BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed at least seven tornadoes hit Benton County on Sunday, May 26 — two in Decatur, two in Centerton, one tornado in Rogers, one in War Eagle, and one in Clifty, which crossed over into Madison County.
NWS has been providing daily updated reports on how many tornadoes hit the Northwest Arkansas region over Memorial Day weekend. Although there are seven confirmed tornadoes in Benton County at the moment, there could be more confirmed tornadoes in the coming days.
Decatur tornadoes
Tornado 1
- Rating: EF-3
- Peak wind: 145-155 mph
- Path length: 7.9 miles
- Path width: 3,200 yards
According to NWS, the tornado began in Cherokee City, Okla., around 1 a.m. and ended in Decatur, Ark., around 1:20 a.m.
NWS said the tornado traveled 7.9 miles and was 3,200 yards wide with 145 to 154 mph winds.
"It damaged several homes, destroyed outbuildings, snapped and uprooted trees, and snapped power poles as it moved northeast into Arkansas, crossing near Welch Road [in Gentry]," the report said.
The tornado then moved into Decatur around Coon's Hollow Road and Carlton Drive, where homes were destroyed.
According to the report, the tornado remained stationary north of Highway 102, destroying more homes and uprooting more trees.
From there, NWS believes the tornado turned north-northeast and dissipated on Mount Zion Road.
NWS said this tornado caused at least two injuries. No fatalities were reported in this specific path.
Tornado 2
- Rating: EF-2
- Peak wind: 120-130 mph
- Path length: 5.4 miles
- Path width: 650 yards
This tornado began in Decatur south of Falling Springs Road at 1:06 a.m., causing extensive damage to trees, power poles, and homes through Iva Road
The tornado then turned east, then northeast as it approached Highway 59. NWS says this tornado damaged homes and storage buildings before moving northeast and dissipating after crossing Little John Road in Decatur at 1:20 a.m.
No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Centerton tornadoes
Tornado 3
- Rating: EF-1
- Peak wind: 90 to 100 mph
- Path length: 2.3 miles
- Path width: 600 yards
According to the NWS, this tornado developed west of N Tycoon Road in Centerton at 1:23 a.m. and moved northeast across Bush Road where it damaged roofs of homes and businesses and uprooted trees before ending at 1:28 a.m.
Tornado 4
- Rating: EF-2
- Peak wind: 115 to 125 mph
- Path length: 2.4 miles
- Path width: 1,500 yards
The second tornado in this area also ended in Centerton, developing over Paw Paw Hollow, just south of Byers Road at 1:24 a.m. It severely damaged one home in particular and damaged others, and snapped and uprooted trees, according to the NWS. It dissipated north of Bethlehem Road at 1:28 a.m.
Rogers tornado
Tornado 5
- Rating: EF-2
- Peak wind: 115 to 125 mph
- Path length: 7.4 miles
- Path width: 3000 yards
This tornado began at 1:46 a.m. in Bentonville on May 26, developing along SE Walton Boulevard, according to the National Weather Service. It quickly widened as it crossed Interstate-49 moving southeast, and continued to widen.
As it crossed South Dixieland Road and Highway 94, NWS said the tornado was over 1.5 miles wide. It moved northeast after crossing North Arkansas Street and dissipated in the hilly terrain east of Grambling Road.
"Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by this tornado, and thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted. Many power poles were snapped. There was extensive straight-line wind damage associated with the supercell's rear flank downdraft just to the south of the tornado, which extended for a couple miles in places. Damage in this zone was up to 80 to 100 mph, with many trees uprooted, and some were snapped," the NWS said.
War Eagle tornado
Tornado 6
- Rating: EF-1
- Peak wind: 100 to 110 mph
- Path length: 3.2 miles
- Path Width: 300 yards
The sixth tornado confirmed in Benton County on May 26 began at 2:10 a.m. one mile south of War Eagle along County Road 303, the National Weather Service said in a report.
Trees were uprooted and large trunks were snapped before the tornado moved northeast where it crossed Highway 12 and damaged a mobile home, downed power lines, and snapped and uprooted trees.
The NWS says the tornado then crossed Highway 127 where it continued to damage trees and properties before dissipating.
Clifty tornado
Tornado 7
Rating: EF-1
Peak wind: 100 to 110 mph
Path length: 8.9 miles
Path width: 500 yards
According to the National Weather Service, one of the tornadoes that touched down in Benton County on May 26 developed in the southeastern part of the county near Highway 12, where it uprooted and snapped trees. It then moved northeast into northern Madison County and crossed onto County Road 8315, where more trees were damaged.
The NWS said this tornado continued northeast and crossed Highway 127 north of Clifty, where powerlines and trees were damaged. It then crossed Highway 23 south of Carroll County before dissipating just east of the highway at about 2:29 a.m.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.