A devastating tornado struck northeastern Arkansas on Wednesday, leading to a tornado emergency declaration as Supercells traversed areas like Lake City and Bryceville.
The Fox Forecast Center identified the storm as a “wedge tornado.” This specifically perilous and broad type of tornado forced a storm chaser to maintain a safe distance from the ferocious cyclone.
The tornado was rotating with several vortices at its base, first detected just east of Jonesboro before swiftly advancing toward the Arkansas-Missouri border.
Accompanying the destructive tornado was a flash of light likely caused by transformer explosions resulting from the severe winds.
Brandon Copic, a storm chaser affiliated with Fox Weather, monitored the tornado in real-time.
“It’s getting very close to me,” Copic reported. “I can hear a roar right now.”
Copic assessed the tornado to be at least EF-3, showing characteristics of being extremely powerful, thus amplifying the risks for residents in its path.
Local officials urgently instructed residents to seek substantial shelter during the storm, deeming the situation incredibly hazardous.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders mentioned reports of storms and tornado destruction, with paramedics available to support the injured.
Local officials reported that at least 20 homes had major damage in Monette and Lake City, with seven individuals receiving treatment for injuries.
The Westside Consolidated School District, catering to rural communities in the northeastern part of the state, announced that there would be no classes Thursday due to damage at one of its facilities during the severe weather outbreak.
A blackout tracking website reported that at least 40,000 customers were without power on Wednesday evening.
Earlier that day, another tornado impacted eastern Missouri, prompting firefighters to conduct search and rescue efforts north of the small town of Potosi.
Over 15 million residents, stretching from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast, were placed under a tornado watch, alerting people in the thunderstorm area to stay vigilant for possible subsequent tornado activities.
