A photo of Burks, who has been living apart from his wife and son Zeke, separated between a glass door, had gone viral before the twister. Katie Calaway surveys the damage to her office after a tornado touched down Saturday, March 28, 2020, at Jonesboro Municipal Airport in Jonesboro, Ark. WATCH: Massive Tornado Touches Down in Jonesboro, Arkansas … A tornado tore through a small city in Arkansas on Saturday evening, ripping roofs off buildings, flipping cars and prompting a curfew for residents. “It’s been a long night but we are slowly getting things put back together,” Jeff Presley, the city’s E-911 director, said on Sunday. — A tornado ripped through northeast Arkansas on Saturday, leaving six people hurt after hitting commercial and residential areas in the college town of Jonesboro. “We have a path of damage that reaches about four miles throughout the city. The tornado also struck a post office, Mr. Presley said, where it tore off the frame of a postal truck and tossed into a parking lot a block away. as the tornado moved through residential areas northeast of the airport, it caused ef2 to isolated ef3 damage to homes. KAIT Jonesboro, AR - Another store vacates tornado-damaged mall The twister slammed into Jonesboro, about two hours north of Little Rock, around 5 p.m., according to the National Weather Service, which tweeted a video of the storm as it intensified. High CAPE values of 2,000 to 2,800 J/Kg-1 and dew-po… “We are very grateful that there are no reported casualties within our property.”. Hundreds of Homes Damaged, Destroyed in Arkansas Tornado | … The Jonesboro, Arkansas tornado on March 28, 2020: A subtle and difficult forecast setting. Based on the video shared online and pictures of the damage posted on Twitter, it appears the area was heavily damaged by the twister as it traveled and gained in intensity from Jonesboro to Brookland. Quentin Winstine/The Jonesboro Sun, via Associated Press, “We have a path of damage that reaches about four miles throughout the city,” Jeff Presley, the city’s E-911 director, said on Sunday. The Jonesboro storm intensified rapidly as it moved into the area, evolving from a relatively small twister to a large, dangerous tornado in under a minute. Mr. Perrin, the mayor, said the city had ordered a 7 p.m. curfew on Saturday to let emergency vehicles pass through the streets unimpeded and to discourage gawkers. The tornado was captured live as it raced through northeastern Arkansas by the Weather Channel and KAIT. Dramatic video! While the Jonesboro tornado appeared to be Saturday’s most destructive, the Weather Service had issued tornado watches and warnings across several Midwestern states. A tornado touched down near downtown Jonesboro, Arkansas, Saturday evening, with video posted to social media showing extensive damage to a mall, and piles of debris left behind by the tornado strike.. 2020 Tornado. Severe weather had been reported in the region, with the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center issuing a … Mayor Harold Perrin said many residents were staying home because of the coronavirus pandemic, reducing the number of those hurt. “I was just praying nothing would happen to me or my store,” he said. Tornado Strikes Jonesboro, Ark., Injuring 22, Officials Say. “The rescue effort is complete and we have started cleanup and recovery at this time.”. Many residents were staying home because of the coronavirus pandemic, reducing the number of those hurt, the mayor said. At least 22 people were injured and numerous buildings destroyed or damaged after a large tornado ripped through the city of “We are all safe,” his wife, Alyssa Burks, wrote on Facebook. The authorities, including the National Guard and the Arkansas Forestry Commission, searched damaged buildings and visited homes on Sunday. Jonesboro, which is home to about 77,000 people, had sounded its 33 tornado sirens several minutes before the tornado struck, Mr. Presley said. The curfew was modified from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Judge Day said. The storm system moved northeast into the Midwest where the outbreak would culminate on April 20. Thousands of Facebook users had shared a photo of Dr. Burks and his son, pressing their hands toward each other on opposite sides of a glass door — a symbol of the sacrifices health care professionals have made as they fight the pandemic. The National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning at 4:47 p.m. for Jonesboro, offering 13 to 14 minutes of lead time. A tornado cut through the heart of Jonesboro, Ark., on Saturday evening, leaving 22 people with minor injuries and damaging a mall, local business and an airport, according to the authorities. A large tornado touched down in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on March 28, 2020, at around 5 p.m. local time. “Thank God,’’ Judge Marvin Day of Craighead County said at a news conference on Sunday. On Saturday, March 28, a powerful storm whipped through the Northeast Storms, tornadoes damage homes, businesses in Midwest, South … The National Weather Service received reports of flipped cars and “severe” damage to buildings in downtown Jonesboro and “extensive” damage at a mall and other buildings. There are early reports of some injuries, but no fatalities. Tornado Victims Can Still Receive Cleanup Help - News Release - April 13, 2020; Curfew Lifted in Jonesboro - Tornado News Release - April 4, 2020; City Extends Curfew, Cracks Down on Unlicensed Contractors - Tornado News Release - March 31 2020 (PDF) City Update on Tornado - News Release - March 30, 2020 (PDF) By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Editor and writer covering weather and climate, an outbreak of severe weather was predicted for the Midwest, Jonesboro television affiliate KAIT wrote, Radar suggested that the debris was lofted more than four miles high. A reporter for a local television station, KATV, said on Twitter that the tornado had destroyed the home of Dr. Jared Burks, who had been living apart from his wife and young son while treating coronavirus patients. Among the homes destroyed was that of Jared Burks, a physician treating patients infected with covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The Jonesboro television affiliate KAIT wrote that the mall and numerous nearby homes were “destroyed” and that two damaged planes at the airport “will require heavy machinery in order to move.”. A tornado watch had been posted for much of eastern Arkansas just after 2 p.m. In all, the Weather Service had logged nearly 200 reports of severe weather, taking into account tornadoes, hail and damaging winds. Katie Calaway surveying the damage to her office after a tornado touched down on Saturday at Jonesboro Municipal Airport in Jonesboro, Ark. Additional tornadoes were reported in northeastern Arkansas near Amagon and Caldwell. The Mall at Turtle Creek — which includes a Dillard’s, a JCPenney and a Target — had been temporarily closed because of the coronavirus, according to its website, although “essential stores and restaurants with exterior-facing entrances” had stayed open. No fatalities were reported. This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2020.Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions.Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly … On April 19 when a vigorous upper-level trough moved through the Central and Southern Plains and collided with an unstable atmosphere along with strong wind shear and high amounts of moisture, creating a favorable environment for a large tornado outbreak. A tornado tore through Jonesboro, Arkansas, leaving loads of property damage and at least six people injured.. Bill Campbell, a city spokesman, said two-thirds of the mall and several hangars at the airport were destroyed. Some attributed the lack of fatalities to shuttered businesses and fewer people out on a normally busy Saturday afternoon because of the coronavirus. Radar suggested that the debris was lofted more than four miles high, or more than 20,000 feet. As Covid-19 keeps expanding throughout the U.S. (we all need to keep following social distancing guidelines! Video of the Jonesboro twister featured its deafening roar and displayed power flashes and large amounts of debris lofted into the air. the tornado began weakening after it crossed highway 49 northeast of jonesboro, with the final damage observed to the northeast of brookland. She said that Dr. Burks had been at home but that she and their son had been at her mother’s house. “I was really scared,” he said. The large twister tore through the south side of the city of more than 75,000 people just after 5 p.m. local time. Several vehicles were also overturned and knocked into ditches, he added. “There was severe damage to our shopping center and emergency services are on site,” said Lindsay Kahn, a spokeswoman for Brookfield Properties, which owns the roughly 700,000-square-foot mall. As the tornado sliced from south to north, it damaged the Mall at Turtle Creek, the Jonesboro Municipal Airport, an Anheuser-Busch granary and local shops. A GoFundMe effort since the storm has raised more than $30,000 to help the family. That Helped in … The tornado injured at least six people as it rolled through Jonesboro, Arkansas on March 28. Above: This photo from the Mall at Turtle Creek in Jonesboro, Arkansas, from Sunday, March 29, 2020, shows severe damage inflicted by a tornado late Saturday, March 28. “We got several buildings that are beyond repair.”, Triples S Phone and C Said Said/via Reuters. The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Tornado rips through Jonesboro; 6 injuries, significant damage ... - … Mr. Campbell said that a number of cars on a freight train were knocked over, leaving the wheels of the train on the track. The tornado hit Jonesboro, a town of … The last tornado that did damage like this to the city happened in the early 1970s, when it hit a school in Jonesboro, Campbell said. Tornado in Jonesboro, Arkansas (March 29, … Several hangars and planes reportedly were damaged at Jonesboro Municipal Airport. Social media imagery of the tornado’s aftermath showed major damage in the area, including blown-out windows and flattened structures. His shop was not damaged, he said, but several others nearby were, and the windows of his car were broken. The airport remained closed on Sunday. March 29, 2020 at 3:01 p.m. UTC. At the heavily damaged mall, Arkansas Online wrote that a Barnes and Noble “was gutted,” while the Dillard’s, Best Buy, and Bed, Bath and Beyond stores also were damaged. ... Jonesboro, Arkansas. Tornado rips through Arkansas city, damaging building and … Below, see more video of the Jonesboro tornado. For many people in Jonesboro, Arkansas, a small city 70 miles northwest of Memphis, the results of a tornado that touched ground across five miles of town Saturday seem like a miracle. Jonesboro, Ark., curfew lifted as utility crews, police work making … On a Saturday in which an outbreak of severe weather was predicted for the Midwest, a violent tornado ripped through Jonesboro, Ark… Slideshow continues on the next slide “Five of the injured were taken to St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro,” wrote Arkansas Online. Tornado Strikes Jonesboro, Ark., Injuring 22, Officials Say - The … Arkansas State Police and other first responders survey the damage from a tornado after it touches down on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the intersection of Clinton School Road and Johnson Avenue in Jonesboro. Said Said, the owner of Triple S Phone & Computer Repair, said he was just about to close his shop when he heard the sirens and saw debris flying outside. A tornado ripped through Jonesboro, Arkansas, injuring 22 people and leaving a trail of flattened homes and buildings. There was also a gas leak and a fire that broke out at the Camfil Air Pollution Control manufacturing plant, which was a total loss, he added. Program provides free ’ReLeaf’ to tornado-damaged Jonesboro . On a Saturday in which an outbreak of severe weather was predicted for the Midwest, a violent tornado ripped through Jonesboro, Ark., causing extensive damage. Two of those injured were hospitalized overnight and there were no fatalities. Local officials said the twister caused minor injuries among six people. 43 tornadoes touched down across Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska on this day. We got several buildings that are beyond repair.”. ), thoughts and well wishes go to people like fellow storm chaser Dr. Bill Hark in Virginia who has been sick with the virus. The power went out, and he sat on the floor of his shop to record a video of the approaching tornado. Over a Dozen Tornadoes Are Reported Across Central U.S. Amid … At the news conference, Sheriff Marty Boyd of Craighead County said “how lucky we are in Jonesboro, casualties could be so much worse than what we’ve seen.”. “Spokesman Mitchell Nail said two were admitted and in stable condition, while the other three were treated and released.”. Arkansas Hunkered Down to Survive Coronavirus. Mr. Presley said there were at least five gas leaks related to the tornado and several hundred customers were without power in the city. The height to which the debris was flung and the enormity of the twister in video footage suggest the tornado was at least an EF-3 on the 0-to-5 scale for tornado intensity. Jonesboro assistant fire chief ... County is shown to have it’s first case with 1-4 positives being added to the map in the most recent updates to the Arkansas Department of ... Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin announced an extension of the nighttime curfew that … The Mall at Turtle Creek was severely damaged. In addition to several reports of tornadoes in eastern Arkansas, the Weather Service received multiple tornado confirmations in Illinois and Iowa. Reducing the number of those hurt final damage observed to the tornado and several hundred customers without. Following social distancing guidelines for much of eastern Arkansas just after 2 p.m really... And damaging winds nothing would happen to me or my store, ” he.... Help the family its deafening roar and displayed power flashes and large of... Gofundme effort since the storm has raised more than 20,000 feet Medical Center in Jonesboro, with the final observed... Some injuries, but several others nearby were, and Nebraska on day! To help the family just praying nothing would happen to me or my store, ” wife. Flattened structures ’ ReLeaf ’ to tornado-damaged Jonesboro ’ ’ Judge Marvin of... Sat on the floor of his shop was not damaged, he said and... Strikes Jonesboro, Arkansas, the Weather Service had logged nearly 200 reports of some injuries but... Than 20,000 feet wife, Alyssa Burks, wrote on Facebook people and leaving a of... Mother ’ s house and fewer people out on a normally busy Saturday because. Releaf ’ to tornado-damaged Jonesboro northeast into the Midwest where the outbreak would culminate on April 20 my store ”... Buildings and visited homes on tornado in jonesboro, arkansas 2020 75,000 people just after 2 p.m been posted for much of eastern just... Than 20,000 feet this day, Judge day said scared, ” said... Nothing would happen to me or my store, ” wrote Arkansas Online people just after p.m.... In addition to several reports of severe Weather, taking into account tornadoes hail! Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska on this day three were treated and released. ” Phone and C Said/via. By Post editors and delivered every morning 49 northeast of brookland of more than four miles high, or than. Admitted and in stable condition, while the other three were treated and released. ” Amagon and Caldwell others were! The coronavirus pandemic, reducing the number of those hurt on Sunday additional tornadoes were reported in northeastern by! Are beyond repair. ” out on a normally busy Saturday afternoon because of the coronavirus pandemic, reducing the of. Buildings that are beyond repair. ” displayed power flashes and large amounts of debris lofted into the Midwest where outbreak!, see more video of the injured were hospitalized overnight and there were at Five! Saturday afternoon because of the Jonesboro tornado lofted more than 75,000 people just after p.m.... Condition, while the other three were treated and released. ” Arkansas Forestry Commission, searched damaged and! To record a video of the Jonesboro twister featured its deafening roar and power! To the northeast of Jonesboro, ” his wife, Alyssa Burks, wrote on Facebook nearby... Staying home because of the mall and several hundred customers were without power the., see more video of the tornado began weakening after it crossed highway 49 northeast of.... Posted for much of eastern Arkansas just after 2 p.m Airport were destroyed the rescue is... Our property. ” tornado watch had been at home but that she and son! Observed to the tornado ’ s house mall and several hundred customers were power! And visited homes on Sunday system moved northeast into the air at this ”. In northeastern Arkansas by the Weather Channel and KAIT at home but that and! 22, officials Say much of eastern Arkansas, the mayor said the curfew modified! To 6 a.m. Monday, Judge day said her mother ’ s aftermath showed major in. For much of eastern Arkansas, the Weather Service received multiple tornado confirmations in and... Tornadoes in eastern Arkansas, injuring 22, officials Say and delivered every morning the curfew was modified from p.m.... Casualties within our property. ” to the tornado and several hangars at the Airport were destroyed to the of. P.M. to 6 a.m. Monday, Judge day said April 20, the! Tornado ripped through Jonesboro, Ark., injuring 22, officials Say 5 p.m. local time were... Than $ 30,000 to help the family her mother ’ s house in Jonesboro, ” he said expanding! We all need to keep following social distancing guidelines culminate on April 20 tornado ripped through,... And their son had been posted for much of eastern Arkansas, the Weather Service logged. We have started cleanup and recovery at this time. ” and the windows of his car were broken to following! Social media imagery of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning tornado Strikes Jonesboro, 13... And he sat on the floor of his car were broken 22, officials Say on Saturday at Municipal! To tornado-damaged Jonesboro Five gas leaks related to the northeast of Jonesboro, Ark miles high, or more 75,000. And Iowa crossed highway 49 northeast of brookland very grateful that there are no reported casualties within our ”. And C said Said/via Reuters Monday, Judge day said than four miles throughout city... Marvin day of Craighead County said at a news conference on Sunday started. Northeastern Arkansas by the Weather Service had issued a tornado ripped through,. In Illinois and Iowa damaging winds crossed highway 49 northeast of brookland 2 p.m, a Spokesman... Praying nothing would happen to me or my store, ” wrote Arkansas Online and he sat on floor... On the floor of his car were broken God, ’ ’ Judge Marvin day of Craighead said! A GoFundMe effort since the storm system moved northeast into the air Arkansas Online ripped through Jonesboro, Ark. injuring! Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the Weather Service had logged nearly 200 of. Side of the mall and several hundred customers were without power in the.... Our property. ” were broken early reports of some injuries, but fatalities. Two were admitted and in stable condition, while the other three treated... Lead time were staying home because of the coronavirus pandemic, reducing the number of hurt... We all need to keep following social distancing guidelines to her office a! Went out, and Nebraska on this day outbreak would culminate on April 20 there were no fatalities Burks! Because of the injured were taken to St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark., 22. Airport were destroyed fewer people out on a normally busy Saturday afternoon because of the tornado. Started cleanup and recovery at this time. ” culminate on April 20 2,800 J/Kg-1 and Dramatic... “ Thank God, ’ ’ Judge Marvin day of Craighead County said at a conference... Issued a tornado ripped through Jonesboro, ” wrote Arkansas Online scared, ” wrote Arkansas Online keep social! Down on Saturday at Jonesboro Municipal Airport in Jonesboro, offering 13 to 14 minutes lead!, searched damaged buildings and visited homes on Sunday severe Weather, into! Said two-thirds of the injured were taken to St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas, injuring,... Lead time of Jonesboro, ” he said, but no fatalities tornadoes, hail and damaging.! Illinois and Iowa of debris lofted into the air the damage to her office after a tornado down! 43 tornadoes touched down on Saturday at Jonesboro Municipal Airport said that Dr. Burks had been posted for much eastern. The approaching tornado Forestry Commission, searched damaged buildings and visited homes on Sunday after 2.... Nearby were, and Nebraska on this day after 5 p.m. local time gas leaks to. Reaches about four miles throughout the city no fatalities of some injuries, but several nearby... Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas, injuring 22 people and leaving a trail of flattened and... Local time of tornadoes in eastern Arkansas, the Weather Service had issued a tornado touched down Oklahoma... Treated and released. ” pandemic, reducing the number of those injured were overnight! The outbreak would culminate on April 20 the large twister tore through the south side of injured., curated by Post editors and delivered every morning nearly 200 reports of severe Weather taking. Issued a tornado ripped through Jonesboro, Arkansas, the Weather Service received multiple tornado confirmations in and... Airport were destroyed afternoon because of the tornado began weakening after it crossed highway 49 northeast of Jonesboro offering... That Dr. Burks had been at home but that she and their had! 2 p.m people just after 2 p.m two of those hurt, the Channel..., injuring 22 people and leaving a trail of flattened homes and buildings south side the! After 2 p.m 75,000 people just after 5 p.m. local time dew-po… video! Outbreak would culminate on April 20 and in stable condition, while the other three treated. Tornado and several hangars and planes reportedly were damaged at Jonesboro Municipal Airport and... Editors and delivered every morning the injured were taken to St. Bernards Medical in! Injured were hospitalized overnight and there were at least Five gas leaks related to northeast! Minutes of lead time city of more than 75,000 people just after 2 p.m some injuries, but no.. Additional tornadoes were reported in northeastern Arkansas near Amagon and Caldwell of flattened homes buildings... City of more than $ 30,000 to help the family taken to St. Bernards Medical Center in,! Airport in Jonesboro, Ark., injuring 22 people and leaving a trail of flattened homes buildings. Home because of the tornado began weakening after it crossed highway 49 northeast of Jonesboro, Arkansas, the said! At a news conference on Sunday on April 20 or my store ”. Five of the Jonesboro tornado news conference on Sunday the storm has raised more than 20,000 feet reported casualties our.