The March 1, 1997 tornado
F4Mississippi County, Arkansas
An F4 tornado on a 20.0-mile path. It was one of 56 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 18 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Watch how it happened Part of the outbreak of March 1, 1997: 56 tornadoes in 5 statesF4 tornado · March 1, 1997
How it happened
Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.
The tornado
- Rating
- F4
- Fujita scale
- Path length
- 20.0 mi
- Width up to 200 yards
- Killed
- 0
- Along the whole path
- Injured
- 0
- Along the whole path
- Date and time
- Saturday, March 1, 1997
- 6:20 PM CST
The National Weather Service account
Written by the local Weather Service office after its damage survey.
The storm system that day
A tornado developed in Mississippi county Arkansas near the town of Lennie. Three mobile homes were damaged or destroyed and a cotton trailer was over turned. The tornado touched down again in Dyer county in Tennessee. The most severe damage with the tornado occurred in Dyer county. A thirteen-year-old girl was killed at her home which was destroyed by the tornado in the town of Finley. One hundred ninety building were damaged or destroyed in Dyer county including Dyer County High School. The tornado then continued into Gibson county where eight homes were damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down as well.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
Counties on its path
Other notable tornadoes that day
- F4, Clark County6 killed
- F4, Hot Spring County24 mi
- F4, Saline County10 killed
- F4, Pulaski County5 killed
- F4, Dyer County1 killed
- F4, Gibson County10 mi
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.