UPDATE: The National Weather Service confirms a tornado struck in northern Arkansas Friday evening around 8:45. An EF-1 Tornado hit about two miles west Gamaliel Landing in Baxter County. That is northeast of Mountain Home. Assessment teams estimate wind speed at 85-110 miles-per-hour. It lasted about a half mile. The damage path had a width of about 150 yards. The storm snapped or uprooted several trees. It also did minor damage to a church, to a garage and outbuildings.
As strong storms moved throughout the listening area Friday night, some confirmed tornados and straight-line winds did some extensive damage in some areas with one of those areas being Mtn Home. The ASU Campus, Medical Center and Rehab Center received damages with the Rehab Center being the worst hit. All residents were evacuated and no injuries were reported. The center was extensively damaged. Around 900 residents in the Mtn Home were without power from downed power lines. Other hard hit area was in and around the Gamaliel and Mallard Point areas. It was determined by the National WX Service that straight line winds up to 90 mph caused the damages in the Mtn Home area. According to the NWS two tornados hit some rural areas of Wright County in southern MO, the first was sighted about 7 pm near Macomb and was estimated to be about 100 yds wide. It was designated as and EF-2 which damaged one home and several outbuildings also uprooting and snapping trees. About 30 minutes after, another weaker tornado touched down near Dawson, officials there reported damage to some outbuildings and trees. Fortunately no injuries were reported in either instance. An EF-2 tornado was also reported in the Norwood area around 8 pm. NWS stated that this one was about the width of a football field and stayed on the ground for more than 8 miles. One home in Norwood was completely destroyed, the homeowners Jack and Judy Chadwell were not home when the tornado hit and they are thankful for that. The Chadwells lost virtually every personal possession.