NWS description, "April 27, 2014. This radar image presents data near the time that the tornadic storm crossed interstate 40. The upper left image is reflectivity; the higher values (white and magenta colors) are indicative of debris produced by a tornado. The upper right is a storm relative velocity image, which reveals the circulation that supported the tornadic circulation. The lower left image displays spectrum width data, which indicates not only the chaotic nature of the tornadic circulation, but also the turbulent inflow of the storm. The lower right image is a correlation coefficient image; the lower values (blue and light blue colors) are indicative of radar returns produced from objects of a variety of shapes and sizes, also indicative of debris produced by the storm."
Huffington Post reports over a dozen dead from this storm. Because this tornado came at dusk, the full extent of the disaster will be known later today after emergency responders are able to assess the situation by the light of day.
Mike Wilhelm of valleywx.com videoed the tornado from a vantage on I-40 near where it caused heavy damage in Mayflower and Vilionia Arkansas.
Weather Channel public release of photo taken of this tornado near Mayflower Arkansas where it inflicted heavy damage.
Large tornado with apparent debris ball on the ground in northern Little Rock, Arkansas suburbs
8:15p central time - update - spotters continue to track this large tornado which apparently continues to produce damage ... It has been tracked for over 35 minutes. end update.
Alabama wx blog update:
UPDATE: Extensive damage has been reported with this tornado. Very large tornado on the ground causing significant damage along its path. Tracking north of downtown Little Rock. Damage reported in Mayflower, AR and tornado emergency has been issued for Vilonia, AR.
Early reports and images show that Mayflower Arkansas suffered heavy damage.
Tornado continues to be tracked by Memphis NWS. I notice some signs it may be weakening but a storm behind it may be becoming tornadic and a new tornado warning has been issued for that storm. I'm getting tired and I am in central to eastern North Carolina which is highlighted Severe for Wednesday so I need to prepare for a possible tornado outbreak in North and South Carolina this coming Wednesday. Please continue to update this story in your comments.
Update 2 Tornado has moved northwest of Little Rock and threaten the community of Floyd.
806 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR FLOYD...
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL WHITE COUNTY UNTIL
830 PM CDT...
AT 802 PM CDT...STORM SPOTTERS AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A CONFIRMED TORNADO WITH REPORTS OF
DAMAGE. THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF MT VERNON...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF CABOT...MOVING EAST AT
40 MPH.
THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR FLOYD. TAKE COVER NOW.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
SEARCY... CROSBY... FLOYD...
EL PASO... CENTER HILL... ARMSTRONG SPRINGS...
ALBION...
Very dangerous storm just to the west of Downtown Little Rock.
author's Updated note: the tornado is now north of Little Rock.
A confirmed tornado was moving through portions of Pulaski and Faulkner Counties. This storm has a very impressive radar signature and it appears a debris ball is present. This storm will impact Interstate 40 and the western and northern suburbs of Little Rock.
Update 1
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
743 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
ARC045-085-119-145-280100-
O.CON.KLZK.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-140428T0100Z
FAULKNER AR-LONOKE AR-PULASKI AR-WHITE AR-
743 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR SALTILLO AND VILONIA...
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN WHITE...
EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL PULASKI...EXTREME NORTHWESTERN LONOKE AND
SOUTHEASTERN FAULKNER COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...
AT 738 PM CDT...STORM SPOTTERS AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A CONFIRMED TORNADO WITH REPORTS OF
DAMAGE. THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY TORNADO WAS LOCATED 3 MILES EAST OF
LAKE CONWAY...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CONWAY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50
MPH.
THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR SALTILLO AND VILONIA. TAKE COVER NOW.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
VILONIA... LAKE CONWAY... ENOLA...
SALTILLO... OTTO... HOLLAND...
HAMLET... EL PASO...
end update 1
4-27-2014 7-14-41 PM
FAULKNER AR-LONOKE AR-PULASKI AR-WHITE AR-
736 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR SALTILLO AND VILONIA...
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN WHITE...NORTH
CENTRAL PULASKI...EXTREME NORTHWESTERN LONOKE AND SOUTHERN FAULKNER
COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...
AT 734 PM CDT...STORM SPOTTERS AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A CONFIRMED TORNADO WITH REPORTS OF
DAMAGE. THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY TORNADO WAS LOCATED 2 MILES SOUTH OF
LAKE CONWAY...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF MAUMELLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH.
THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR SALTILLO AND VILONIA. TAKE COVER NOW.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
VILONIA... MAYFLOWER... LAKE CONWAY...
ENOLA... SALTILLO... OTTO...
HOLLAND... HAMLET... EL PASO...
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 130 AND 137.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TO REPEAT...A DAMAGING TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. THIS IS AN
EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS STORM IS PRODUCING A LIFE
THREATENING...CONFIRMED TORNADO CAPABLE OF SIGNIFICANT DESTRUCTION.
TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.
The likelihood of more damaging tornadoes is high in Arkansas, northern Mississippi and northern Lousiana. The SPC's tornado index is very high because the wind shear is very intense and the air is warm moist and unstable.
The red contour lines indicate increasing strength of the SPC's effective layer tornado index.
See weatherdude's diary from earlier today for the background on this dangerous situation.
