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| Several strong tornadoes occurred on March 1st |
In total, 16 tornadoes were spawned on March 1st. Normally tornadoes are generally weak and short lived. Damage that is caused is usually minor and survivable. However, on March 1st (1997) several VERY powerful and long track tornadoes spawned. Notice the very strong (EF-4) tornado tracks across northeast, and southern Arkansas. EF-4 tornadoes by rating from the enhanced Fujita scale are listed to have 166-200 MPH winds with "devastating damage".
This was by no means a "normal outbreak", the true nature of the tornadoes were very unusual. More specifically, tornado damage paths are normally a few miles long. However, some of these damage paths were 50 to 75 miles long. Most of the tornadoes that occurred on this date caused destructive damage.
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| A home improvement center was destroyed at the corner of Dixon Road and Arch Street Pike (about 5 miles south of Little Rock). Photo courtesy of the NWS (Little Rock) |
One may ask: "How, and why, did this event occur?" On the day of March 1st, 1997, unusual warm and humid air existed over the state. Southerly flow from the Gulf of Mexico filtered in abundant moisture and warmer air. An approaching cold front from the northwest sparked along the warm and buoyant air. Very strong and powerful updrafts formed, leading to the formation of deadly supercell thunderstorms. The winds at the surface were strong, along with strong winds aloft. Notable shear values were present (winds turning with height). This turning motion in the atmosphere along with plentiful instability led to the deadly severe weather, and tornadoes, that occurred this day.
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| Radar loop showing strong rotation as it progressed near the city of Arkadelphia. The rotation then moves northeast towards Malvern, and then near Benton. |
One of the more notable storms during that day caused destructive damage across southern Arkansas. This powerful tornado (dubbed the "Interstate 30 Tornado") was rated EF-4 on the enhanced Fujita Scale. As this tornado matured it tracked from two miles northeast of Hope (Hempstead County) through Arkadelphia (Clark County) and then four miles east of Malvern (Hot Spring County). The track length of this tornado was a dreadful 67 miles. Devastating damage was observed in Arkadelphia, and the town of Donaldson. Six people were killed in and near Arkadelphia.
The strong tornado mentioned above was not the only large destructive tornado of this day. Another long track tornado (EF-3) ravaged areas near Searcy (White County) to Jacksonport (Jackson County) before tracking into the Memphis County Warning Area. The track length was 75 miles, the longest observed tornado track of the event. Three people were killed in Jackson County (two near Denmark and the third at Jacksonport). Another death was reported in Greene County in result of the storms.
In conclusion of the storms, nearly 1200 structures were damaged or destroyed during the event. Property damages were estimated over $115 million. The National Weather Service based in Little Rock issued a total of 57 warnings during the event; sadly, 34 of those warnings were tornado warnings.
-AW Team
References and credits:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lzk/?n=tor030197.htm
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/1997/mar/02/20-dead-storms-rip-state-wake/
