Arkansas and Missouri — National Weather Service surveys confirmed six tornadoes from March 15 storms, with peak winds reaching 90 mph and multiple short-track paths documented across the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Memphis, two EF-1 tornadoes and four EF-0 tornadoes were identified across northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri following damage assessments completed this week.
The strongest tornado, rated EF-1, tracked northwest of Rector, Arkansas, with estimated peak winds of 90 mph. That tornado remained on the ground for about 2.04 miles and reached a maximum width of 130 yards. A separate EF-1 tornado near Lafe, Arkansas, had similar peak winds of 90 mph, with a shorter path length of 0.88 miles.
Four additional tornadoes were rated EF-0, including tracks near Light and Beech Grove, Arkansas, and Clarkton, Missouri. The longest track occurred near Light, Arkansas, extending approximately 4.48 miles with peak winds of 85 mph. The Clarkton tornado traveled nearly 3 miles.
All tornadoes occurred within a roughly one-hour window between 5:58 p.m. and 6:50 p.m. CDT. Despite multiple touchdowns across county lines, no injuries or fatalities were reported in any of the surveyed areas.
The NWS noted slight adjustments to earlier storm track data, with Beech Grove and Light identified as newly confirmed tornadoes, bringing the total to six.
These findings remain preliminary and may be updated as additional data becomes available.
This round of storms primarily impacted rural areas, but brief tornadoes crossing roadways and open terrain can still affect evening commuters and local travel.
