Multiple EF-4 tornadoes touch down in Arkansas for the first time in 28 years

Two EF-4 tornadoes touched down in Arkansas on Friday, March 14, 2025, amid a severe weather outbreak that claimed three lives in the state and 40 across the country. This was the first time multiple EF-4/F-4 tornadoes touched down in the state on the same day in 28 years.

Two EF-4 tornadoes touched down in Arkansas on Friday, March 14, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). This was the first time multiple EF-4/F4 tornadoes touched down in the state on the same day since 1997.

The first EF-4 tornado touched down at approximately 21:45 local time (LT), about 1.6 km (1 mile) northeast of Larkin in Izard County, with peak winds of around 274 km/h (170 mph). The tornado completely destroyed one house, with additional damage reported in the area.

The second tornado touched down approximately 2.4 km (1.5 miles) northwest of Diaz in Jackson County at around 23:23 LT on Friday, with peak winds of about 306 km/h (190 mph). The tornado destroyed multiple vehicles and one home as it moved through the area.

The tornadoes were part of a larger outbreak that claimed at least 40 lives across the southern U.S. as it spawned dust storms, tornadoes, and rapidly spreading wildfires.

The last time multiple EF-4/F4 tornadoes struck Arkansas in a single day was on March 1, 1997, when three F4 tornadoes touched down, later referred to as the I-30 tornado outbreak. Arkadelphia, Shannon Hills, portions of Little Rock, and Denmark were the hardest-hit areas.

At least 25 people were killed in the outbreak, which also left 426 injured. The Arkadelphia tornado carved an 82 km (51-mile) path, destroying most of downtown Arkadelphia, killing at least six people, and demolishing multiple mobile homes and structures.

The Saline County/Pulaski County tornado formed near Benton, carving a 40 km (25-mile) path and claiming 15 lives. Ten fatalities occurred in Saline County, while five were reported in Pulaski County. The tornado devastated the Shannon Hills area, injuring over 200 people. Another F4 tornado was reported in Blytheville, tracking a 32 km (20-mile) path, though details of its impact remain unclear.

References:

¹ 20250314’s Storm Reports (20250314 1200 UTC – 20250315 1159 UTC) – NWS/SPC – March 15, 2025

Feature image credit: Brian Emfinger

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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