The National Weather Service office in Memphis rated Saturday’s tornado in Jonesboro, Arkansas as an EF-3, with estimated maximum winds of 140 mph.
The rating is preliminary and may be revised over the next few days.
This large, damaging tornado produced significant amounts of damage across the city, but miraculously, no fatalities were recorded despite the tornado touching down right in the middle of the city. Twenty-two injuries were reported from the tornado, and two of those required hospitalization.
Medical director @DrSpeightsDO announced that 22 people have been treated for non-life threatening injuries. 2 are in the hospital. Number of injuries may increase. No fatalities in #JonesboroTornado.
— The Jonesboro Sun (@TheSunJonesboro) March 29, 2020
Here’s a look at the tornado itself as it moved through Jonesboro:
Severe storms spawned several #tornadoes across the Midwest & southern plain on Saturday. Here are a few notable tornadoes & funnel clouds that occurred….#ARwx #ILwx #IAwx pic.twitter.com/1CxMBuSE6j
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) March 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1244098453610942464?s=20
And the damage it caused:
Our hearts ❤️ go out to those impacted by the #JonesboroTornado. We'll have continuing coverage on @WeatherNation. pic.twitter.com/HNAzWSAswi
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) March 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1244282828247814145?s=20
Based on data from the Tornado History Project, this was the strongest tornado to hit Jonesboro since 1997, when an F-3 (on the old Fujita Scale) went through the city.
For more on the Jonesboro tornado, read this from Saturday. For more on how tornadoes are rated, meteorologist Shelly Lindblade has more here.
For more on the severe weather threat over the next few days, here’s more as well. Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on the severe weather forecast and throughout severe weather season.