WESTSIDE -- Northwest Arkansas residents were caught completely off guard when a violent windstorm plowed through Benton and Washington counties July 23.
The storm was part of a front that moved south, bringing winds gusting to more than 75 miles per hour in Benton County.
The line of storms started in southwest Missouri. As it entered Northwest Arkansas, it formed what the National Weather Service calls a bow echo, or backwards C, prompting a significant weather warning for the area.
At Smith Field in Siloam Springs, a single-engine Cessna was flipped over and destroyed when winds pounded the airport.
A single-vehicle accident on Arkansas Highway 102, about five miles east of Decatur, ended in a rollover down a steep embankment. Debris in the road and high winds at the time may have been the cause of the accident. One person was in the sport utility vehicle at the time and walked away with only minor injuries.
A fallen tree in Decatur resulted in one apartment complex on North Main being without power for 30 minutes.
The wind was responsible for several major traffic jams on Arkansas Highway 12 from the regional airport to Gentry. Several tree limbs that overhung the highway near Springtown snapped under the violent wind gusts and fell across the road, blocking traffic for 45 minutes. A local farmer, using a large tractor, cleared the road. Traffic was backed up for four miles in either direction while the limbs were being removed.
A tree limb fell across a power line at a residence near the Highfill Police Department, sparking a minor fire. No damage to the home was reported
The storms continued south and eventually died out south of Fort Smith. The aftermath, however, was felt for several days as crews worked to clear debris left by the storm.
The windstorm served as a reminder that the region is still in the middle of severe weather season and having a plan in place in the event of a tornado or other severe weather can be of great benefit.
General News on 07/30/2014