Tornado Outbreak of 2023

On March 31, 2023, a massive outbreak of tornadoes struck nine states across the country, from Arkansas and Iowa to as far east as Delaware. The storms killed more than thirty people across seven states—five in Arkansas. One tornado hit the Pulaski County cities of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, and Jacksonville. Another hit the eastern Arkansas community of Wynne (Cross County). This outbreak came a week after a similar system killed twenty-one people in Mississippi and one in Alabama.

In the days leading up to the outbreak, the National Weather Service had been warning about the potential for severe storms striking the state on Friday, March 31, 2023. By the afternoon, a supercell started showing signs of becoming tornadic as it tracked from Pike County up to Saline County, even spouting a funnel cloud near Pearcy (Garland County) at 1:18 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT).

In Little Rock, a tornado (rated a high EF3, with winds reaching 165 miles per hour) touched down about two miles west-northwest of the intersection of Interstate 430 and Interstate 630 around 2:22 p.m. CDT. It proceeded in a northeasterly direction, destroying houses and damaging Fire Station No. 9 on Shackleford Road before crossing Interstate 430 and hitting the Breckinridge and Colony West shopping centers along Rodney Parham. The tornado damaged numerous buildings along Cantrell Avenue and completely destroyed the seventy-acre Reservoir Park, eventually moving into the Kingwood neighborhood near Cammack Village (Pulaski County). The tornado struck Murray Park before it crossed the Arkansas River and struck Burns Park in North Little Rock before hitting the Amboy and Indian Hills neighborhoods. One person died in North Little Rock. At its most powerful, the tornado was 600 yards wide. The storm left half of Sherwood without power before cutting a three-mile path through Jacksonville. The system eventually weakened around the southern Cabot (Lonoke County) area, dissipating at 2:57 p.m. after having left a track of over thirty-four miles.

In Wynne, a separate tornado (also rated EF3) cut a path through the heart of the city, destroying the high school and pulling up the astroturf from the nearby football field. First United Methodist Church was destroyed, as were several businesses along the city’s main thoroughfare (including the offices of the Wynne Progress newspaper) and numerous other houses and structures. Four people died in the storm. The tornado was determined to have set down about nine miles southwest of the city; it was initially an EF2 but intensified as it headed toward Wynne, becoming an EF3. The tornado later crossed the Mississippi River and dissipated in Tennessee, leaving a track of seventy-three miles. At its most powerful, the tornado was 1,600 yards wide and reached wind speeds of 150 miles per hour.

Other reports of possible tornadoes were received from Stone County and Prairie County.

By the end of March 31, approximately 75,000 people in Arkansas were without power, 50,000 of them in Pulaski County. Governor Sarah Sanders declared a state of emergency and activated the Arkansas National Guard to assist with clearing roads. The next day, Sanders and Little Rock mayor Frank Scott surveyed some of the hardest-hit areas in the capital city. On April 2, President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the state, and Sanders, along with Education Secretary Jacob Olivia, and Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), toured Wynne.

On April 4, 2023, Sanders asked the federal government to cover the cost of all state and local recovery efforts for the first month, rather than seventy-five percent. (Many commentators noted that Sanders, during her gubernatorial campaign, had complained about the “meddling hand” of the federal government and had vowed to resist federal influence in Arkansas.) The Biden administration approved this request. On April 6, 2023, the director of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management stated that the tornadoes had destroyed 120 homes in Arkansas and damaged approximately 1,700 more. Two weeks after the tornadoes, FEMA had approved more than $4 million in aid for approximately 5,800 state residents affected.

The state’s weak landlord-tenant laws added to the pain many victims of the tornado experienced, as many residents of apartment complexes damaged by the tornado were evicted from their homes on short notice.

On September 6, 2023, microburst winds hit parts of Little Rock that had previously been struck by the March tornado, destroying or damaging some buildings that were in the process of being rebuilt, as well as leaving approximately nearly 20,000 people without power at the height of the storm.

For additional information:
Bowden, Bill. “Family, Friends Recall Victims of Tornado’s Terror in Wynne.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 29, 2024, pp. 1A, 6A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/29/who-were-the-victims-of-the-march-2023-arkansas/ (accessed March 29, 2024).

Bowden, Bill, Will Langhorne, and Neal Earley. “Tornado Strongest to Hit LR since ’99.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 2, 2023, pp. 1A, 10A, 11A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/01/twisters-death-toll-up-to-5/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Brandom, Charles. “$8.8M in FEMA Aid Assists Storm Victims.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 9, 2023, pp. 1B, 6B  Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/09/disaster-assistance-gives-central-arkansas/ (accessed July 10, 2023).

Eichkorn, Paige. “Residents in West Little Rock Clean up from Microburst Storm.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, September 8, 2023, pp. 1A, 6A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/sep/08/residents-in-west-little-rock-start-over-after/ (accessed September 8, 2023).

———. “Tornado Damage Shuts Burns Park.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 5, 2023, pp. 1A, 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/05/burns-park-in-north-little-rock-closed-due-to/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Wynne Works on Returning Kids to School.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 3, 2023, pp. 1B, 6B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/03/wynne-works-on-returning-kids-to-school/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Ellis, Dale. “Woman, Insurer Settle Case.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 28, 2023, pp. 1B, 5B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/28/cross-county-woman-wins-116-million-settlement/ (accessed July 28, 2023).

Ellis, Dale, and Ashley Savage. “Forecast Has Residents on Edge.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 4, 2023, pp. 1A, 6A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/04/forecast-has-residents-on-edge/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Flaherty, Joseph. “Cash Approved for 2 LR Parks Hit by Tornado.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, January 24, 2024, pp. 1B, 5B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/jan/23/little-rock-city-board-oks-rebuilding-of-park/ (accessed January 24, 2024).

———. “LR Recovery Center Designated.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 11, 2023, pp. 1B, 3B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/11/little-rocks-west-central-community-center-to/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Realtors Offer Tornado Recovery Grants.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 4, 2023, pp. 1A, 7A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/04/realtors-fund-to-bankroll-grants-of-up-to-2000-to/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Tornado Cleanup’s Estimate at $10M.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, May 3, 2023, pp. 1B, 8B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/may/03/debris-removal-work-after-tornado-could-cost-up/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Flaherty, Joseph, and Grant Lancaster. “Recovery Funds Bid Accepted by Biden.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 9, 2023, pp. 1B, 4B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/09/recovery-funds-bid-accepted-by-biden/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Gettinger, Aaron. “Evictions Add Twist for Tornado Victims.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, May 3, 2023, pp. 1A, 6A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/may/03/evictions-add-twist-for-tornado-victims/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Post-Tornado Damage Accruing.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 15, 2023, pp. 1D, 2D. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/15/rebuilding-tornado-wrecked-houses-looks-slow-say/ (accessed June 15, 2023).

———. “Tornado Repairs Continue 6 Months Later.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, October 1, 2023, pp. 1G, 8G. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/oct/01/scale-of-damage-additional-extreme-weather/ (accessed October 2, 2023).

Hennigan, Mary. “Seven Months Later: Little Rock’s Long Road to Recovery from a Devastating Tornado.” Arkansas Times, November 2023, pp. 28–29. Online at https://arktimes.com/news/2023/11/03/seven-months-later-little-rocks-long-road-to-recovery-from-a-devastating-tornado (accessed November 3, 2023).

———. “A Year of Recovery: Little Rock Is Still Picking up the Pieces from the March 2023 Tornado.” Arkansas Times, March 30, 2024. https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/30/a-year-of-recovery-little-rock-is-still-picking-up-the-pieces-from-the-march-2023-tornado (accessed March 30, 2024).

Holt, Tony. “Twister-Struck School Gets Temporary Home.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, September 6, 2023, pp. 1A, 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/sep/06/classes-start-in-wynne-at-temporary-replacement/ (accessed September 6, 2023).

Howell, Cynthia. “County’s Schools Pressing Forward.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 4, 2023, pp. 1B, 3B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/04/pulaski-county-school-districts-moving-toward/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Lancaster, Grant. “LR Picks up Pieces after Tornado.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 2, 2023, p. 10A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/01/little-rock-picks-up-pieces-after-tornado/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Lancaster, Grant, and Daniel McFadin. “Storm Winds Cause Damage in LR Area, Leave 15,000 in Dark.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, September 7, 2023, p. 2B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/sep/07/storm-winds-cause-damage-in-lr-area-leave-15000/ (accessed September 7, 2023).

Lancaster, Grant, Paige Eichkorn, and Bill Bowden. “Killer Winds Rip State.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 1, 2023, pp. 1A, 6A, 7A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/01/three-dead-dozens-injured-after-tornados-roar/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Langhorne, Will. “Governor Aims to Speed Housing to Storm Victims.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 21, 2023, pp. 1B, 8B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/21/sanders-issues-executive-order-aiming-to-speed/ (accessed June 21, 2023).

———. “Sanders Signs Two Orders for Tornado Relief.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 11, 2023, pp. 1B, 3B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/11/sanders-signs-two-executive-orders-intended-to/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Lockwood, Frank E. “Tornado-Damaged Churches Carry on Services.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 8, 2023, pp. 4B, 5B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/08/arkansas-churches-not-spared-from-storm-damage/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Upon this Rock.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 10, 2023, pp. 4B, 5B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/10/recovery-continues-for-central-arkansas-churches/ (accessed June 12, 2023).

Ly, My. “Post-Tornado Disparities Told in Tale of Three Cities.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 30, 2024, pp. 1A. 7A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/30/post-tornado-disparities-told-in-tale-of-three-cities/ (accessed March 30, 2024).

Lynch, John. “Tragedy Strikes Residents of NLR’s Sonora Drive.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 2, 2023, p. 11A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/01/tragedy-strikes-residents-of-north-little-rocks-sonora-drive/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

McFadin, Daniel. “NLR Tornado Recovery Continues to Progress.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, October 2, 2023, pp. 1A, 12A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/oct/01/six-months-later-nlr-continues-to-dig-its-way-out/ (accessed October 2, 2023).

———. “Storm-Hit Wynne Sizes up Losses.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 2, 2023, pp. 1A, 11A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/01/storm-hit-wynne-sizes-up-its-losses/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Twister Cleanup Continues in LR.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 9, 2023, pp. 1B, 4B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/09/volunteers-donations-aid-effort-as-cleanup-in/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Twister-Hit School Digs Way Back to Normal.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 29, 2024, pp. 1A, 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/29/twister-hit-school-digs-way-back-to-normal/ (accessed March 29, 2024).

———. “Wynne Pastor Recalls What’s Lost and What Remains.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 29, 2024, p. 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/29/wynne-pastor-recalls-whats-lost-and-what-remains/ (accessed March 29, 2024).

Miller, Remington. “Storms Stir Worry over Mental Health.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 11, 2023, pp. 1B, 6B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/11/storms-stir-worry-over-mental-health/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Moreau, Andrew. “Area Economy Takes Storm in Stride.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 1, 2023, pp. 1D, 4D. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/01/area-economy-takes-storm-in-stride/ (accessed June 1, 2023).

Moritz, Gwen, McKenna Oxenden, Livia Albeck-Ripka, and Mike Ives. “At Least 32 Killed as Tornadoes Tear through the Midwest and South.” New York Times, March 31, 2023. Online at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/us/midwest-storms-flood-weather.html (accessed May 30, 2023).

Savage, Ashley, and Dale Ellis. “Cities Look Ahead to Recovery.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 3, 2023, pp. 1A, 6A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/03/sunday-was-day-to-look-ahead-to-recovery-from/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Snyder, Josh. “Aid Applicants to Get FEMA Status Letters.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 14, 2023, pp. 1B, 3B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/14/fema-applicants-to-get-status-letter-as-arkansans/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Daunting Task ahead for Wynne.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 8, 2023, pp. 1B, 8B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/08/wynne-officials-consider-citys-future-after-week/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Governor Asks U.S. for Month of Recovery Costs.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 5, 2023, pp. 1A, 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/05/sanders-asks-for-100-federal-cost-share-for/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Housing Still a Priority in Wynne.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 26, 2023, pp. 1A, 2A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/26/wynnes-civic-community-leaders-grapple-with/ (accessed June 26, 2023).

———. “LR Firefighters Recall Station’s Tornado Destruction.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 4, 2023, p. 7A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/04/firefighters-recount-tornado-destruction-at/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Replanting Trees Goal of Program.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, February 26, 2024, pp. 1A, 3A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/feb/26/naturalist-group-utility-working-to-aid-tornado/ (accessed February 26, 2024).

———. “Slow Tornado Cleanup Vexes LR.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 31, 2024, pp. 1A, 10A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/mar/31/city-officials-and-residents-proud-of-rebuilding/ (accessed March 31, 2024).

———. “Storm-Aid’s Givers Still Facing Winds of Change.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 15, 2023, pp. 1A, 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/15/aid-groups-in-arkansas-adapted-to-tornado/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

———. “Temporary Campus to Be Built in Wynne.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 18, 2023, pp. 1B, 5B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/18/wynne-high-schools-new-temporary-campus-to-be/ (accessed June 20, 2023).

———. “Wynne Newspaper on Hold after Tornado.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, August 14, 2023, pp. 1A, 2A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/aug/14/wynnes-local-paper-temporarily-closed-after/ (accessed August 14, 2023).

Snyder, Josh, and Bill Bowen. “Cleanup Proceeds amid Weather Threats.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 6, 2023, pp. 1B, 2B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/06/governor-cleanup-recovery-crews-continue-work/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Snyder, Josh, and Daniel McFadin. “120 Homes Destroyed in State Tornado Tally.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 7, 2023, pp. 1A, 5A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/07/agency-director-recounts-timeline-of-disaster/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Thomas, Alex. “FEMA Assisting with Storm Aid.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 4, 2023, pp. 1A, 7A. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/apr/04/fema-assisting-with-storm-aid/ (accessed May 30, 2023).

Waldon, George. “Storm-Hit Retail Sites Plan Ahead.” Arkansas Business, April 17–23, 2023, pp. 1, 8.

Zakrzewski, Katie. “One Year Later: Wynne Still Recovering from Tornado.” Arkansas Catholic, April 17, 2024. https://www.arkansas-catholic.org/news/article/8239/One-year-later-Wynne-still-recovering-from-tornado (accessed April 18, 2024).

Staff of the CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas