Little Rock, Ark. – Fourteen years ago today, Arkansas found itself in the crosshairs of one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history, as 18 tornadoes tore across the state on April 25, 2011—the first day of the catastrophic four-day Super Outbreak.
According to the National Weather Service in Little Rock, the outbreak ultimately produced 362 confirmed tornadoes across the South and Midwest, killing over 300 people and injuring more than 2,000. Arkansas was hit early and hard, with tornadoes tracking from the southwest into central parts of the state, including destructive touchdowns near Vilonia, Fountain Lake, and Little Rock Air Force Base.
Central Arkansas saw especially severe damage. At 7:24 p.m., radar near Vilonia showed a pronounced “debris ball,” a telltale sign of a violent tornado sweeping into the area. Homes and infrastructure were shredded, and emergency crews worked overnight to clear roads and search for survivors.
The town of Vilonia would tragically face another direct hit just three years later from an even stronger tornado in 2014.
Today, residents are urged to revisit their emergency plans and remain weather-aware as tornado season ramps up once again across the South.
