EF2 tornado, Kirby, Arkansas, March 2, 2023

1. EF065 to 85 mph

   Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

2. EF186 to 110 mph

   Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. EF4166 to 200 mph

   Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

6. 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.

7. 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.

Rating

EF2

Date

March 2, 2023

Touchdown

10:50 PM CST (04:50 UTC)

Lifted

10:53 PM CST (04:53 UTC)

On the ground

3 minutes

Path length

1.8 miles (2.9 km)

Path width

300 yards (274 m)

Deaths

0

Injuries

5

County

Pike County

Touchdown point

34.254, -93.643

Lift-off point

34.272, -93.622

Record number

2303022250-01

16 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 134 mph.

• Mobile home was secured with tie down straps, and was rolled and tossed around 100 feet, completely destroying the unit. Two minor injuries were noted among the four occupants.
• Several trees within a tree line snapped and uprooted
• Two poultry houses were completely destroyed
• Several trees down in a convergent pattern

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

March certainly roared in like a lion across the state with back to back severe weather events on March 1st and 2nd into the 3rd. Storms on these days led to a few tornadoes as well as hail as large as 3 inches in diameter. Very heavy rainfall was noted across the area as well which led to flash flooding and widespread river flooding. One fatality occurred because of the flooding in Scott County on March 2nd. ||As the air heated up, and the atmosphere destabilized, severe thunderstorms were triggered by the front during the late afternoon and evening. The storms produced very large hail, and also caused spotty wind damage. Hail slightly larger than baseballs was reported at Woodlawn (Cleveland County), with ping pong ball size stones near Benton (Saline County) and west of Stuttgart (Arkansas County), and half dollar size hail a few miles north of Norman (Montgomery County). At Rison (Cleveland County), wind gusts up to 85 mph ripped the roof off of a church and a strip mall. Part of a brick facade was removed from latter structure. Trees were also toppled, with one tree blocking Highway 79.||The front on the 1st advanced toward the Louisiana border and stalled. The front was followed by cooler air. On the 2nd, all eyes were on a powerful storm system in the southern Rockies. In response to the approaching system, the front began lifting back to the north. By 400 pm CST, the front cleared the southern counties, and temperatures warmed into the 70s. However, readings north of Little Rock (Pulaski County) were mostly in the 50s.||As the system neared in the late afternoon, it interacted with the front and round two of thunderstorms commenced from central/northeast Texas into southeast Oklahoma. Eventually, storms congealed into a line and raced toward Arkansas. As the storms progressed into the state after dark, it was clear that severe weather (including tornadoes) was most likely south of the front (in mild air), with mainly heavy to excessive rain farther north (where cooler conditions existed).||Between 900 pm and 1000 pm CST, trees were pushed over by straight-line winds west of Y City (Scott County). About this time, rain was coming down in buckets across Scott and Yell Counties, and numerous roads were flooded/about to flood. At Boles (Scott County), there was a report of people surrounded by water and unable to leave their home.||As the night wore on, the Poteau River at Cauthron (Scott County) rose 15 feet in a hurry. The same swollen river swept a pickup truck off of Highway 80 on the east side of Waldron (Scott County). Tragically, the driver (a grandfather trying to visit his grandson) drowned. A traffic camera (provided by the Arkansas Department of Transportation) along Highway 71 south of Boles (Scott County) showed the Fourche La Fave River almost as high as the bridge over the tributary. Eventually, the pavement was inundated and became impassible. As roads turned into lakes, a vehicle stalled at Parks (Scott County), and two individuals were rescued. Similar rescues were ongoing in Yell County, and one person was transported from Corinth to a hospital in Danville (both in Yell County).||Shortly before 1100 pm CST, a tornado (rated EF2) was spawned just to the north of Kirby (Pike County). A few mobile homes were heavily damaged (resulting in three injuries). One mobile home was rolled and obliterated. Miraculously, two of the four occupants only had minor injuries. Several homes suffered roof damage, and two chicken houses were destroyed.||A couple of hours later, thunderstorm winds downed/snapped trees along Highway 229 about four miles north of Carthage (Dallas County). A few minutes before 200 am CST on the 3rd, a brief weak tornado (rated EF0) touched down in open fields east of Altheimer (Jefferson County). The tornado took out some trees along Highway 58.||Elsewhere, a weak tornado (rated EF1) was identified west of Fouke (Miller County). More trees were blown down southwest of Hope (Hempstead County) and northeast of Nashville (Howard County). Wind gusts as high as 70 to 80 mph roughed up barns, outbuildings, and signs between Damascus (Faulkner/Van Buren Counties) and Rose Bud (White County). A recreational vehicle was crushed by a fallen tree at Enola (Faulkner County).||As far as rain, there was a lot of it. Two to more than four inches of rain was common across the northern half of the state in the twenty four hour period ending at 600 am CST on the 3rd. Waldron (Scott County) had 4.90 inches of precipitation, with 4.88 inches at Blue Mountain Dam (Yell County), 4.72 inches at Danville (Yell County), 4.45 inches at Abbott (Scott County), 4.22 inches at Dardanelle (Yell County), 3.87 inches at Booneville (Logan County), 3.70 inches at Mountain View (Stone County), 3.65 inches at Gilbert (Searcy County), 3.57 inches at Calico Rock (Izard County), 3.54 inches at Mena (Polk County), 3.50 inches at Damascus (Van Buren County), 3.47 inches at Marshall (Searcy County) and Morrilton (Conway County), and 3.40 inches at Conway (Faulkner County).||Given so much rain, there was a landslide near the intersection of Highways 103 and 215 west of Oark (Johnson County). Before dawn on the 3rd, the Spring River at Hardy (Sharp County) went up six feet in two hours, was in danger of reaching a level of 14 feet (four feet above the flood stage). As a precaution, folks in homes near the river were asked to evacuate. ||The rain on the 2nd/early on the 3rd was in addition to the precipitation that fell on the 1st, especially from central into southeast Arkansas. In this part of the state, two or more inches of liquid was measured in places. This included Cane Creek State Park (Lincoln County), Keo (Lonoke County), Marianna (Lee County), Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), Sheridan (Grant County), and Stuttgart (Arkansas County).||On the 3rd, there was moderate to major flooding on the Petit Jean River, and minor to moderate flooding on the Black, Cache, Fourche La Fave, Little Red, Ouachita, Saline, Spring, and White Rivers. Concerns were growing that river levels could go even higher if a wet pattern continued into early spring.

This tornado started just north of Kirby, completely destroying|two chicken houses on the west side of Arkansas Highway 27. The tornado|moved north-northeast along highway 27, causing moderate roof|damage to a home, and snapping several large trees at their|trunks. The tornado continued to move north-northeast,|paralleling Ebenezer Road where it did the most significant|damage. Several tree lines along the road had snapped trunks. A|mobile home on Ebenezer Road, which had securing tie-down straps,|was completely lofted, rolled, and tossed approximately 100 feet|into a tree line, completely destroying it. There were|4 occupants, two only had minor injuries. Farther east on|Ebenezer road, the tornado damaged a few more mobile homes. The|first one was shifted off of it's supporting blocks, and some|roof and siding damage was observed. There were three minor|injuries noted among the occupants, and were transported to a|local hospital. In the neighboring lot to the east, a large oak|tree was uprooted onto a brand new mobile home, smashing the|structure in the middle, twisting the supporting frame, snapping|two of the tie-down straps, and effectively destroying the unit.|There were no occupants at the time of the tornado. The tornado|continued moving northeast of Ebenezer road, snapping several|trees and power poles along the road. Damage was observed along|Mason Road, with numerous large trees uprooted and snapped. A few|large trees were blown onto a home on Mason Road, but only minor|damage was observed on the home. The tornado dissipated shortly|thereafter. This tornado was rated an EF2 with estimated peak winds|of 135 mph.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

NWS Little Rock, AR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Mar 2, 5:20 PM CST, 5 hours 30 minutes earlier.

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Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
308 AM CST Thu Mar 2 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-
237-238-240-241-313-340-341-031100-
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-
308 AM CST Thu Mar 2 2023

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Some strong to severe thunderstorms will remain possible this
morning across southeast sections of the area. Some large hail
and gusty winds will be possible...along with an isolated flash
flood threat.

A more significant severe weather episode will develop later this
afternoon into the overnight hours as a very potent storm system
moves across the region. All modes of severe weather will be
possible...including tornadoes...damaging winds...and large hail.
Flash flooding will also remain a threat due to several inches of
rainfall expected.

Outside the threat for severe weather...there will also be windy
conditions develop late tonight. Expect southwest winds of 25 to
35 mph...with gusts of 40 to over 50 mph possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Most of the severe weather threat will have ended by sunrise
Friday. Some lingering showers and thunderstorms will remain
across northern sections of the state...with some flash flooding
potential continuing.

The windy conditions will also persist into the afternoon hours
on Friday before the winds weaken Friday night. Some areas may see
temperatures get to near or below freezing Friday night into
Saturday morning across northern Arkansas. Beyond Saturday
morning...the threat for hazardous weather will become low.

.Spotter Information Statement...

Spotter activation will be needed through tonight.

&&

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

In the hours before

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Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
938 PM CST Thu Mar 2 2023

ARZ138-238-030415-
Northwest Yell County AR-Yell Excluding Northwest AR-
938 PM CST Thu Mar 2 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Yell County
through 1015 PM CST...

At 938 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Fourche Valley, or 15 miles southwest of Danville, moving 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...
Danville...                       Ola...
Mt Nebo State Park...             Gravelly...
Fourche Valley...                 Plainview in Yell County...
Petit Jean River WMA...           Mosley...
Belleville...                     Corinth...
Ranger...                         Wing...
Kingston...                       Bluffton...
Rover...                          Sunlight Bay Park...
Carter Cove Park...               Chula...
Macedonia in Yell County...       Mt George...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight CST for western and
central Arkansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3521 9329 3521 9328 3525 9324 3514 9309
      3513 9309 3509 9303 3474 9358 3475 9358
      3489 9371
TIME...MOT...LOC 0338Z 229DEG 39KT 3486 9354

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

46

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1027 PM CST THU MAR 2 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1023 PM     FLASH FLOOD      WALDRON                 34.90N 94.09W
03/02/2023                   SCOTT              AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS WIDESPREAD
            7-TO-8-INCH RAINFALL AMOUNTS ACROSS SCOTT
            COUNTY. THE FLOOD STORAGE SYSTEM IS AT FULL
            CAPACITY AND MAIN BRIDGES ACROSS THE COUNTY
            ARE UNDER WATER AT THIS TIME.

&&

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.

Mount Ida (MWT), 32 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 04:48 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.

The live radar over the trackEvery 2023 tornado in ArkansasEvery tornado in Arkansas since 1950Warnings in force in Arkansas nowThe forecast where you are

10 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

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.

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.