Atkins-Clinton Tornado Map
During the late afternoon and evening hours of February 5, 2008, a long-track and deadly EF4 tornado moved through central and northern Arkansas, impacting several towns and communities including Atkins, Clinton and Mountain View along a 122-mile (196 km) path. A total of 13 fatalities were recorded and 140 people were injured, making the tornado the deadliest in Arkansas since 1997, where another violent and deadly tornado impacted communities in central Arkansas and killed 15. The tornado was part of a larger tornado outbreak that took place during Super Tuesday 2008, and had the longest path of the outbreak.
The path of the Atkins-Clinton tornado
On the afternoon of Tuesday, February 5, 2008, a tornado touched down 5 miles north of Casa. Over the next 123.5 miles it traveled northeast, passing through Atkins, Clinton, Ash Flat and Highland, before lifting just south of Hardy.
At its widest the damage path was 1,320 yards (0.8 miles) across. It was rated EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, a violent tornado. It killed 13 people and injured 139.
The track, widths and figures on this map come from the Storm Prediction Center's survey record, so they can differ slightly from totals published elsewhere.
What was the Atkins-Clinton tornado?
The Atkins-Clinton tornado was a long-track EF4 storm that struck central and northern Arkansas on February 5, 2008. It formed as part of a larger Super Tuesday tornado outbreak. This violent event carved a 122-mile path across several counties and towns, including Atkins, Clinton, and Mountain View. The storm killed 13 people and stands as the deadliest tornado in Arkansas since 1997.
What was the Atkins-Clinton tornado wind speed?
The provided data does not explicitly state the maximum wind speed in miles per hour. National Weather Service survey teams determined the intensity by evaluating the structural damage caused along the track. Initially, teams assessed the damage as EF3, but they upgraded the tornado to EF4 on February 8. The storm maintained high-end EF3 to EF4 intensity while hitting homes, businesses, and infrastructure throughout its lifespan.
What was the Atkins-Clinton tornado path?
The tornado touched down at 4:49 pm in Yell County near County Loop Road 57. It moved 121.84 miles across Arkansas, crossing through Pope, Conway, Van Buren, Stone, Izard, and Sharp counties. The storm maintained a maximum width of 1320 yards during its trek. It finally dissipated 3.2 miles northeast of Highland after remaining on the ground for 127 minutes.
How many people died in the Atkins-Clinton tornado?
The Atkins-Clinton tornado caused 13 fatalities and left 140 people injured. Five people died in the Atkins area, three died in the vicinity of Clinton, and the remaining deaths occurred across other impacted counties. Emergency responders transported many injured victims to local facilities, including the Conway Regional Medical Center. This death toll makes it the deadliest tornado event in Arkansas since 1997.
What did the Atkins-Clinton tornado destroy?
The tornado destroyed numerous homes, businesses, and public facilities throughout its long path. In Atkins, it leveled houses, flipped tractor-trailers on Interstate 40, and damaged the Union Grove Freewill Baptist Church. It collapsed a boat factory in Clinton and damaged the Van Buren Health Unit. In Mountain View, the storm destroyed a car dealership and deroofed the Stone County Medical Center, while in Highland, it decimated several schools, churches, and businesses.
What caused the Atkins-Clinton tornado?
A large upper-level trough moving across the United States triggered the Super Tuesday tornado outbreak. The Storm Prediction Center identified the threat days in advance, noting remarkable agreement between forecast models regarding the major features. By February 5, a high-risk area covered much of Arkansas as the atmosphere destabilized. The NWS noted that long-lived supercells possessed the potential to produce strong tornadoes throughout the evening hours.
What happened after the Atkins-Clinton tornado?
President George W. Bush declared a major disaster in Arkansas on February 6, 2008. Representative John Boozman toured the damage in Atkins and advocated for the delivery of FEMA trailers for displaced residents. Local and state officials oversaw debris removal and recovery efforts in towns like Clinton, where cleanup continued weeks later. Survey teams from the Little Rock National Weather Service office conducted extensive aerial and ground assessments to quantify the damage.
