Tornadoes · United States · Arkansas · 2022
EF2 tornado, Kirby, Arkansas, November 4, 2022
This EF2 tornado ran 1.7 miles across Pike County on November 4, 2022, touching down at 9:08 PM CDT and reaching 75 yards wide. It killed nobody.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mphthis tornado
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF2
- Date
- November 4, 2022
- Touchdown
- 9:08 PM CDT (02:08 UTC)
- Lifted
- 9:10 PM CDT (02:10 UTC)
- On the ground
- 2 minutes
- Path length
- 1.7 miles (2.7 km)
- Path width
- 75 yards (69 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Pike County
- Touchdown point
- 34.230, -93.633
- Lift-off point
- 34.248, -93.614
- Record number
- 2211042008-01
The damage survey
3 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS LZK, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF2. The highest wind the damage implies is 115 mph.
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
A cold front approached Arkansas from the west late Friday night into Saturday morning. Strong to severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of this front,|with damaging winds and tornadoes observed across the state. This thunderstorm activity grew upscale from singular supercells into a linear QLCS line over the eastern half of Arkansas.
The tornado began at the base of Kirby Mountain just to the east of Highway 27 and south of Mitchell Road. Along the path of the tornado, a barn was completely destroyed. A metal outbuilding had minor roof damage. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado ended along and just north of Highway 84 east of Kirby.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Nov 4, 6:58 PM CDT, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 4, 6:58 PM CDT, 2 hours 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 658 PM CDT Fri Nov 4 2022 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Sunday) Issued at 232 PM CDT Fri Nov 4 2022 An upper lvl storm system was centered over eastern NM early this aftn, with an assocd sfc low situated acrs Srn OK. The deepening sfc low is resulting in breezy south winds ovr much of AR. Low level moisture/clouds have contd to advect Nwd acrs the FA since this mrng, with >60F sfc dewpoints noted ovr all but far of N AR. The aforementioned storm sys is still on track to lift to the NW of AR thru tngt. The assocd CDFNT wl sweep acrs the FA fm the west, providing a focus for scattered to numerous storms tngt into early Sat. Overall timing is mostly unchanged, with a line of storms movg into Wrn AR arnd sunset, into central AR arnd midnight, with the activity moving east of the MS River by daybreak Sat AM. CAMS model solutions rmn in good agreement with overall trends the next 12 to 24 hrs. Sctd convection is expected to dvlp later this aftn acrs Ern OK/Wrn AR, with the activity evolving into a squall line as it shifts to the east tngt. Impressive fcst low lvl wind speeds were noted again this mrng, with 950 mb speeds exceeding 50kts and 850 mb winds apchg 70 kts along and ahead of the convection tngt. Since this is a high shear/low CAPE environment, damaging winds wl be the primary threat, along with a few tornadoes possible. The fcst low lvl wind profiles still favor w-cntrl/s-cntrl portions of the FA for tornadic storms into early this evening, primarily where isolated supercells can form. Isolated 'spin ups' cannot be ruled out later this evening as the storm mode transitions into a QLCS line of storms. One of the inhibiting factors with this scenario wl be the potential lack of instability during the mid to late aftn if low clouds persist. With such a dynamic storm system, gusty winds wl be common acrs the region heading into Sat. Other than some minor adjustments to fcst wind speeds, plan to keep the Wind Advisory placement as is. Drier and much calmer conds wl return heading in Sat as the CDFNT pushes to the east of AR. Sat aftn highs wl generally be in the 60s. South winds quickly return for Sun, with highs returning to the 70s for most locations. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through next Friday) Issued at 232 PM CDT Fri Nov 4 2022 Through the period, a highly amplified upper pattern will develop as large scale ridging builds over the eastern CONUS and deep troughing sets up along the West Coast. A warm front will lift north across AR on Monday as this transition occurs, and enough instability/moisture will be present to support iso/sctd showers and storms. Well above average temps are also expected, especially during the first half of the week, as upper ridging expands into the MS Valley. Daily highs in the 70s/80s and nightly lows in the 50s/60s will be common. The pattern will begin to shift mid into late week with western upper troughing moving across the Intermountain West and eastern upper ridging moving into the Atlantic. Southerly surface flow and deeper moisture will return locally during this time. As the incoming western trough approaches late week, rain chances will begin to increase over western/northwestern sections. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 646 PM CDT Fri Nov 4 2022 SHRA/TSRA will move into the CWA from the W along and ahead of a cold front. S/SE winds will increase this evening ahead of the line of convection. Additionally, winds will be erratic and gusty within TSRA activity. VFR conds will deteriorate to MVFR/IFR within convection. Given the amount of wind shear overnight, wind shear was included at all terminals. Conds will improve S/Cntrl overnight, with conds improving N Sat morning. Winds will switch the W in the wake of the cold front. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 53 63 45 73 / 100 10 0 0 Camden AR 50 67 44 77 / 100 0 0 0 Harrison AR 44 59 44 71 / 100 0 0 0 Hot Springs AR 48 65 44 75 / 100 0 0 0 Little Rock AR 55 67 47 78 / 100 0 0 0 Monticello AR 57 68 49 78 / 100 10 0 10 Mount Ida AR 44 65 43 75 / 100 0 0 0 Mountain Home AR 48 60 44 72 / 100 0 0 0 Newport AR 56 62 44 72 / 100 10 0 0 Pine Bluff AR 55 67 46 77 / 100 10 0 0 Russellville AR 48 63 43 75 / 100 0 0 0 Searcy AR 53 64 42 76 / 100 10 0 0 Stuttgart AR 57 65 46 75 / 100 10 0 0 && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 6 AM CDT Saturday for ARZ006>008-014>017-024- 025-032>034-044>047-056-057-064-065-069-123-223. && SHORT TERM...44 LONG TERM....69 AVIATION...70
Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 4, 2:41 PM CDT, 6 hours 27 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 241 PM CDT Fri Nov 4 2022 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- 237-238-240-241-313-340-341-051000- 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- 241 PM CDT Fri Nov 4 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Thunderstorms will increase from the west this evening and move across Arkansas through early Saturday morning. Tornadoes, large hail, and widespread damaging winds will be possible with the highest tornado threat over west-central and southwest Arkansas. Storms will diminish before sunrise on Saturday. Strong non-thunderstorm winds are also likely tonight, mainly for the eastern half of the area. Sustained speeds up to 25 mph and gusts to 45 mph will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday A warm front will lift to the north late Sunday night and into Monday with a few thunderstorms possible. No other hazardous weather is expected through the period. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation will be needed this afternoon through early Saturday morning. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk. 69/56/234
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Shreveport, LA (KSHV), 00:00Z
2.1 hours before the tornado, 196 km from the path. November 5, 2022.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1347 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -6 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2316 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 947 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 54 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 301 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 407 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 3.1
- Supercell composite
- 17.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.9 K/km
Shreveport, LA (KSHV), 12:00Z
9.9 hours after it, 196 km from the path. November 5, 2022.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -95494 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1316 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 73 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -358 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -243 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 1.9 K/km
The surface observations
Mount Ida (MWT), 35 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 135 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 02:08 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2022 tornado in ArkansasEvery tornado in Arkansas since 1950Warnings in force in Arkansas nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of November 4, 2022
29 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4 | 1:30 PM CDT | EF1 | Bryan, OK | 3.4 | 40 | $75,000 | ||
| November 4 | 4:16 PM CDT | EF4 | Caviness–Sawyer tornado, Texas and Oklahoma | 44.7 | 1,700 | 11 | $5.9 million | |
| November 4 | 5:08 PM CDT | EF1 | Rains, TX | 4.4 | 150 | $20,000 | ||
| November 4 | 5:15 PM CDT | EF2 | Hopkins, TX | 2.9 | 160 | $1.0 million | ||
| November 4 | 5:35 PM CDT | EF2 | Henderson, TX | 15.1 | 150 | $3.0 million | ||
| November 4 | 5:46 PM CDT | EF2 | McCurtain, OK | 2.8 | 800 | 1 | 1 | $300,000 |
| November 4 | 5:51 PM CDT | EF1 | McCurtain, OK | 11.3 | 1,600 | $70,000 | ||
| November 4 | 6:15 PM CDT | EF4 | Clarksville–Idabel tornado, Texas and Oklahoma | 60.2 | 1,056 | 13 | $37 million | |
| November 4 | 6:33 PM CDT | EF1 | LeFlore, OK | 6.5 | 900 | $75,000 | ||
| November 4 | 6:38 PM CDT | EF1 | Camp, TX | 2.2 | 350 | |||
| November 4 | 6:44 PM CDT | EF3 | Morris, TX | 16.9 | 650 | 1 | 8 | $5.0 million |
| November 4 | 6:53 PM CDT | EF1 | Washington, AR | 6.5 | 1,000 | $2,000 | ||
| November 4 | 6:58 PM CDT | EF1 | Sebastian, AR | 5.8 | 1,000 | $400,000 | ||
| November 4 | 7:17 PM CDT | EF3 | Bowie, TX | 15.7 | 800 | $7.0 million | ||
| November 4 | 7:20 PM CDT | EF0 | Madison, AR | 1.3 | 150 | $30,000 | ||
| November 4 | 7:22 PM CDT | Unrated | Sebastian, AR | 2.5 | 150 | |||
| November 4 | 7:37 PM CDT | EF2 | Cass, TX | 19.7 | 700 | $2.0 million | ||
| November 4 | 7:38 PM CDT | EF1 | Franklin, AR | 3.3 | 350 | $75,000 | ||
| November 4 | 7:41 PM CDT | EF0 | Franklin, AR | 1.7 | 150 | $25,000 | ||
| November 4 | 7:43 PM CDT | EF1 | Carroll, AR | 8.5 | 1,100 | $200,000 | ||
| November 4 | 7:43 PM CDT | EF1 | Polk, AR | 1.8 | 200 | |||
| November 4 | 7:46 PM CDT | EF1 | Franklin, AR | 3.1 | 1,100 | |||
| November 4 | 8:37 PM CDT | EF2 | Howard, AR | 8.1 | 200 | $200,000 | ||
| November 4 | 8:49 PM CDT | EF1 | Yell, AR | 3.7 | 600 | |||
| November 4 | 9:15 PM CDT | EF1 | Yell, AR | 2.3 | 100 | |||
| November 4 | 10:00 PM CDT | EF1 | Clark, AR | 7.7 | 200 | |||
| November 4 | 10:27 PM CDT | EF1 | Hot Spring, AR | 0.4 | 150 | |||
| November 4 | 10:57 PM CDT | EF0 | Caddo Parish, LA | 1.3 | 70 | $3,000 | ||
| November 4 | 11:04 PM CDT | EF2 | Saline, AR | 1.6 | 200 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.