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.
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 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.
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.
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
- 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.
| Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | Permanent Home | Indirect |
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
61Local 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.
&&
CTPLocal 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.
&&
CTPLocal 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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</html>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.
- 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
Little Rock, AR (KLZK), 00:00Z
4.7 hours after it, 206 km from the path. April 1, 2023.
- 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
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) | Wind | Gust (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.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 31 | 2:37 PM CDT | Unrated | Tazewell, IL | 0.3 | 10 | |||
| March 31 | 3:15 PM CDT | EF1 | Tazewell, IL | 0.9 | 10 | |||
| March 31 | 3:23 PM CDT | Unrated | Woodford, IL | 0.6 | 20 | |||
| March 31 | 3:36 PM CDT | EF3 | Wapello, IA | 26.1 | 1,000 | $2.0 million | ||
| March 31 | 3:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Prairie, AR | 1.1 | 100 | |||
| March 31 | 3:52 PM CDT | Unrated | Poweshiek, IA | 3.6 | 60 | |||
| March 31 | 4:05 PM CDT | Unrated | Livingston, IL | 0.0 | 15 | |||
| March 31 | 4:10 PM CDT | EF4 | Keota–Wellman tornado, IA | 19.9 | 700 | 3 | ||
| March 31 | 4:22 PM CDT | EF1 | Grundy, IA | 3.5 | 80 | $50,000 | ||
| March 31 | 4:22 PM CDT | EF1 | Grundy, IA | 4.1 | 80 | $50,000 | ||
| March 31 | 4:30 PM CDT | EF3 | Wynne–Parkin tornado, Arkansas and Tennessee | 72.5 | 1,600 | 4 | 26 | $151 million |
| March 31 | 4:36 PM CDT | EF2 | Benton, IA | 1.7 | 50 | |||
| March 31 | 4:37 PM CDT | EF0 | Johnson, IA | 6.1 | 50 | |||
| March 31 | 4:46 PM CDT | EF2 | Johnson, IA | 16.9 | 75 | 2 | ||
| March 31 | 4:47 PM CDT | EF2 | Benton, IA | 4.9 | 50 | |||
| March 31 | 4:49 PM CDT | EF2 | Stone, AR | 6.8 | 125 | |||
| March 31 | 4:51 PM CDT | Unrated | Benton, IA | 1.4 | 10 | |||
| March 31 | 4:53 PM CDT | EF2 | Johnson, IA | 14.7 | 100 | |||
| March 31 | 5:03 PM CDT | Unrated | Buchanan, IA | 1.7 | 10 | |||
| March 31 | 5:06 PM CDT | EF2 | Johnson, IA | 9.0 | 75 | |||
| March 31 | 5:06 PM CDT | EF1 | Cedar, IA | 8.3 | 10 | |||
| March 31 | 5:14 PM CDT | EF2 | Cedar, IA | 16.4 | 250 | |||
| March 31 | 5:15 PM CDT | Unrated | Scott, IL | 0.5 | 10 | |||
| March 31 | 5:17 PM CDT | EF1 | Cedar, IA | 5.2 | 100 | |||
| March 31 | 5:18 PM CDT | EF2 | Cedar, IA | 19.6 | 200 | 2 | ||
| March 31 | 5:20 PM CDT | EF1 | Delaware, IA | 4.1 | 50 | |||
| March 31 | 5:27 PM CDT | Unrated | Morgan, IL | 0.7 | 10 | |||
| March 31 | 5:32 PM CDT | EF1 | Delaware, IA | 11.1 | 90 | |||
| March 31 | 5:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Morgan, IL | 1.1 | 30 | |||
| March 31 | 5:41 PM CDT | EF1 | Jones, IA | 1.4 | 50 | |||
| March 31 | 5:41 PM CDT | EF2 | Des Moines, IA | 0.9 | 150 | |||
| March 31 | 5:48 PM CDT | EF3 | Covington tornado, TN | 39.2 | 2,000 | 1 | 28 | $80 million |
| March 31 | 5:50 PM CDT | EF2 | Clinton, IA | 18.0 | 350 | 1 | ||
| March 31 | 5:58 PM CDT | EF1 | Jackson, IA | 1.2 | 50 | |||
| March 31 | 6:09 PM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, IA | 0.2 | 15 | |||
| March 31 | 6:12 PM CDT | EF2 | Sangamon, IL | 5.4 | 400 | |||
| March 31 | 6:16 PM CDT | EF1 | Jackson, IA to IL | 1.9 | 100 | 3 | ||
| March 31 | 6:18 PM CDT | EF2 | Sangamon, IL | 21.0 | 200 | |||
| March 31 | 6:24 PM CDT | EF2 | Henry, IL | 3.5 | 300 | |||
| March 31 | 6:33 PM CDT | EF2 | Henry, IL | 3.0 | 200 | |||
| March 31 | 6:36 PM CDT | EF2 | Henry, IL | 9.3 | 440 | |||
| March 31 | 6:37 PM CDT | EF2 | Henry, IL | 6.8 | 650 | |||
| March 31 | 6:39 PM CDT | EF1 | Carroll, IL | 1.0 | 50 | |||
| March 31 | 6:47 PM CDT | EF0 | Macoupin, IL | 6.3 | 150 | $25,000 | ||
| March 31 | 6:48 PM CDT | EF1 | Whiteside, IL | 13.9 | 150 | |||
| March 31 | 6:48 PM CDT | EF1 | Iowa, WI | 1.1 | 75 | $300,000 | ||
| March 31 | 6:50 PM CDT | EF1 | Lafayette, WI | 5.5 | 75 | $1.0 million | ||
| March 31 | 6:50 PM CDT | EF1 | Carroll, IL | 11.0 | 200 | |||
| March 31 | 6:55 PM CDT | EF1 | Lafayette, WI | 6.6 | 75 | $600,000 | ||
| March 31 | 7:03 PM CDT | Unrated | Phillips, AR | 2.8 | 100 | |||
| March 31 | 7:06 PM CDT | EF0 | Christian, IL | 4.1 | 20 | |||
| March 31 | 7:08 PM CDT | EF2 | Lee, IL | 9.3 | 350 | |||
| March 31 | 7:13 PM CDT | EF1 | Lee, IL | 7.8 | 75 | |||
| March 31 | 7:13 PM CDT | EF1 | Christian, IL | 1.7 | 30 | |||
| March 31 | 7:16 PM CDT | EF0 | Green, WI | 3.0 | 75 | $400,000 | ||
| March 31 | 7:20 PM CDT | EF1 | Green, WI | 10.2 | 50 | $600,000 | ||
| March 31 | 7:24 PM CDT | EF1 | Ogle, IL | 27.5 | 600 | 1 | 40 | |
| March 31 | 7:26 PM CDT | EF0 | Green, WI | 5.8 | 75 | $400,000 | ||
| March 31 | 7:31 PM CDT | EF1 | Winnebago, IL | 5.8 | 300 | |||
| March 31 | 7:31 PM CDT | EF2 | Tunica, MS | 22.7 | 1,200 | $2.3 million |
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.