Search:

LITTLE ROCK—Meteorologists say at least three tornadoes swept the state in a deadly blitz Friday, killing seven and damaging hundreds of homes.

The National Weather Service has confirmed three tornadoes: one in Conway, Van Buren and Cleburne counties, and two others in Crittenden and Mississippi counties in east Arkansas.

The National Weather Service says meteorologists will conduct an aerial survey Monday to determine whether it was a single tornado or several twisters that swept through north Arkansas.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in North Little Rock have classified that twister as an E-F3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale that measures tornado severity. That means the twister had winds between 136 and 165 mph.

Meteorologists say the storm began near Birdtown in Conway County and continued through Van Buren and Cleburne counties, ending northwest of Drasco. But meteorologists say the storm’s path made several odd jogs, which sometimes indicate the end of one tornado and the beginning of another. If it’s confirmed as a single tornado, the storm’s path was 45 miles long, according to meteorologists.

Meteorologists in Memphis, Tenn., say an E-F3 tornado struck Crittenden County, and an E-F2 hit Mississippi County.

The Crittenden County twister began southwest of Earle and traveled 12 miles and ended just west of the Mississippi River, forecasters said. It had a maximum path width of 400 yards, and destroyed a high school, a church and several homes. The community of Heafer was also hit by the twister.

The Mississippi County tornado began south of Etowah and continued four miles to near Carrolls Corner, meteorologists said. The twister had winds of about 130 mph and it damaged several homes and mobile homes, the Weather Service said.