Storm Events Database

Storm Events Database

Event Details:

Event Tornado
-- Scale EF3
-- Length 6.1 Miles
-- Width 2200 Yards
State ARKANSAS
County/Area FRANKLIN
WFO TSA
Report Source NWS Storm Survey
NCEI Data Source CSV
Begin Date 2011-05-24 23:07 CST-6
Begin Location 0NNE DENNING
Begin Lat/Lon 35.4065/-93.7968
End Date 2011-05-24 23:15 CST-6
End Location 3N ALIX
End Lat/Lon 35.456/-93.7074
Deaths Direct/Indirect 2/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 10/0
Property Damage 2.00M
Crop Damage 0.00K
Episode Narrative Severe thunderstorms developed along a dry line over central Oklahoma during the afternoon hours. Very unstable air and strong wind shear east of the dry line supported supercell thunderstorm structures, which persisted as the storms moved into northwestern Arkansas late in the evening. These severe storms produced tornadoes, large hail, and damaging downburst wind across portions of northwestern Arkansas. One of the tornadoes was especially intense, resulting in considerable damage to several towns as well as three fatalities in Franklin County.
Event Narrative This is the fifth of six segments of this tornado. The tornado crossed the Arkansas River, moving back into Franklin County from Logan County. The tornado crossed Carbon Plant Road and W Creek Road, destroying a mobile home and killing another person. It continued northeast across the town of Denning where it destroyed numerous permanent homes and mobile homes. At least 10 injuries occurred in Denning as the mile-wide tornado moved through the town. Several of these injuries were serious or critical and one of the victims died from her injuries on June 14th. She was in one of the many mobile homes that were destroyed in town. Ten 100-foot metal power poles were bent over at the ground by the tornado and many other power poles were snapped throughout the Denning area. Many large trees were also snapped or uprooted. Maximum estimated wind speed in this segment of the tornado based on this damage was about 145 mph.
The tornado moved northeast from Denning and crossed Highway 64, severely damaging the roof of a permanent home and snapping or uprooting numerous trees. The tornado continued into Johnson County, Arkansas.


Event Fatality Details:

Type Age Gender Fatality Location
Death (Direct) 35 Female Mobile/Trailer Home
Death (Direct) 64 Female Mobile/Trailer Home


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Event Map:

Note: The tornado track is approximate based on the beginning (B) and ending (E) locations. The actual tornado path may differ from a straight line.
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Measure
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All events for this episode:

Location County/Zone St. Date Time T.Z. Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD
Totals: 3 16 3.585M 0.00K
HUNTINGTON SEBASTIAN CO. AR 05/24/2011 22:20 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
FT SMITH SEBASTIAN CO. AR 05/24/2011 22:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 10.00K 0.00K
(FSM)FT SMITH MUNI A SEBASTIAN CO. AR 05/24/2011 22:36 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 56 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
BARLING SEBASTIAN CO. AR 05/24/2011 22:40 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 61 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
VAN BUREN CRAWFORD CO. AR 05/24/2011 22:40 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
BRANCH FRANKLIN CO. AR 05/24/2011 22:53 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 25.00K 0.00K
PETER PENDER FRANKLIN CO. AR 05/24/2011 22:57 CST-6 Tornado EF4 1 6 1.500M 0.00K
NATURAL DAM CRAWFORD CO. AR 05/24/2011 23:02 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
DENNING FRANKLIN CO. AR 05/24/2011 23:07 CST-6 Tornado EF3 2 10 2.000M 0.00K
ELKINS WASHINGTON CO. AR 05/24/2011 23:15 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
Totals: 3 16 3.585M 0.00K