On Sunday, the National Weather Service in North Little Rock sent out updated information about the tornado outbreak that struck the state in the early morning hours of May 26. They have now confirmed a second tornado hit Baxter County and they updated the path of the tornado that struck Fulton County. The weather service says the updates are based on additional public reports along with high resolution satellite and aerial imagery.
SECOND BAXTER COUNTY TORNADO:
The second Baxter County tornado is being called the “Sycamore Heights” tornado by the National Weather Service. It has been rated an EF2 with maximum speeds of 115 miles-per-hour. It had a path of 5.9 miles, starting four miles west of Salesville and ending four miles north, northeast of Salesville, and was 400 yards wide at its peak. No injuries were reported due to the Sycamore Heights Tornado.
This tornado developed near the end of Fallen Timber Lane west of Baxter County Road 69, moving east and crossing County Road 69 south of Maple Hollow Road. Several trees were either snapped or uprooted along this section of the path, but some light structural damage was noted as it crossed County Road 69, along with blowing down a fence.
As the tornado crossed Morton Creek, it turned towards the north then crossed Unger Trail, causing more tree damage and some minor structural damage. It was near this area where this tornado came in very close proximity to an adjacent, much larger tornado (the Briarcliff Tornado) just to the southeast near Arkansas Highway 5.
This tornado started to move just north of the Briarcliff Tornado as it crossed Highway 5, ripping a roof off a home consistent with EF-2 damage.
Lifting further north, the tornado crossed over some neighborhoods east of Highway 5 in northwest portions of Briarcliff, causing mainly tree damage and some minor structural damage.
At this point, the tornado began moving in a more northeast direction towards Sycamore Heights, then eventually lifting in the Sycamore Spring neighborhood.
The damage along the rest of this track was primarily uprooted or snapped trees.
This additional tornado was confirmed from satellite and high resolution areal imagery, also showing a distinction from the much larger Briarcliff named tornado just to the south.
.Sycamore Heights Tornado…
Rating: EF2
Estimated Peak Wind: 115 mph
Path Length /statute/: 5.9 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 400 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 05/26/2024
Start Time: 04:26 AM CDT
Start Location: 3 W Salesville / Baxter County / AR
Start Lat/Lon: 36.2521 / -92.3265
End Date: 05/26/2024
End Time: 04:36 AM CDT
End Location: 4 NNE Salesville / Baxter County / AR
End Lat/Lon: 36.299 / -92.2504
FULTON COUNTY TORNADO UPDATE:
The Fulton County Tornado, which is still rated an EF1 with maximum winds of 100 miles-per-hour, was originally believed to have a one mile path, but is now believed to have been on the ground for 10.5 miles. The weather service now says the tornado started seven miles north, northeast of Oxford and ended seven miles west, northwest of Cherokee Village. At its peak, the tornado was 500 yards wide.
The Fulton County Tornado began south of Whipporwill Road and east of Arkansas Highway 9, uprooting and snapping numerous trees. The tornado continued towards Fairview Road where it caused damage to a house and continued to uproot and snap trees.
The tornado then moved towards the northeast causing damage to a house on Young Road. The house had some siding and shingles ripped off in addition to damage to the cinderblock foundation.
The tornado continued towards the intersection of U.S. Highway 62/412 and Squirrel Hill Road, about 3 to 4 miles southeast of Salem, knocking down power poles and at least 50 trees.
The tornado continued northeast along Squirrel Hill Road downing numerous trees. One of these trees fell on a home causing damage to the roof.
The tornado continued to the northeast crossing Deer Bend Trail, River Hill Road, and Fernwood Road snapping and uprooting more trees.
The tornado lifted just south of French Town Road near the South Fork Spring River.
.Fulton County Tornado…
Rating: EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph
Path Length /statute/: 10.5 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 500 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 05/26/2024
Start Time: 05:03 AM CDT
Start Location: 7 NNE Oxford / Fulton County / AR
Start Lat/Lon: 36.312 / -91.8644
End Date: 05/26/2024
End Time: 05:18 AM CDT
End Location: 7 WNW Cherokee Village / Fulton County / AR
End Lat/Lon: 36.3561 / -91.6855
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