Storm system impacts local area as well

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

— The weather system that spawned the tornado which devastated Joplin, Mo. and which, at last count, took the lives of at least 116 persons in that city had quite an impact on northwest Benton County.

The storm system, which struck Joplin before 6 p.m. Sunday evening, was also responsible for numerous tornado warnings to the towns and rural areas served by the Westside Eagle Observer.

Fortunately, no major problems occurred from the Missouri state line south along Highway 59 through Gentry, but residents were kept on edge by repeated warnings which were phoned through the county’s warning system.

At least three calls were received by most residents and sirens in Sulphur Springs, Gravette, Decatur and Gentry were sounded numerous times.

Lightning displays were prevalent and wind gusts caused some tree and isolated roof damage.

Heavy rainfall that continued throughout the area through Monday evening filled Spavinaw, Butler, Flint and other creeks to bank-full. Runoff on county roads resulted in several low-water sites being impassable for a time.

Heavy run-off damage to the roads and bridges which are still in the recovery stage from similar heavy downpours in April is still being assessed by the county road department.

Rainfall at the NOAA weather station in Gravette measured a total of 5.45 inches since the storm front first entered the area Sunday evening.This includes 1.52 inches which fell from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday. Greater amounts were reported in the region which greatly impacted the Illinois and White Rivers.

Although there were numerous tornado warnings, no verified reports of tornadoes were confirmed in Benton County. However, an apparent tornado destroyed a mobile home park west of Siloam Springs in Delaware County, Okla., resulting in several injuries. That storm cell was reported headed toward the Gentry area, causing much concern for residents there before the cell weakened.

The entire area was blanketed by heavy rain all day Monday. Although no tornado warnings were issued, weather forecasters were calling for major storm possibilities Tuesday afternoon and evening.

The storm at Joplin roared through that city of 50,000 from the west, traveled east across a major section of the city, destroying schools, businesses and homes. St. John’s Hospital bore the brunt of the halfmile wide tornado which was rated at 4 of a possible 5 in strength. Many persons were still unaccounted for and rescue and recovery work was continuing at the time the Eagle Observer went to press early Tuesday afternoon.

News, Pages 2 on 05/25/2011