Storm causes tree damage in Decatur

DECATUR — Overnight storms began to fire in central Kansas, bringing with them the potential for tornadoes, strong straight-line winds, hail and heavy downpours. At around 8:30 a.m., the National Weather Service office in Tulsa, Okla., issued a significant weather advisory for most of northeastern Oklahoma, Benton and Washington counties in Northwest

Arkansas. What ensued was a very dangerous situation for those who were under the weather service advisory.

Area residents of extreme Northwest Arkansas woke up to a beautiful sunrise with partly cloudy skies and lots of sunshine. But looming on the western horizon were dark storm clouds which would soon change the beautiful morning sunrise into a scene of chaos. It became more and more apparent that this storm was anything but a pop-up variety rainmaker.

At 9 a.m. a developing shelf cloud began to move into Northwest Arkansas. As it moved to the southeast, the wind shifted from the southsoutheast and began to pick up. When the storm hit, torrential downpours, winds of 40 miles an hour plus and dangerous lightning inundated the area.

In Decatur, a tree blew down across Arkansas 59 north, blocking the southbound lane for about an hour. Several huge tree limbs blew down on Crystal Lake Road, cutting access in and out of the lake and airport. A large limb snapped off from one of the Bradford pear trees behind the old Head Start building on Jo Avenue.

Several low water bridges were flooded, cutting off access to several rural Decatur residents for about two hours. Fortunately for residents of Grant Springs Apartments, the emergency route the city of Decatur built for just such a situation was open.

No injuries or damage to buildings and homes were reported during the storm.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A large branch from a Bradford pear tree near Decatur City Hall broke off during a powerful thunderstorm that swept through Northwest Arkansas on July 9. The strong storm produced straight-line winds in excess of 40 miles an hour and caused widespread tree damage throughout the Decatur area.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Mangled branches and broken limbs littered the south side of Crystal Lake Road after city workers cleared away debris that blocked access in and out of Crystal Lake near Decatur July 9. Severe storms roared through the area, uprooting trees and dropping torrential rain over the Decatur area.