Storm Events Database

Storm Events Database

Event Details:

Event Tornado
-- Scale EF3
-- Length 20.3 Miles
-- Width 1760 Yards
State ARKANSAS
County/Area BAXTER
WFO LZK
Report Source NWS Storm Survey
NCEI Data Source CSV
Begin Date 2024-05-26 03:17 CST-6
Begin Location 3NW BUFFALO
Begin Lat/Lon 36.1986/-92.4803
End Date 2024-05-26 03:46 CST-6
End Location 1E HOLIDAY HILLS
End Lat/Lon 36.3324/-92.1563
Deaths Direct/Indirect 1/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 17/0
Property Damage
Crop Damage
Episode Narrative A couple long-tracked supercells moved across the northern two to three rows of counties during the predawn hours of the Memorial Day weekend. These storms triggered numerous tornadoes, some of which strong and long-lived, in addition to widespread straight-line wind damage.
Event Narrative The Briarcliff Tornado continued in Baxter County from Marion County and moved through a small residential area along the White River, pulling siding and shingles off houses in addition to causing significant tree damage. The tornado continued eastward, further expanding in width, and reached a maximum width of up to 1 mile wide, crossing mostly rural areas and causing significant tree damage, passing across Wild Hog Mountain, and crossing Shipps Ferry Road and Round Rock Trail. As it approached the Arkana and Norfork Village area, the path width contracted slightly, and large swaths of trees were found uprooted and snapped as it crossed the White River briefly once again north of Hwy 341 at Riverside Dr. The tornado continued northeast towards Briarcliff, where mostly tree damage was observed to the west of Highway 5. As the tornado crossed the highway, widespread tree damage became prevalent, with most trees snapped at their trunks. A few structures were severely damaged, including a home, and a metal shop building. The tornado also impacted a local RV/trailer camping park, where five fifth-wheel recreation trailers were tossed and completely destroyed. One fatality was reported out of this area as well. The tornado also moved over a 350 kV transmission line that intersected Hwy 5, snapping several wooden two-poled line towers, and bending two steel two-poled line towers to the ground, indicative of EF2 wind speeds. After crossing Hwy 5, the tornado moved into the Briarcliff residential area, encountering significant topography. 17 injuries were reported within the Briarcliff community. The tornado path width expanded again, reaching a width of up to 1 mile wide for a short duration as it moved through Briarcliff. Significant tree damage was observed over a large portion of the roads in the area, and via satellite imagery. A few homes sustained moderate damage, likely exacerbated by debris and projectiles. The Briarcliff City Hall building, which sat on top of a hill on Scenic Drive, sustained significant structural damage, with most of the second level of the building destroyed, indicative of EF3 wind speeds of up to 140 mph. The tornado then continued to move northeast, moving over several hills on the east side of Briarcliff. A two- story home located off of the Shoal Creek tributary sustained significant roof damage with most of the structure pulled off to the wall plates, and all the surrounding trees to the east uprooted from the road to the waterline. The tornado then crossed the lake, and struck a few peninsulas, where more significant tree damage was observed. After crossing Norfork Lake, the tornado continued northeast on the north side of the lake, moving over mostly rural areas, eventually crossing over the Holiday Hills Resort Area on Baxter County Road 149. A few buildings sustained minor roof damage, and a smaller cabin building had the roof structure pulled off with a few exterior walls collapsed. Most trees around the resort were uprooted as well. The tornado then kept moving northeast into Fulton County.


Event Fatality Details:

Type Age Gender Fatality Location
Death (Direct) 73 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: 5 18 0.00K 0.00K
ELMWOOD BOONE CO. AR 05/26/2024 02:23 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
BELLEFONTE BOONE CO. AR 05/26/2024 02:27 CST-6 Tornado EF3 1 1 0.00K 0.00K
EROS MARION CO. AR 05/26/2024 02:45 CST-6 Tornado EF2 3 0 0.00K 0.00K
SNOW MARION CO. AR 05/26/2024 02:48 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
RALPH MARION CO. AR 05/26/2024 02:59 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
BUFFALO BAXTER CO. AR 05/26/2024 03:17 CST-6 Tornado EF3 1 17 0.00K 0.00K
CREST BOONE CO. AR 05/26/2024 03:19 CST-6 Hail 2.50 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
MOUNTAIN HOME BAXTER CO. AR 05/26/2024 03:22 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
ARKANA BAXTER CO. AR 05/26/2024 03:26 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
BRIARCLIFF BAXTER CO. AR 05/26/2024 03:26 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 61 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
SALEM AIRPORT FULTON CO. AR 05/26/2024 03:31 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 56 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
RUTH FULTON CO. AR 05/26/2024 03:46 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
BULL SHOALS MARION CO. AR 05/26/2024 03:53 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 61 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
WHEELING FULTON CO. AR 05/26/2024 04:03 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
NORFORK LAKE NORTH BAXTER CO. AR 05/26/2024 04:12 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 55 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
SALEM FULTON CO. AR 05/26/2024 04:39 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CHEROKEE VLG ARPT SHARP CO. AR 05/26/2024 04:53 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 75 kts. MG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
HARDY SHARP CO. AR 05/26/2024 04:57 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 87 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
SELLERS STORE SHARP CO. AR 05/26/2024 04:58 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
RAVENDEN SPGS RANDOLPH CO. AR 05/26/2024 05:09 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
RAVENDEN SPGS RANDOLPH CO. AR 05/26/2024 05:15 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
ASH FLAT SHARP CO. AR 05/26/2024 05:16 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
POCAHONTAS RANDOLPH CO. AR 05/26/2024 05:21 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 56 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
ATTICA RANDOLPH CO. AR 05/26/2024 05:24 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
POCAHONTAS MUNI ARPT RANDOLPH CO. AR 05/26/2024 05:29 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
HARRISON BOONE CO. AR 05/26/2024 18:19 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
BALD KNOB WHITE CO. AR 05/26/2024 21:09 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 56 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
NEW SALEM WOODRUFF CO. AR 05/26/2024 21:34 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. MG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
Totals: 5 18 0.00K 0.00K