February 5, 2026, marks 18 years since the long-track EF4 tornado that tore a violent path from Yell County to Sharp County. It was Super Tuesday, and Arkansans were voting in the Presidential primary. But severe weather was in the forecast. It would go down as a day that many Arkansans will never forget.
The Storm Prediction Center issued a rare High Risk (level 5 out of 5 risk) for parts of Arkansas.
Above-average temperatures for the time of year in Arkansas and a plume of moisture from the Gulf aided an approaching strong storm system. All ingredients needed for severe weather were present across the Natural State, and much of the Mid and Deep South. A risk of severe weather even carried up into the Midwest and Northeast, noting just how strong this storm system was.
Supercells ahead of a squall line spawned tornadoes in Arkansas. One tornado, specifically, the tornado spawned from the supercell distinguished with an arrow above, would cause a tremendous level of damage. This tornado began in northeast Yell County, near Centerville, and remained on the ground for 122 miles. It finally lifted in Sharp County, near Highland.
Extensive destruction especially occurred in Atkins, Clinton, Mountain View, and Highland.
The tornado caused 13 fatalities, devastating damage, and killed thousands of farm animals. It would go down as the longest track tornado in recorded history in Arkansas.
It was rated as an EF4 tornado. Less than 2% of tornadoes receive a rating this violent.
Arkansas experienced a total of 12 tornadoes that day. The most violent was the long-track EF4 from Yell County to Sharp County. There was another deadly tornado, though. An EF2 tornado that tracked from Marion County to Baxter County caused 1 fatality.
Severe wind and hail reports were scattered across Arkansas on this day, too. In central Arkansas, a severe squall line brought record-breaking wind gusts to Little Rock…