Tornado Warning Issued for Crawford and Franklin Counties in Arkansas

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Tulsa, OK, has issued a Tornado Warning for northwestern Franklin County in west central Arkansas and central Crawford County in northwestern Arkansas. The warning is effective immediately following radar-indicated rotation in the area.

Affected Areas

The warning covers central Crawford County and northwestern Franklin County. Specific locations in or near the path include:

• Alma, Cass, and Shibley
• Bidville, Concord, and Lake Fort Smith
• Mountainburg, Piney, and Locke
• Turners Bend, Fern, and Furry
• Rudy, Dyer, and Mulberry

This alert includes Interstate 40 in Arkansas between mile markers 8 and 20, as well as Interstate 49 between mile markers 22 and 32.

What You Should Do

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Mobile homes in the path of this storm will be damaged or destroyed.

Expected Conditions

At 1:38 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Rudy, moving northeast at 55 mph. Hazards include a tornado and flying debris. Residents should expect damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles, and tree damage is likely.

Timeline

The Tornado Warning is effective as of 1:39 AM CDT on March 11, 2026. The alert is currently set to expire at 2:15 AM CDT.