Tornadoes · United States · Arkansas · 2023

EF3 Little Rock tornado, Arkansas, March 31, 2023

From Martindale to Oak Grove, this EF3 tornado ran 34.2 miles across Pulaski and Lonoke counties on March 31, 2023, touching down at 2:18 PM CDT and reaching 800 yards wide. It killed nobody and injured 54, and did $90 million of property damage.

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.

  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 mph

    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 mphthis tornado

    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.

The record

Rating
EF3
Date
March 31, 2023
Touchdown
2:18 PM CDT (19:18 UTC)
Lifted
2:58 PM CDT (19:58 UTC)
On the ground
40 minutes
Path length
34.2 miles (55.1 km)
Path width
800 yards (732 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
54
Property damage
$90 million
Counties
Pulaski and Lonoke counties
Touchdown point
34.725, -92.482
Lift-off point
34.944, -91.942
Record number
2303311318-01

The damage survey

597 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS LZK, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF3. The highest wind the damage implies is 165 mph.

  • Large swaths of trees uprooted or trunks snapped at Burns Park. Imagery courtesy of EagleView
  • Drone footage from Brian Emfinger shows homes destroyed. Addresses: 1216 and 1224 Shackleford Rd. Will need to assess structures more closely.
  • Roof damage to building at Bale Chevrolet.
  • Side facade of business was torn off, along with some minor roof damage.

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 powerful storm system and associated upper trough propagated across the Central Plains into the the Mid-Mississippi Valley. Showers and thunderstorms developed in response to the passing trough triggering strong to severe thunderstorms across Arkansas.

This tornado started just southwest of the Colonel |Glenn and Marsh Road intersection in Martindale, west of Marsh road, |uprooting trees and ripping a portion of a roof off an outbuilding. |The tornado then continued northeast across a forested area, |uprooting several more trees before crossing into a neighborhood off |Capitol Hill Boulevard near Hartford and Denver Streets. More |trees were uprooted as it moved northeast towards Kanis Road. ||The tornado rapidly intensified as it passed northeast over Chenal |Parkway, severely damaging several apartment buildings off of Napa |Valley Drive. The most severe residential damage occurred at these |apartments, and along and west of North Shackleford Road along |Jamestown Drive and Cobble Hill Road. Most exterior walls had |collapsed on several homes, leaving just some interior walls |standing.||The tornado then crossed Interstate 430 near the North Rodney Parham Road |interchange, damaging a shopping center and a Kroger. Between Interstate 430 |and Cantrell Road, many homes and apartments were severely damage, |with roofs ripped off and hundreds of trees uprooted. The tornado |crossed Cantrell Road near Foxtrot Road, damaging more apartments |and many businesses. Between Cantrell Road and the Arkansas River, |many more homes were damaged from the tornado winds or trees falling|onto those homes in the Cammack Village neighborhood. Before|crossing the river, many trees were uprooted or trunks snapped at|Murray Park. The tornado then uprooted or snapped hundreds, if|not thousands of trees at Burns Park, both north and south of Interstate|40. The tornado crossed Interstate 40 just west of exit 150, passing over|ball fields and recreation areas west of Military Drive. A new|fire station still under construction was also damaged along|Military Drive.||The tornado then passed over MacArther Drive near the Military Drive |intersection in Amboy, severely damaging many more homes and businesses.|Several more homes and apartments were damaged between Military Drive |and Remount Road, with the tornado passing over Remount Road between |Kierre Drive and Camp Robinson Road. Most of the damage in these areas |consisted of severe roof damage and uprooted trees, though there were |some homes who completely lost their roofs. ||The tornado then moved into the Indian Hills neighborhood of North Little |Rock, with more damaged roofs. A few homes along Flintrock Road near |Osage Drive lost their entire roofs, along with many homes damaged by trees|falling onto homes. The tornado seemed to weaken a bit as it|passed over North Hills Boulevard, with some less severe roof|damage and many uprooted trees. The tornado crossed over John F.|Kennedy Boulevard near Club Road, traveling northeast through|Sherwood generally along Lee Avenue, damaging many more homes as|it continued towards Kiehl Avenue. The tornado crossed over Kiehl|Avenue near Northgate Drive and Woodridge Lane, damaging more|homes and some businesses. This tornado passed over Brockington|Road north of Kiehl Avenue, ripping a roof off an apartment|building along Calloway Avenue, then passing over Indianhead Lake|uprooting several more trees and damaging more roofs.||The tornado then passed over rural marsh land just northwest of U.S. Highway 67 near|the Interstate 440 interchange, uprooting more trees before crossing U.S. Highway|67 near the Redmond Road exit at Jacksonville. A tractor-trailer|was flipped over along U.S. Highway 67, along with damage to signage along|the road. The tornado moved over the ball fields south of Redmond|Road, then into some neighborhoods where the tornado seemed to|strengthen, severely damaging more homes and businesses along|Stone and McHenry Streets, Eastview Drive and South 1st Street. A|church was completely destroyed along North Elm Street south of|Graham Road. More homes were damaged north of Graham Road west of|J. P. Wright Loop Road before the tornado passed over the Holland|Bottoms State Wildlife Area west of Kerr Station Road. Many trees|were snapped or uprooted in this wildlife area. This tornado was rated an EF3 with maximum estimated winds of 165 mph within Pulaski County. This tornado continued into Lonoke County.

This tornado continued from Pulaski County into Lonoke County|within Holland Bottoms State Wildlife Area west of Kerr Station Road. Many trees|were snapped or uprooted in this wildlife area. ||The tornado exited the wildlife area into the Parnell community, with more|roofs damaged and some garages destroyed along Oliver Lane. The|tornado crossed Arkansas Highway 89 near Russell Road, destroying a|mobile home. The tornado continued into some more rural areas of|southeast Cabot, with some damage to a few homes and several more|trees uprooted or snapped. The tornado finally lifted between|Arkansas Highway 321 and Campground Road west of Laser Lane. This tornado was rated an EF2 with maximum estimated winds of 132 mph within Lonoke County. This tornado tracked for a total distance of 34.2 miles across two counties.

The deaths

0 direct deaths are recorded for this tornado, each with what Storm Data knows of it.

AgeSexWhereKind
MPermanent HomeIndirect

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 Mar 31, 1:39 PM CDT, 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 1:39 PM CDT, 39 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
139 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 138 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

We are continuing to monitor the ongoing severe weather situation
across the forecast area. Strong to severe storms remain likely
across portions of the CWA through around 9-10pm tonight.

An upper low and storm system will move across the Midwest region
today, with a warm front lifting northeastward across the CWA today,
and a cold front sweeping eastward across the CWA through this
evening. In a moisture-rich environment (dewpoints in the 60s, PWATs
up to 1.5), severe weather parameters support development of severe
thunderstorms capable of producing violent tornadoes: SRH values 0-
3km 400+, 0-1km 300+; CAPE values 1000+ J/kg; bulk shear values 60-
70 kt.

Storms are moving along a line oriented NE-SW, moving into central
portions of the state as of early this afternoon. Another line is
developing over eastern OK/NE TX. The best chances for violent
tornadoes (EF2+) are in eastern portions of the state, but cannot be
ruled out elsewhere. Additional hazards include large hail and
damaging winds. Storms are expected to move east of the forecast
area by later this evening, around 9-10pm.

Dry conditions are forecast by late tonight through early Sunday.
Rain chances return Sunday when a warm front begins to lift
northward across the south-central U.S. returning warmer air and
moisture to the region.

Temps today will top out in the upper 70s to lower 80s, cooling
behind tonights cold front, with lows dropping to the lower 40s to
lower 50s tonight. Temps tomorrow will top out in the upper 50s to
mid 70s. Highs Sunday will return to the 70s.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday Night through next Friday)
Issued at 138 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY MORNING:

The beginning of the long-term forecast discussion will begin with
active weather north of a warm front that will bring the opportunity
of showers and thunderstorms to the Natural State overnight Sunday
into Monday morning.

MONDAY:

An area of sfc low pressure intensifies out across the Rocky
Mountain region of the CONUS. Expect clearing conditions w/ upper
lvl ridging across the southeastern region of the CONUS and a trof
beginning to dig significantly across the Western region of the
CONUS. Monday afternoon looks to be our greatest opportunity at rain-
free weather.

TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY/FRIDAY:

An upper lvl closed low approaches the Central Plains region of the
CONUS. In tandem w/ a lifting warm front that will travel well north
of the Natural State into northern Missouri/southern Iowa by late in
the day on Tuesday. Tuesday will likely see an increase of rain and
thunderstorm activity. This will create a warm sector with abundant
moisture and parameter space that could be conducive for severe
weather. Into the day on Wednesday, a north-south oriented cold
front will sweep across the state from west to east and provide a
continued chance for showers and thunderstorms. Looking late next
week, into Thursday and Friday, the cold front stalls out along the
Gulf Coast region of the CONUS and becomes a stationary front. Rain
and isolated thunderstorm chances will continue for the southern
half of the Natural State for the remainder of the workweek.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Batesville AR     52  65  41  70 /  20   0   0   0
Camden AR         51  75  46  75 /  50   0   0  30
Harrison AR       45  59  39  69 /   0   0   0  10
Hot Springs AR    51  70  44  73 /  10   0   0  30
Little Rock   AR  53  71  45  74 /  30   0   0  20
Monticello AR     57  77  48  76 /  50   0   0  20
Mount Ida AR      51  69  42  72 /  10   0   0  30
Mountain Home AR  46  61  38  70 /  10   0   0   0
Newport AR        51  63  42  68 /  30   0   0   0
Pine Bluff AR     53  73  46  74 /  50   0   0  20
Russellville AR   50  67  42  72 /   0   0   0  20
Searcy AR         49  68  41  70 /  30   0   0  10
Stuttgart AR      53  69  45  71 /  50   0   0  10

&&

.LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Saturday for 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.

&&

SHORT TERM...71
LONG TERM....234
AVIATION...71
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 31, 1:43 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
143 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 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-
237-238-240-241-313-340-341-011000-
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-
143 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Strong to severe thunderstorms will continue to pose a threat to
much of the forecast area through late this evening. Hazards
include damaging wind gusts, large hail, and tornadoes.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

After a brief lull on Saturday, chances for showers and isolated
thunderstorms will return late Sunday, with a more widespread heavy
rain event unfolding Tuesday through Thursday. The forecast calls
for two to more than four inches of rain, and the heaviest amounts
should be over southern Arkansas. This is concerning given that some
rivers are already elevated, and soil moisture is well above average
and cannot hold much additional water. There is also a potential for
strong to severe thunderstorms Tuesday night into early Wednesday.

.Spotter Information Statement...

Spotter Activation May Be Needed Today.

&&

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

71/234

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 11:24 AM CDT, 2 hours 54 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
1124 AM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

ARZ137-140-237-238-240-241-340-311700-
Northern Scott County AR-Yell Excluding Northwest 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-
1124 AM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of eastern Scott,
northeastern Polk, southwestern Yell and northwestern Montgomery
Counties through NOON CDT...

At 1123 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Mena, moving northeast at 55 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...                           Cardiff...
Mena Intermountain Airport...     Muddy Creek WMA...
Acorn...                          Board Camp...
Olio...                           Cedar Creek...
Nunley...                         Ink...
Y City...                         Nola...
Needmore...                       Cherry Hill in Polk County...
Harvey...                         Boles...
Parks...                          Union Hill...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3502 9390 3502 9388 3476 9358 3449 9417
      3463 9431
TIME...MOT...LOC 1623Z 229DEG 49KT 3461 9417

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

61
Local storm report, Mar 31, 12:25 PM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1225 PM CDT FRI MAR 31 2023

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

1210 PM     HAIL             1 NNE CLARKRIDGE        36.50N 92.34W
03/31/2023  M1.50 INCH       BAXTER             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            1.5 INCH HAIL REPORTED JUST SOUTH OF THE
            MISSOURI STATE LINE ON AR-HIGHWAY 201.

&&

CTP
Local storm report, Mar 31, 12:43 PM CDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1243 PM CDT FRI MAR 31 2023

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

1120 AM     HAIL             HARTMAN                 35.43N 93.61W
03/31/2023  E0.25 INCH       JOHNSON            AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN HARTMAN, AR.

&&

CTP
Local storm report, Mar 31, 1:28 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
128 PM CDT FRI MAR 31 2023

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

0118 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     PEARCY                  34.43N 93.29W
03/31/2023                   GARLAND            AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&
Local storm report, Mar 31, 1:48 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
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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.

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), 12:00Z

7.3 hours before the tornado, 206 km from the path. March 31, 2023.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2023-03-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 30 joules per kilogram, CIN -335, lifted condensation level 806 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2023-03-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 490 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 40 knots.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
30 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-335 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
806 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
490 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
655 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.6
0-3 km lapse rate
4.3 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), 00:00Z

4.7 hours after it, 206 km from the path. April 1, 2023.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 2023-04-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 668 joules per kilogram, CIN -59, lifted condensation level 1086 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 2023-04-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 234 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 75 knots.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
668 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-59 J/kg
Surface CAPE
1352 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1086 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
75 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
234 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
244 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
6.3
0-3 km lapse rate
7.0 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

North Little Rock (ORK), 4 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
00:00 UTC

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

The radar

The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 5 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 19:17 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 2023 tornado in ArkansasEvery tornado in Arkansas since 1950Warnings in force in Arkansas nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of March 31, 2023

126 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 312:37 PM CDTUnratedTazewell, IL0.310
March 313:15 PM CDTEF1Tazewell, IL0.910
March 313:23 PM CDTUnratedWoodford, IL0.620
March 313:36 PM CDTEF3Wapello, IA26.11,000$2.0 million
March 313:45 PM CDTEF1Prairie, AR1.1100
March 313:52 PM CDTUnratedPoweshiek, IA3.660
March 314:05 PM CDTUnratedLivingston, IL0.015
March 314:10 PM CDTEF4Keota–Wellman tornado, IA19.97003
March 314:22 PM CDTEF1Grundy, IA3.580$50,000
March 314:22 PM CDTEF1Grundy, IA4.180$50,000
March 314:30 PM CDTEF3Wynne–Parkin tornado, Arkansas and Tennessee72.51,600426$151 million
March 314:36 PM CDTEF2Benton, IA1.750
March 314:37 PM CDTEF0Johnson, IA6.150
March 314:46 PM CDTEF2Johnson, IA16.9752
March 314:47 PM CDTEF2Benton, IA4.950
March 314:49 PM CDTEF2Stone, AR6.8125
March 314:51 PM CDTUnratedBenton, IA1.410
March 314:53 PM CDTEF2Johnson, IA14.7100
March 315:03 PM CDTUnratedBuchanan, IA1.710
March 315:06 PM CDTEF2Johnson, IA9.075
March 315:06 PM CDTEF1Cedar, IA8.310
March 315:14 PM CDTEF2Cedar, IA16.4250
March 315:15 PM CDTUnratedScott, IL0.510
March 315:17 PM CDTEF1Cedar, IA5.2100
March 315:18 PM CDTEF2Cedar, IA19.62002
March 315:20 PM CDTEF1Delaware, IA4.150
March 315:27 PM CDTUnratedMorgan, IL0.710
March 315:32 PM CDTEF1Delaware, IA11.190
March 315:35 PM CDTEF0Morgan, IL1.130
March 315:41 PM CDTEF1Jones, IA1.450
March 315:41 PM CDTEF2Des Moines, IA0.9150
March 315:48 PM CDTEF3Covington tornado, TN39.22,000128$80 million
March 315:50 PM CDTEF2Clinton, IA18.03501
March 315:58 PM CDTEF1Jackson, IA1.250
March 316:09 PM CDTEF0Jackson, IA0.215
March 316:12 PM CDTEF2Sangamon, IL5.4400
March 316:16 PM CDTEF1Jackson, IA to IL1.91003
March 316:18 PM CDTEF2Sangamon, IL21.0200
March 316:24 PM CDTEF2Henry, IL3.5300
March 316:33 PM CDTEF2Henry, IL3.0200
March 316:36 PM CDTEF2Henry, IL9.3440
March 316:37 PM CDTEF2Henry, IL6.8650
March 316:39 PM CDTEF1Carroll, IL1.050
March 316:47 PM CDTEF0Macoupin, IL6.3150$25,000
March 316:48 PM CDTEF1Whiteside, IL13.9150
March 316:48 PM CDTEF1Iowa, WI1.175$300,000
March 316:50 PM CDTEF1Lafayette, WI5.575$1.0 million
March 316:50 PM CDTEF1Carroll, IL11.0200
March 316:55 PM CDTEF1Lafayette, WI6.675$600,000
March 317:03 PM CDTUnratedPhillips, AR2.8100
March 317:06 PM CDTEF0Christian, IL4.120
March 317:08 PM CDTEF2Lee, IL9.3350
March 317:13 PM CDTEF1Lee, IL7.875
March 317:13 PM CDTEF1Christian, IL1.730
March 317:16 PM CDTEF0Green, WI3.075$400,000
March 317:20 PM CDTEF1Green, WI10.250$600,000
March 317:24 PM CDTEF1Ogle, IL27.5600140
March 317:26 PM CDTEF0Green, WI5.875$400,000
March 317:31 PM CDTEF1Winnebago, IL5.8300
March 317:31 PM CDTEF2Tunica, MS22.71,200$2.3 million

All 127 of them

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.