A series of tornadoes wreaked havoc in the Southwest over the weekend, causing destruction in an Arkansas community that had already faced damages from a twister last year.
In late May 2024, several homes in Paragould, Ark., were almost destroyed after an EF-1 tornado touched down nearby. An EF-1 tornado is categorized as the weakest on the Enhanced Fujita scale used to measure tornado intensity.
Over the weekend, one of the 52 tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service struck Paragould, hitting the same street and causing devastation — including a home that had its roof damaged less than a year earlier, leaving it and neighboring houses in ruins.
The tornado in Paragould over the weekend was classified as an EF-2, with winds reaching up to 135 mph, according to the NWS. It caused damage to around 160 homes in the town, although the city fared better compared to other parts of Arkansas.
An EF-3 tornado near Plantersville, Ala., brought winds up to 165 mph. Additionally, two EF-4 tornadoes hit northern Arkansas with winds reaching a staggering 200 mph.
The most recent EF-4 tornado reported in the United States occurred in Greenfield, Iowa, last May.
At least 33 people lost their lives in the series of storms that swept across the country. As communities begin the process of rebuilding, survivors are recounting their harrowing experiences during the severe weather events.
In Missouri, 13 individuals were rescued from the remains of a Burger King restroom after seeking shelter there during an EF-2 tornado. Despite the tornado causing damage to an employee’s car and overturning five semi-trucks outside the fast-food establishment, miraculously, none of the individuals inside were injured.
