Jonesboro, Ark. – A brief but intense EF-1 tornado swept through southeast Craighead County early Friday morning, carving a 7-mile path with peak winds reaching 90 mph.
According to the National Weather Service in Memphis, the tornado touched down near Lunsford around 7:46 a.m. CDT on May 16 and stayed on the ground until 7:53 a.m. It caused structural damage along its 150-yard-wide path but resulted in no reported injuries or fatalities. Survey teams also confirmed separate storm damage in Armorel, where 80 mph straight-line winds downed trees and power lines over a 3.75-mile stretch.
The tornado’s path tracked northeast through rural roads and farmland, crossing County Roads 812 and 815. Meanwhile, in Armorel—just east of Blytheville—residents experienced a short burst of damaging winds between 8:21 and 8:24 a.m., leading to localized outages and minor property damage.
Emergency managers are urging residents to stay weather-aware as storm cleanup continues. If power is out, use flashlights instead of candles and avoid driving near damaged infrastructure. Officials also noted that this is the first confirmed tornado in the region this month, following a stretch of quieter weather.
More storm surveys may follow as crews continue damage assessments across northeast Arkansas.
