LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed that at least 16 tornadoes hit northern Arkansas over the Memorial Day weekend, causing significant damage and loss of life.
Officials from NWS Little Rock are still conducting damage surveys in Rogers and have planned additional surveys for south Marion County and White County.
The tornadoes, some of which were as strong as EF-3, wreaked havoc across several towns. Decatur was particularly hard hit by EF-2 and EF-3 tornadoes, with the EF-3 tornado spanning over 3,000 yards in width and traveling nearly eight miles.
The severe weather resulted in the deaths of at least 22 people across multiple states, including nine fatalities in Arkansas alone. This brings the total number of tornadoes in Arkansas for the year to at least 33.
Counties like Benton, Marion, Fulton, Boone, and Rudolph experienced significant damage from the tornadoes, which uprooted numerous trees and damaged buildings. Benton County, in particular, reported an EF1 tornado, multiple EF2 tornadoes, and an EF3 tornado that caused widespread damage.
