Tornadoes confirmed in Tuesday’s storms

Three tornadoes appeared in Northwest Arkansas during Tuesday’s storms, according to a preliminary report by the National Weather Service.

No injuries were reported in any of the twisters, which appeared in Crawford, Madison and Washington counties. They were all assigned as EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale used to rate tornadoes.

The report could change as the investigation continues, according to the weather service.

The first tornado started about 2:23 a.m near Stilwell, Okla., reaching wind speeds of 110 mph and traveling almost 12 miles in 16 minutes, the weather service reported. The tornado’s course ended at a point east of Odell in southwestern Washington County. The tornado left a path 800 yards wide with snapped and uprooted trees all along the path, as well as destroyed outbuildings. The tornado crossed Arkansas 59 and Dobbs Mountain Road before dissipating.

The second tornado in Arkansas on Tuesday morning struck near Mountainburg in Crawford County, crossing Interstate 49 along its path, according to the weather service. This tornado also reached wind speeds of 110 mph, traveled 5.7 miles and left a path 900 yards wide. This twister began about 2:43 a.m. north-northeast of Rudy in Crawford County and lasted only about seven minutes. Starting east of County Road 27, the tornado moved northeast across the interstate and U.S. 71, snapping and uprooting trees and destroying outbuildings.

The third tornado started about 3:08 a.m. Tuesday and traveled less than 3 miles, dissipating after five minutes, the weather service reported. This tornado began in Washington County, west and south of Delaney in Madison County, dissipating west of Arkansas 16 in Madison County. The only damage reported was to trees. This twister’s winds peaked at an estimated 110 mph.