdale... Whelen Springs...
Beirne... Gum Springs in Clark County...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for
central, western and southwestern Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3467 9346 3455 9279 3450 9279 3447 9269
3441 9268 3441 9262 3446 9259 3445 9241
3447 9240 3447 9238 3378 9309 3382 9314
3380 9318 3384 9329 3389 9330 3396 9337
3396 9347 3394 9353 3401 9382 3419 9384
TIME...MOT...LOC 0539Z 218DEG 30KT 3422 9372 3415 9312
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
72Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
1257 AM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023
ARZ121-122-130-138-221-222-230-238-180645-
Northwest Yell County AR-Pope County Higher Elevations AR-
Western and Northern Logan County AR-Yell Excluding Northwest AR-
Southern Pope County AR-Southern and Eastern Logan County AR-
Johnson County Higher Elevations AR-Southern Johnson County AR-
1257 AM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Logan, Johnson,
northwestern Yell and western Pope Counties through 145 AM CDT...
At 1257 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Ozark to Hartman to near Magazine.
Movement was northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Russellville... Clarksville...
Paris... Dardanelle...
Pottsville... Lamar...
Dover... London...
Magazine... Knoxville...
Subiaco... Hartman...
Scranton... Blue Mountain...
Lake Dardanelle State Park... Devils Knob...
Hoyt... Midway in Logan County...
Mosley... Taral...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for
western, central and north central Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3532 9381 3542 9381 3536 9375 3538 9371
3576 9369 3575 9352 3573 9351 3573 9326
3563 9305 3522 9307 3503 9381 3531 9383
TIME...MOT...LOC 0557Z 248DEG 40KT 3549 9390 3543 9361 3513 9384
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
46The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:11 UTC.
29 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Barn roofs destroyed with metal roof debris scattered across roads and fields. Significant trees knocked down near Prairie View.
This tornado began just downstream of Prairie Mountain southwest of Fox Road. Along Fox Road, five of six chicken houses were completely destroyed. Debris from the chicken houses was blown across Fox Road into an adjacent tree line. The tornado continued northeast crossing Highway 288 removing roofing material off of a house and a couple more chicken houses sustained damage. A two car garage was blown off the foundation; no wall attachments were found connected to the slab. The tornado crossed Highway 109 and Hillcrest Lane uprooting trees and removing the roofing material off of an outbuilding while completely flattening another outbuilding. The tornado continued northeast crossing Stoney Point Road, Weiterer Road, Grenwelge Lane, to the intersection of Dublin Road and Highway 197 at the community of Dublin. The tornado uprooted some hardwood trees in this location before lifting. This tornado had maximum estimated winds of 120 mph and was rated an EF-2.
Multiple chicken houses destroyed, several trees and power lines blown down, and trees blown on top of both houses and cars in Prairie View.
Multiple trees fell across the town of Knoxville.
Multiple trees down in Knoxville.
Multiple trees fell across Highway 64 and Highway 359.
Multiple trees and power lines fell down across Highways 301, 26, and 27 around Murfreesboro.
Several trees fell across multiple locations within the town of Dardanelle.
A report from mPING of trees uprooted and a roof blown off in Russellville.
A measured wind gust was recorded at Russellville Regional Airport of 63 mph.
A personal weather station near the Dardanelle Lock and Dam measured a wind gust of 71 mph.
Multiple trees fell in the community of Aplin.
Multiple trees blown down in the community of Atkins.
Power poles were snapped in the town of Dover.
Numerous trees blown down near the community of Grape.
Several trees blown down in the vicinity of Burtsell.
This tornado started north of Highway 60 near the Perry/Faulkner County line. Visible damage started between Fox Lane and Elm Lane ending near Ferry Boat Road. Damage was observed to the roof of small outbuildings and homes. A chicken coop was blown apart with a portion of the chicken coop being blown into the window of a manufactured home. A carport was blown sideways, but remained attached. Additionally observed was damage to several trees. This tornado dissipated shortly before crossing the Arkansas River between Perry County and Faulkner County; however, the tornado never crossed into Faulkner County. This tornado had estimated winds of 85 mph and was rated EF-0.
A mPING report of 3 inch tree limbs broken along with power poles broken.
A house in Plummerville was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.
Multiple large tree limbs fell in the Quapaw Quarter neighborhood.
Trees blown down near the town of Gibson.
Numerous trees fell across northern and northeastern Ouachita County.
Wind gusts estimated by the public of 60 mph in the city of Searcy.
Numerous trees and powerlines fell across the county.
Multiple trees blown down across the community of Atkins.
Report from mPING of 3 inch tree limbs broken and power poles broken.
Several trees were blown down across the community of Augusta.
Numerous trees blown over in Augusta.
Multiple trees knocked down in Knoxville.
Multiple trees were blown down near the intersection of Highway 62 and Squirrel Road near the community of Birdell.
This tornado began along Arkansas Highway 166 South between Sanders Road and Eric Road uprooting hardwood trees. The tornado continued southeast crossing Harmony Road knocking down several additional hardwood trees. The most significant damage this tornado produced occurred on Manson Road, where several trees were uprooted and large branches snapped off with one branch landing on a roof of a house. The roof sustained minimal to no visible damage. This tornado lifted after crossing Old Country Road before reaching U.S. Highway 67 south of Pocahontas. This tornado had estimated winds of 107 mph and was rated EF-1.
A few trees were uprooted near the community of Pocahontas.
Several trees blown down in the town of O'Kean.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Arkansas, 2023Warnings in Arkansas, June 2023
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: 1111678, 1114967, 1111676, 1111684, 1111693, 1111666, 1111667, 1111668, 1111688, 1111665, 1111670, 1111674, 1111677, 1111671, 1111686, 1111687, 1114983, 1111685, 1111694, 1111680, 1111673, 1111669, 1111681, 1111683, 1111672, 1111689, 1111682, 1111675, 1111679, 1111690, 1114975, 1111692, 1111691.