View source for March 1997 tornado outbreak

{{Infobox storm
 | name                 = March 1997 tornado outbreak
 | image                = 
 | alt                  = 
 | caption              = 
 | type                 = Tornado outbreak
 | active               = March 1–2, 1997 
 | lowest pressure      = 
 | lowest temperature   = 
 | tornadoes            = 39 confirmed
 | fujitascale          = F4
 | tornado duration     = 32 hours
 | highest winds        = 
 | hail                 = 
 | gusts                = 
 | maximum snow         = 
 | power outages        = 
 | casualties           = 27 deaths, 464 injuries
 | damages              = $115 million-$120 million (1997 USD)<ref name=ServiceReport>{{cite web |url= http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/ark61.pdf|title= March 1, 1997, Arkansas tornado outbreak|last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= [[National Weather Service]]|publisher= [[United States Department of Commerce]]|location= [[Silver Spring, Maryland]]|accessdate=13 February 2014}}</ref>
 | affected             = [[Arkansas]], [[Mississippi]], [[Kentucky]], and [[Tennessee]]
 | current advisories   = 
 | enhanced             = 
 | notes                = 
}}
The '''March 1997 tornado outbreak''' was a major [[tornado]] [[tornado outbreak|outbreak]] that struck portions of the central and southern United States on March 1–2, 1997. Affecting areas mostly from [[Arkansas]] to [[Kentucky]], the outbreak produced 58 tornadoes, including three [[Fujita scale#Rating classifications|violent]] (F4) tornadoes, and killed at least 27 people, including 25 in Arkansas alone and one death each in [[Mississippi]] and [[Tennessee]]. This was Arkansas' deadliest tornado outbreak since [[May 1968 tornado outbreak|May 15, 1968]], when 34 were killed in [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]].{{citation needed|date=February 2014}} Severe flooding also occurred across the [[Ohio Valley|Ohio]] and [[Tennessee Valley]]s,<ref name=StormData>{{cite journal|title=Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena|journal=Storm Data|date=1997|volume=39|issue=3|publisher=[[United States Department of Commerce]]|location=[[Asheville, North Carolina]]}}</ref> resulting in 16 [[Ohio]] counties and 44 [[Kentucky]] counties being declared disaster areas.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}} The [[flash flood]]s and damaging wind elsewhere caused 34 deaths across six states including 19 in Kentucky, five in Ohio, five in Tennessee, two in [[Texas]] and three in [[West Virginia]]. Damage estimates were about $1 billion (1997 [[United States dollar|USD]])<ref name=StormData /> while 75,000 homes were damaged.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}}

==Meteorological synopsis==
On March 1, 1997, very unstable air invaded much of the affected area while much warmer temperatures were recorded. Temperatures across most of Arkansas which normally at that time are below {{convert|60|F|C|0}} reached the mid to upper 70s °F (24&nbsp;°C). A cold front was approaching from the Midwestern Plains and was associated with a strong low further north. Strong temperature contrasts were observed on either side of the front. In addition, winds near the ground and aloft were very strong and significant shear was noted before given additional ingredients for extreme severe weather across the [[Mississippi Valley|Mississippi]] and [[Tennessee Valley]]s on March 1, 1997. On February 28, 1997, the [[Storm Prediction Center]] (SPC) had issued a Day 2 moderate risk of severe weather for much of Arkansas and a tornado watch was issued for the western and central part of the state during the morning hours of March 1.<ref name=NWSLittleRock-1>{{cite web|title=Tornado Outbreak (March 1, 1997)|url=https://www.weather.gov/lzk/tor030197.htm|publisher=National Weather Service|accessdate=13 February 2014|location=Little Rock, Arkansas|date=14 May 2013}}</ref> Early on March 1, the SPC issued a [[tornado watch]] for portions of the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys.<ref name=NWSMemphis-1>{{cite web|title=Severe Weather Outbreak Saturday March 1, 1997|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/meg/?n=mar11997tornado|publisher=National Weather Service|accessdate=14 February 2014|location=[[Memphis, Tennessee]]|date=14 October 2009}}</ref> Throughout the day, the [[National Weather Service]] office in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]], issued 57 [[weather warning]]s, including 34 [[tornado warning]]s. Areas affected by the deadly tornadoes had tornado warnings with lead time estimated at between nine and 28 minutes.<ref name=NWSLittleRock-1 />
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;float:right;"
|+'''Outbreak death toll'''
|- 
!'''State'''
!'''Total'''
!'''County''' 
!'''County<br />total'''
|-
|rowspan=5 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|[[Arkansas]]
|rowspan=5 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''25'''
|[[Clark County, Arkansas|Clark]]
|6
|-
|[[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene]]
|1
|-
|[[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson]]
|3
|-
|[[Pulaski County, Arkansas|Pulaski]]
|5
|-
|[[Saline County, Arkansas|Saline]]
|10
|-
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|[[Mississippi]]
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''1'''
|[[Pontotoc County, Mississippi|Pontotoc]]
|1
|-
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|[[Tennessee]]
|rowspan=1 bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''1'''
|[[Dyer County, Tennessee|Dyer]]
|1
|-
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|Totals
|bgcolor="#e6e9ff"|'''27'''
|colspan=2|
|-
|colspan=4 align=center| <small>All deaths were tornado-related</small>
|-
|}

==Confirmed tornadoes==
{{Tornado Chart | Total=39 | F0=12 | F1=11 | F2=8 | F3=5 | F4=3 | F5=0 }}

===February 28 event===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
!'''[[Fujita scale|F#]]'''
!'''Location'''
!'''County''' 
!'''Time (UTC)'''
!'''Path length'''
!'''Damage'''
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Mississippi]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''NE of [[Brownsville, Mississippi|Brownsville]]'''
|[[Hinds County, Mississippi|Hinds]]
|2230
|1 miles <br>(1.6&nbsp;km)
|Damage was limited to trees.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''SW of [[Flora, Mississippi|Flora]]'''
|[[Madison County, Mississippi|Madison]]
|2240
|2 miles <br>(3.2&nbsp;km)
|Damage was limited to trees.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''N of [[Kearney Park, Mississippi|Kearney Park]]'''
|[[Madison County, Mississippi|Madison]]
|2255
|1 miles <br>(1.6&nbsp;km)
|One tree was blown down.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''NE of [[Myrleville, Mississippi|Myrleville]]'''
|[[Yazoo County, Mississippi|Yazoo]]
|2315
|2 miles <br>(3.2&nbsp;km)
|Damage was limited to trees.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|<small>Source: [http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1997/2/28/table Tornado History Project - February 28, 1997 Storm Data]</small>
|-
|}

===March 1 event===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
!'''[[Fujita scale|F#]]'''
!'''Location'''
!'''County''' 
!'''Time (UTC)'''
!'''Path length'''
!'''Damage'''
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Mississippi]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Shepard, Mississippi|Shepard]] to NW of [[Sherman, Mississippi|Sherman]]'''
|[[Calhoun County, Mississippi|Calhoun]], [[Pontotoc County, Mississippi|Pontotoc]]
|0647
|25 miles <br>(40&nbsp;km)
|'''1 death''' – One mobile home was destroyed, killing its 50-year-old occupant, who was thrown {{convert|75|yd|m|sigfig=2|lk=on}}. Pieces of the mobile home, including its metal frame, were scattered for some distance.<ref name=NYT-1>{{cite news|title=Storms Kill 15 in Arkansas and 5 in Other States|newspaper=New York Times|date=March 2, 1997|agency=[[Associated Press]]|page=28}}</ref> 25 barns, two mobile homes, and two homes were destroyed. Nine homes were damaged. Two horses were killed as well.<ref name=StormData />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|'''N of [[Banner, Mississippi|Banner]] to NW of [[Graham, Mississippi|Graham]]'''
|[[Calhoun County, Mississippi|Calhoun]], [[Lafayette County, Mississippi|Lafayette]], [[Pontotoc County, Mississippi|Pontotoc]], [[Union County, Mississippi|Union]]
|0835
|50 miles <br>(80&nbsp;km)
|Long-track tornado. 91 homes were damaged along the path, 49 of them heavily. The worst damage occurred near [[Martintown, Mississippi|Martintown]].<ref name=StormData />
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Kentucky]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''N of [[Bowling Green, Kentucky|Bowling Green]]'''
|[[Warren County, Kentucky|Warren]]
|1026
|0.5 miles <br>(0.8&nbsp;km)
|Damage was limited to trees.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''S of [[Gamaliel, Kentucky|Gamaliel]]'''
|[[Monroe County, Kentucky|Monroe]]
|1036
|4 miles <br>(6.4&nbsp;km)
|Two homes and several barns were destroyed.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''S of [[Valley Hill, Kentucky|Valley Hill]]'''
|[[Washington County, Kentucky|Washington]]
|1759
|5 miles <br>(8&nbsp;km)
|Damage was limited to trees and a car.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''N of [[Stanton, Kentucky|Stanton]]'''
|[[Powell County, Kentucky|Powell]]
|1950
|6 miles <br>(9.6&nbsp;km)
|A hangar, a prop plane, and two other aircraft were destroyed. Some homes and barns were damaged as well.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''SW of [[Pomeroyton, Kentucky|Pomeroyton]]'''
|[[Menifee County, Kentucky|Menifee]]
|2015
|0.1 miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|Brief tornado with no damage.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''NW of [[Nuckols, Kentucky|Nuckols]]'''
|[[McLean County, Kentucky|McLean]]
|0001
|0.3 miles <br>(0.5&nbsp;km)
|Brief tornado with no damage.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''W of [[Hardyville, Kentucky|Hardyville]]'''
|[[Hart County, Kentucky|Warren]]
|0400
|0.5 miles <br>(0.8&nbsp;km)
|Two barns and a silo were destroyed while one home, one mobile home, and one barn were damaged.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''SW of [[Crailhope, Kentucky|Crailhope]]'''
|[[Metcalfe County, Kentucky|Metcalfe]]
|0525
|0.1 miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|Damage to trees and power lines.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''[[Stanton, Kentucky|Stanton]] area'''
|[[Powell County, Kentucky|Powell]]
|0620
|1 miles <br>(1.6&nbsp;km)
|Damage to two greenhouses, a barn, several houses, and several businesses.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''SW of [[Scranton, Kentucky|Scranton]]'''
|[[Menifee County, Kentucky|Menifee]]
|0630
|0.1 miles <br>(0.16&nbsp;km)
|Damage was limited to trees.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Tennessee]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''N of [[Napier, Tennessee|Napier]]'''
|[[Lewis County, Tennessee|Lewis]]
|0725
|3.9 miles <br>(6.2&nbsp;km)
|Five homes were damaged and one barn was destroyed.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''SE of [[Ashland, Tennessee|Ashland]]'''
|[[Wayne County, Tennessee|Wayne]], [[Lawrence County, Tennessee|Lawrence]], [[Lewis County, Tennessee|Lewis]]
|0732
|7.8 miles <br>(12.5&nbsp;km)
|Four homes were damaged and three trailers were destroyed.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''[[Selmer, Tennessee|Selmer]] area'''
|[[McNairy County, Tennessee|McNairy]]
|1145
|5 miles <br>(8&nbsp;km)
|48 homes and two businesses were damaged or destroyed.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''SW of [[Alamo, Tennessee|Alamo]] to [[McKenzie, Tennessee|McKenzie]]'''
|[[Crockett County, Tennessee|Crockett]], [[Gibson County, Tennessee|Gibson]], [[Carroll County, Tennessee|Carroll]]
|2202
|30 miles <br>(48&nbsp;km)
|Several businesses and 67 homes were damaged, and a storage shed was destroyed as well.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|'''[[Arkansas]]'''
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|'''[[Hope, Arkansas|Hope]] to NE of [[Prescott, Arkansas|Prescott]]'''
|[[Hempstead County, Arkansas|Heampstead]], [[Nevada County, Arkansas|Nevada]]
|1955
|18 miles <br>(28.8&nbsp;km)
|Numerous homes, buildings, mobile homes, and vehicles were heavily damaged or destroyed.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''NW of [[Salesville, Arkansas|Salesville]] to N of [[Jordan, Arkansas|Jordan]]'''
|[[Baxter County, Arkansas|Baxter]]
|2010
|{{convert|5|mi|km}}
|This tornado struck south of [[Briarcliff, Arkansas|Briarcliff]]. A storage building was destroyed and a mobile was overturned.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|'''W of [[Beirne, Arkansas|Beirne]] to [[Arkadelphia, Arkansas|Arkadelphia]] to W of [[Fenter, Arkansas|Fenter]]'''
|[[Clark County, Arkansas|Clark]], [[Hot Spring County, Arkansas|Hot Spring]]
|2020
|51 miles <br>(81.6&nbsp;km)
|'''6 deaths''' – Much of downtown Arkadelphia was completely destroyed, with 60 blocks severely damaged. 56 out of 57 mobile homes were destroyed in one trailer park. About 250 homes, 90 mobile homes, and 45 businesses were damaged or destroyed.<ref name=NWSLittleRock-1 /> More than 100 homes and businesses were destroyed in Clark County,<ref name=NYT-2>{{cite news|last=Bragg|first=Rick|title=Fierce Wind and Rain Tear Up Several States, Killing at Least 35|newspaper=New York Times|date=March 3, 1997|page=A10}}</ref> including many in Arkadelphia, where 60 blocks were severely damaged.<ref name=StormData /><ref name=NWSLittleRock-1 /> The Clark County [[courthouse]] lost its [[Coping (architecture)|capstone]] and clockwork.<ref name=NYT-2 /> Five of the fatalities were in Arkadelphia and the sixth on [[Interstate 30]] southwest of the city.<ref name=StormData /> Homes and buildings were destroyed in [[Donaldson, Arkansas|Donaldson]], which received F4 damage,<ref name=StormData /> and damage was also noted at the [[Malvern, Arkansas|Malvern]] Airport.<ref name=NWSLittleRock-1 />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''NW of [[Cabot, Arkansas|Cabot]]'''
|[[Lonoke County, Arkansas|Lonoke]]
|2037
|3 miles <br>(4.8&nbsp;km)
|Roofs of several buildings were damaged.<ref name=StormData />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|'''NW of [[Ward, Arkansas|Ward]] to W of [[Searcy, Arkansas|Searcy]]'''
|[[White County, Arkansas|White]]
|2039
|{{convert|13|mi|km}}
|This tornado passed near [[Antioch, Arkansas|Antioch]]. Utility towers, a frame home, and trailers were destroyed.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''NW of [[Belleville, Arkansas|Belleville]]'''
|[[Yell County, Arkansas|Yell]]
|2055
|1 miles <br>(1.6&nbsp;km)
|Damage was limited to trees.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''N of [[Chickalah, Arkansas|Chickalah]]'''
|[[Yell County, Arkansas|Yell]]
|2105
|1 miles <br>(1.6&nbsp;km)
|Several chicken houses were destroyed.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|'''W of [[Velvet Ridge, Arkansas|Velvet Ridge]] to E of [[Marmaduke, Arkansas|Marmaduke]]'''
|[[White County, Arkansas|White]], [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson]], [[Independence County, Arkansas|Independence]], [[Craighead County, Arkansas|Craighead]], [[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence]], [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene]]
|2123
|68 miles <br>(108.8&nbsp;km)
|'''4 deaths''' – This long-tracked tornado began in White County, where a mobile home was destroyed, injuring three people.<ref name=StormData /> In Jackson County, the worst damage occurred in [[Jacksonport, Arkansas|Jacksonport]]; two people were killed by a falling tree, and a third death was in a destroyed mobile home. Several mobile and frame homes had their roofs partly torn off, and numerous trees were downed or sheared off along the path.<ref name=StormData /> In Independence County, the tornado also damaged many homes and downed trees.<ref name=StormData /> In Craighead County, one home was damaged, injuring two people inside.<ref name=StormData /> In Lawrence County, 13 homes and other structures, including a grain bin storing rice, were damaged. Two people were injured as their mobile home rolled over.<ref name=StormData /> In Greene County, one person was killed as the tornado damaged or destroyed 20 homes and other buildings. The worst damage in Greene County was in [[Marmaduke, Arkansas|Marmaduke]], which was later hit by an [[April 2, 2006 tornado outbreak#Marmaduke, Arkansas/Caruthersville, Missouri F3 tornado|F3 tornado]] in 2006.<ref name=StormData />
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|'''S of [[Bauxite, Arkansas|Bauxite]] to SE of [[Mabelvale]] (SW [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]]) to [[North Little Rock, Arkansas|North Little Rock]]'''
|[[Saline County, Arkansas|Saline]], [[Pulaski County, Arkansas|Pulaski]]
|2125
|25 miles <br>(40&nbsp;km)
|'''15 deaths''' –  Developing near [[Benton, Arkansas|Benton]], this tornado passed south of Bauxite and [[Bryant, Arkansas|Bryant]] before striking [[Vimy Ridge, Arkansas|Vimy Ridge]], killing 10 people in Saline County. The [[Shannon Hills, Arkansas|Shannon Hills]] area was devastated, reporting F4 damage; 90 homes were destroyed and 175 homes were damaged. Nearby, a home improvement center was completely destroyed south of Little Rock.<ref name=StormData /><ref name=NWSLittleRock-1 /> It then entered Pulaski County and struck the southern and eastern portions of the Little Rock suburbs, killing five people and injuring nearly 200 others before it lifted near [[Clinton National Airport|Adams Field Airport]] in [[College Station, Arkansas|College Station]].<ref name=StormData /><ref name=NWSLittleRock-1 /> The storm traveled for about 27 miles and had a maximum width of .8 miles.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''N of [[Atkins, Arkansas|Atkins]] to SW of [[Jerusalem, Arkansas|Jerusalem]] to N of [[Cleveland, Arkansas|Cleveland]]'''
|[[Pope County, Arkansas|Pope]], [[Conway County, Arkansas|Conway]], [[Van Buren County, Arkansas|Van Buren]]
|2130
|17.5 miles <br>(27.2&nbsp;km)
|In Pope County, a wood pallet plant, a tin shed, a hog farm, and a chicken farm were destroyed. A few homes also sustained roof damage. One trailer was overturned and destroyed, injuring a person.<ref name=StormData /> The tornado also destroyed a shed and a hog farm near Jerusalem. Extensive tree damage occurred in the [[Ozark National Forest]].<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''SE of [[Vimy Ridge, Arkansas|Vimy Ridge]]'''
|[[Saline County, Arkansas|Saline]]
|2135
|2 miles <br>(3.2&nbsp;km)
|Tornado formed just south of the Benton/Shannon Hills tornado and caused damage to homes in Vimy Ridge.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''S of [[College Station, Arkansas|College Station]]'''
|[[Pulaski County, Arkansas|Pulaski]]
|2147
|5 miles <br>(8&nbsp;km)
|A second satellite tornado that formed south of the Benton/Shannon Hills tornado.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | <big>'''F2'''</big>
|'''N of [[Furlow, Arkansas|Furlow]]'''
|[[Lonoke County, Arkansas|Lonoke]]
|2202
|2.3 miles <br>(3.7&nbsp;km)
|One frame home was destroyed and a utility tower was blown down. Some homes sustained roof damage as well.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''SW of [[Shirley, Arkansas|Shirley]]'''
|[[Van Buren County, Arkansas|Van Buren]]
|2212
|2.5 miles <br>(4&nbsp;km)
|Tornado began northeast of [[Clinton, Arkansas|Clinton]]. A couple of sheds were destroyed, and some homes sustained roof damage.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | <big>'''F0'''</big>
|'''E of [[Rushing, Arkansas|Rushing]]'''
|[[Stone County, Arkansas|Stone]]
|2222
|0.5 miles <br>(0.8&nbsp;km)
|Damage was limited to trees.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''E of [[Marcella, Arkansas|Marcella]]'''
|[[Stone County, Arkansas|Stone]], [[Independence County, Arkansas|Independence]]
|2250
|4.5 miles <br>(7.2&nbsp;km)
|Some trailers were damaged and trees were downed.<ref name=StormData /> 
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | <big>'''F3'''</big>
|'''NE of [[Patterson, Arkansas|Patterson]] to NE of [[Hickory Ridge, Arkansas|Hickory Ridge]]'''
|[[Woodruff County, Arkansas|Woodruff]], [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson]], [[Cross County, Arkansas|Cross]], [[Poinsett County, Arkansas|Poinsett]]
|2254
|19 miles <br>(30.4&nbsp;km)
|In Woodruff County, a frame home and a hunting club were destroyed. There was heavy damage to several homes, grain bins, and a farm shop.<ref name=StormData /> In Jackson County, a house trailer was damaged and trees were downed. In Cross and Poinsett counties, the tornado damaged 67 homes and businesses, and a switching station was also destroyed.<ref name=StormData /> Numerous trees were downed as well.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | <big>'''F1'''</big>
|'''[[Cave City, Arkansas|Cave City]] area'''
|[[Sharp County, Arkansas|Sharp]]
|2315
|1 miles <br>(1.6&nbsp;km)
|Damage was limited to trees.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | <big>'''F4'''</big>
|'''[[Lennie, Arkansas|Lennie]] to SE of [[Rutherford, Tennessee]]'''
|[[Mississippi County, Arkansas|Mississippi]], [[Dyer County, Tennessee|Dyer (TN)]], [[Gibson County, Tennessee|Gibson (TN)]]
|0020
|45 miles <br>(72&nbsp;km)
|'''1 death''' – In Mississippi County, three mobile homes were destroyed or damaged.<ref name=StormData />  190 homes and a high school were destroyed or damaged in Dyer County, where the fatality occurred. Worst damage occurred in the Lake Luanna community, near [[Dyersburg, Tennessee|Dyersburg]].<ref name=Dyersburg-1>{{cite web|title=Cross, Poinsett, Mississippi and Dyer County Tornado|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/meg/?n=mar11997artntor|publisher=National Weather Service|accessdate=14 February 2014|location=Memphis, Tennessee|date=22 October 2009}}</ref> Eight more homes were destroyed in Gibson County.<ref name=StormData />
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|<small>Source: [http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/1997/3/1/table Tornado History Project - March 1, 1997 Storm Data]</small>
|-
|}
{{clear}}

==Notable tornadoes==
The most significant and deadliest tornadoes recorded in the state were two F4s that were also the deadliest tornadoes of the outbreak. The tornadoes affected parts of [[Clark County, Arkansas|Clark]], [[Hot Spring County, Arkansas|Hot Spring]], [[Saline County, Arkansas|Saline]] and [[Pulaski County, Arkansas|Pulaski]] counties, killing a total of 21 people.<ref name=NWSLittleRock-1 /> These tornadoes were accompanied by [[satellite tornado]]es during portions of their lives, which caused additional damage in the Vimy Ridge and College Station areas, but they did not cause any additional fatalities.<ref name=NWSLittleRock-1 /> The two F4 tornadoes were produced by the same supercell thunderstorm that traveled through most of the state. The supercell alone killed 21 and injured several hundred others. Near the Tennessee border and across the [[Mississippi River]], the same supercell produced three additional tornadoes, one of which killed a person near [[Dyersburg, Tennessee]].

Another supercell north of the main storm produced several tornadoes north of Little Rock and [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]]. Among the towns affected was [[Marmaduke, Arkansas|Marmaduke]], which was also affected by an F3 tornado during the [[April 2, 2006 tornado outbreak#Marmaduke, Arkansas/Caruthersville, Missouri F3 tornado|April 2, 2006 tornado outbreak]].
{{clear}}

==Aftermath==
[[File:Bare Foundation Tied to 1997 Little Rock Tornado.jpg|thumb|Multiple bare foundations can be found all over the Woodland Ridge subdivision of [[Little Rock, Arkansas]]. This foundation came from a house that was completely destroyed by the 1997 tornado, and still hasn't been rebuilt over 25 years later. (March, 2022)]]
11 counties across Arkansas were declared federal [[disaster area]]s by then-[[President of the United States|US President]] [[Bill Clinton]] for tornadoes, with two others for flooding. Seven other counties in Tennessee were also declared disaster areas due to tornadoes.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}} It was considered the worst tornado outbreak since the [[Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1994]], which killed 42 across [[Alabama]] and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. In Kentucky, then-[[Governor of Kentucky|governor]] [[Paul E. Patton]] had initially declared 120 counties a state of emergency and deployed about 1100 [[National Guard (United States)|National Guard]] troops to the flood-stricken regions. In Indiana, the [[Ohio River]] overflow its banks due to record rains.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}} All 13 counties along the river between [[Evansville, Indiana|Evansville]] and [[Cincinnati]] were also declared disaster areas. In West Virginia, then-[[Governor of West Virginia|Governor]] [[Cecil Underwood]] declared [[state of emergency|state of emergencies]] for 14 counties, and 16 were later declared disaster areas as over 4,000 homes and other structures were damaged by the flooding.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}}

Overall, across the state of Arkansas 1,200 homes were damaged or destroyed, including close to 400 in Arkadelphia alone.<ref name=NWSLittleRock-1 /> Several areas that were hit by the tornadoes did not have any [[tornado siren]]s. After the outbreak several million dollars were invested to improve the siren system throughout the state for future tornado outbreaks, including the [[2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak]], a similar but much deadlier and more widespread outbreak.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}} 14 people in Arkansas were killed by that outbreak on February 5, 2008, and nearly 60 in total were killed across the Mid-South regions of the US.
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==See also==
* [[List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks]]
** [[List of tornadoes with confirmed satellite tornadoes]]
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==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070321051540/http://www.srh.weather.gov/lzk/html/tormar1a.htm Event Summary from NWS Little Rock]
* [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/meg/svrwx_march1_summary.html NWS Memphis Event Summary]
* [http://www.ardemgaz.com/prev/torn397/Aatorn01.html Arkansas Online News Article of Arkadelphia tornado]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080516100908/http://www.weather.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/ark61.pdf NOAA Service Assessment of the outbreak]
* [https://www.usatoday.com/weather/wmar0197.htm USA Today Flood and Tornado page]
* [http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/outbreaks/the-arkansas-outbreak-1997 Map of the 1997 Arkansas tornado outbreak] Tornado History Project

{{1997 tornado outbreaks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1997-02-28 Tornado Outbreak}}
[[Category:1997 in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Tornadoes of 1997]]
[[Category:F4 tornadoes by date]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Tennessee]]
[[Category:1997 natural disasters in the United States]]
[[Category:March 1997 events in the United States|Tornado outbreak]]