Craighead County Tornado Rated EF2

The above image is the estimated track of the tornado/funnel that went over Craighead county last week based on the damage surveys from the National Weather Service. (Click images to enlarge) The damage survey has been completed and I've mapped it out on Google Earth. It appears that the tornado touched down 4 times (not counting open fields). The first time it touched down and caused damage according to the survey from the National Weather Service was at 2:56 PM. This was on Highway 1 south of Jonesboro and caused EF 0 damage with peak winds at 75 mph. This is when the JPD officer first spotted it. Here's the survey:

..PRELIMINARY EF-0 TORNADO IN CRAIGHEAD CO. ARKANSAS...
* COUNTIES: CRAIGHEAD COUNTY ARKANSAS.
* LOCATION: 5 MILES SOUTH OF JONESBORO ARKANSAS ON EITHER SIDE OF
STATE HIGHWAY ONE.
* TIME: 256 PM ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2011
* BEGINNING POINT: 35.73809, -90.69490
* ENDING POINT: 35.73989, -90.69076
* RATING: EF-0
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 75 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 0.3 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 50 YARDS
* FATALITIES: 0
* INJURIES: 0
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: PARTIAL ROOF DAMAGE TO BUSINESS OFFICE
BUILDING AND TWO STORAGE GARAGE DOORS BLOWN IN. OTHER DAMAGE
INCLUDED ONE BLOWN WINDOW FROM A BUSINESS AND A PARTIALLY DOWNED
CHAIN LINK FENCE

The storm may have pulled up and then touched down just north of Bay. Thanks to the JPD officer, we knew the tornado was a threat at this point. If you missed my last blog post about this tornado, click here. The damage in Bay, AR occurred around 3:01 PM and it was the most extensive of this path and was rated EF2 with peak winds at 115 mph. I know we received one report of winds clocked at 113 mph from an aviation company to validate that rating. Here's the survey of this point from the National Weather Service:


PRELIMINARY EF-2 TORNADO IN CRAIGHEAD CO. ARKANSAS...
* COUNTIES: CRAIGHEAD CO. ARKANSAS
* LOCATION: BAY ARKANSAS ALONG HIGHWAY 158 TO BAY ARKANSAS NEAR
HIGHWAY 63.
* TIME: 301 PM ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2011
* BEGINNING POINT: 35.79927, -90.59313
* ENDING POINT: 35.76499, -90.58368
* RATING: EF-2
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 115 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 0.7 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 200 YARDS
* FATALITIES: 0
* INJURIES: 0
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: LIFTED CARPORT AWNING AND OTHER LIGHT DEBRIS
FROM THE BAY ARKANSAS AIRPORT.

The storm continued NW and it appears that it pulled up again. The next damage point was West of Lake City at 3:08 PM. The tornado damage here was rated EF1, with maximum winds at 90 mph. Here's the survey report of that damage:


...PRELIMINARY EF-1 TORNADO IN CRAIGHEAD CO. ARKANSAS...
* COUNTIES: CRAIGHEAD COUNTY ARKANSAS.
* LOCATION: 2 MILES SOUTH OF BOWMAN ARKANSAS ALONG COUNTY ROAD
683...TO STATE HIGHWAY 18 IN BOWMAN ARKANSAS.
* TIME: 308 PM ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2011
* BEGINNING POINT: 35.80246, -90.50739
* ENDING POINT: 35.82255, -90.49305
* RATING: EF-1
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 90 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 1.6 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 250 YARDS
* FATALITIES: 0
* INJURIES: 0
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: DAMAGE TO FIVE HOMES AND ONE BUSINESS GARAGE.
MAINLY ROOF DAMAGE TO THREE MANUFACTURED HOMES...TWO BRICK HOMES AND
ONE BUSINESS GARAGE. OTHER DAMAGE INCLUDED A DESTROYED STORAGE
SHED...CHAIN LINK FENCE AND A FEW TREE LIMBS SNAPPED OFF.


At this point, there were several eyes on this storm and we had reports of it going up and down and radar showed the storm weakening. The last damage survey point was near Highway 18 between Black Oak and Monette. This survey also shows it was weakening and corresponds well with the report of it pulling up right on Hwy 18. Here's the final damage point from the National Weather Service. A rating of EF0 with peak winds at 75 mph.


You can click any of the images to enlarge. 


One of the best things about this survey is that we had 0 injuries and 0 fatalities. I credit much of that to the JPD officer that spotted it when it first touched down south of Jonesboro. Ground reports are critical. Radar is great, but ground reports are so much better. The credible report from the officer was great, but we did not know about the report in the Storm Center until 3-4 minutes later. We are meeting with the E911 center tomorrow to establish better communication in the future. I'll keep you posted on that.


Have a great day! 
Ryan


PS- As some of you know, my wife has been in the hospital battling some respiratory issues. She's out and getting better. I'll be back to work tomorrow. Big thanks the the Poplar Bluff ER staff and the staff at AMMC!