EF-0 tornadoes confirmed in Jackson, Pemiscot counties
(KAIT) - Cleanup continued Friday morning after five confirmed tornadoes swept across Arkansas and Missouri, including a EF0 tornado in Jackson and Pemiscot counties.
According to a survey by the National Weather Service in Little Rock, a brief tornado touched down 3 miles east southeast of Swifton.
Winds were estimated at 65 to 85 miles per hour and it was only on the ground for 0.2 miles.
The National Weather Service said the tornado was confirmed by law enforcement, but damage was minimal due to it being over open fields.
In Missouri, an EF0 tornado was confirmed 4 miles south southeast of Caruthersville.
It traveled 3.4 miles, crossing the Mississippi River and lifting 4 miles east of Caruthersville in Dyer County, TN.
Wind speeds were estimated at 80 miles per hour.
The National Weather Service in Memphis said the tornado formed along County Road 534 where it uprooted trees before crossing the Mississippi River Levee.
Thursday’s destructive storms began in central Arkansas, blowing roofs off homes and knocking out power to thousands.
The first confirmed tornado was reported about two miles northwest of Sherwood. The EF0 twister was on the ground for nearly five miles.
The second EF0 touched down five miles west of Cabot and traveled a mile before dissipating.
A third tornado, an EF1, touchdown 2 miles west southwest of Mabelvale, which is in Pulaski County.
That tornado had peak winds between 86 and 110 miles per hour and was on the ground for 1.6 miles.
KATV reports that tractor-trailer trucks were blown over in Little Rock Thursday afternoon, while two cars had to be removed from flooded roadways in Hot Springs. Police in Sherwood say high water also forced a bridge closure.
Electric power provider Entergy, which serves about 700,000 customers in Arkansas, said more than 7,000 customers lost power throughout the state, including in Jackson, Mississippi and Stone Counties.
By 2:30 p.m., the storms were moving into Region 8.
A tornado warning was issued for east central Jackson County at 2:45 p.m. after law enforcement officers confirmed a tornado on Highway 226, about three miles from Swifton.
Tornado warnings were also issued for Greene and Clay Counties, and there was a report of a tornado spotted near Gosnell in Mississippi County.
The storms then moved into Missouri, leading to more watches and warnings.
According to the National Weather System, much of the damage consisted of uprooted and snapped trees, and torn off roofs.
In the coming days, NWS damage survey teams will be in the area to determine the actual strength of the storms.
In addition to strong winds and tornadoes, the storm system dumped heavy rains on the already-saturated area, causing flooding across Region 8.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation reported multiple roads closed due to flooding across Northeast Arkansas, including:
- Highway 37 in Jackson and Independence Counties
- Highway 120 in Mississippi County
- Highway 166 in Randolph County
Highway 91 north of Egypt was also shut down due to flooding, according to Egypt Police Chief Gerald Goza.
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