Monthly Storm Reports and Storm Data
Storm Reports
Are you interested in what happened during a recent event? Check out the report below.
 
Severe Storms/Windy on October 17-18, 2012
 
The pattern at 700 am CDT on 10/17/2012. A strong cold front barreled through the Plains and into Arkansas on the 17th.
In the picture: The pattern at 700 am CDT on 10/17/2012. High pressure ("H") was over the mid-Atlantic states, with clockwise flow around the high producing gusty south to southwest winds in Arkansas. Meanwhile, a strong cold front approached the region from the Plains.

 

Ahead of the front, gusty south to southwest winds drove temperatures well above normal (in the 70s and 80s). This helped destabilize the atmosphere. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed in the afternoon.

 

The WSR-88D (Doppler Weather Radar) showed hit and miss thunderstorms (some severe) mainly over the southeast half of the state during the evening hours of 10/17/2012.
In the picture: The WSR-88D (Doppler Weather Radar) showed hit and miss thunderstorms (some severe) mainly over the southeast half of the state during the evening hours of 10/17/2012.
 

Storms were concentrated in the southeast half of the state, or where fuel was most readily available. In other words, temperatures were warmest and the supply of moisture (from the Gulf Coast) was greatest in this part of the state.

 

While some of the storms became severe, this was not an outbreak of severe weather.
Storm reports on 10/17/2012.
In the picture: Storm reports on 10/17/2012. The graphic is courtesy of the Storm Prediction Center.

 

Winds were strong aloft at 700 pm CDT on 10/17/2012.

However, there were some significant reports. Surrounding the front, there was a lot of wind energy, and winds turned with height. This created rotation in some storms, and isolated tornadoes were spawned.
In the picture: Winds were strong aloft at 700 pm CDT on 10/17/2012. Winds also turned with height, with 35 to 45 knots from the southwest at 5,000 feet (850 millibars) and 70 to 80 knots from the west at 18,000 feet (500 millibars).

 

A short-lived weak tornado (rated EF1) was identified at Clarendon (Monroe County), with numerous trees and power lines downed and some structural damage.

 Weak tornadoes (rated EF0/EF1) affected Clarendon (Monroe County) and areas just northwest of Seaton (Lonoke County) on 10/17/2012.
In the picture: Weak tornadoes (rated EF0/EF1) affected Clarendon (Monroe County) and areas just northwest of Seaton (Lonoke County) on 10/17/2012.

 

A highway sign was blown through the front window of a video rental store/bait shop by a weak tornado (rated EF1) at Clarendon (Monroe County) on 10/17/2012.
In the picture: A highway sign was blown through the front window of a video rental store/bait shop by a weak tornado (rated EF1) at Clarendon (Monroe County) on 10/17/2012. Click to enlarge.
The sign ended up on the floor of the store. The store closed 5 to 10 minutes before this happened.
In the picture: The sign ended up on the floor of the store. The store closed 5 to 10 minutes before this happened. Click to enlarge.
 

Much of the town was without power. Another weak tornado (rated EF0) briefly touched down in a farm field just northwest of Seaton (Lonoke County).

 

 

Tornadoes were larger and more numerous in Mississippi. Ten tornadoes were counted, with a half dozen injuries reported. The strongest tornado was rated EF3, and had a 16.25 mile track. This was only the second instance of an October tornado this strong in state history. 

 

A powerful storm system over the Great Lakes produced close to hurricane force winds in the northern Plains, with dust driven from Nebraska into Oklahoma by 315 pm CDT on 10/18/2012.

Aftter the storms were over, gusty west winds followed on the 18th, with very dry air. Gusts reached 40 mph at a few locales during the afternoon. The relative humidity dropped below 20 percent across the west in areas such as Fort Smith (Sebastian County) and Mena (Polk County).
In the picture: A powerful storm system over the Great Lakes produced close to hurricane force winds in the northern Plains, with dust driven from Nebraska into Oklahoma by 315 pm CDT on 10/18/2012. Moisture wrapping around the system resulted in plenty of clouds east of the dust plume.

 

These conditions increased the fire danger (low humidities and gusty winds made it easier for fires to start and spread). A Red Flag Warning was posted by the National Weather Service to discourage burning.

Close to hurricane force gusts in the northern Plains spread dust south and east toward Arkansas. Winds whipped across drought stricken areas of Nebraska and Kansas where soil moisture was woefully low and dirt was easily lifted. A dust storm caused a multi-car accident in northern Oklahoma and shut down Interstate 35.

 

Storm Reports
There were a few reports of severe weather on October 17th. For a look at some reports, click here.
 
Link of Interest
Plot Reports
Preliminary reports of severe weather in the Little Rock County Warning Area on October 17, 2012 (in red).
Submit a storm report.
In the picture: Preliminary reports of severe weather in the Little Rock County Warning Area on October 17, 2012 (in red).
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