From April 2–3, 1982, a major tornado outbreak resulted in over 60 tornadoes and 30 fatalities, primarily over portions of Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas, as well as Southeastern Oklahoma. Three of the tornadoes were rated F4, and one officially was recorded as an F5 near Broken Bow, Oklahoma, all on April 2. Beginning on April 2, a series of tornado-producing supercells formed across portions of northeastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma. One produced an F5 tornado, the first since April 4, 1977, which crossed mostly rural areas near Speer and Broken Bow, and deposited a motel sign from Broken Bow away in Arkansas. However, reanalysis a decade later found the rating to be lower, owing to unsound construction practices. The F5 tornado resulted in no fatalities, but an F4 tornado in Paris, Texas, resulted in 10 fatalities and 170 injuries.Multiple sources: Additionally, the Storm Prediction Center, known then as the Severe Local Storms Unit, issued its first officially documented high risk on April 2, as well as the first tornado watch to contain the wording Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS).

Outbreak statistics + Daily statistics of tornadoes during the tornado outbreak of April 2–3, 1982 DateTotalF-scale ratingDeathsInjuriesDamage FU  F0  F1  F2  F3  F4  F5 April 24906191194127345April 3130272200370 Total62082613114130415

+Outbreak death tollStateTotalCounty CountytotalArkansas14Faulkner2Fulton2Hempstead5Howard3Little River1St. Francis1Mississippi3Neshoba3Missouri1Howell1Texas11Fannin1Lamar10Totals30 All deaths were tornado-related

Confirmed tornadoes

Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.

+ Color/symbol key Color / symbol Description † Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b ¶ Data from a local National Weather Service office ※ Data from the 1982 Storm Data publication ‡ Data from the NCEI database ♯ Maximum width of tornado ± Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable.

+ Confirmed tornadoes – Friday, April 2, 1982F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F0Hot Springs Village※GarlandArkansas20:00–?‡‡A short-lived tornado damaged a few thousand trees and utility lines near La Villa. F1SSW of Earlham※MadisonIowa20:10–?A brief tornado unroofed a garage, destroyed two sheds, and damaged two windmills and a farmhouse. An radio tower was downed, shingles were torn loose, and windows were smashed as well. F2Silo※BryanOklahoma20:25–?This tornado damaged a total of 16 mobile homes and houses. One person received minor injuries. F1Pink Hill to SSW of Levasy※JacksonMissouri20:30–?‡This tornado, which developed north of Grain Valley, sheared treetops. Nearby, a home and several buildings were damaged. F1SE of EmetJohnstonOklahoma20:30–?A pickup truck, a barn, and several other structures were damaged or destroyed. F1W of Levasy※JacksonMissouri20:32–?This multiple-vortex tornado destroyed a couple of barns, a garage, and poles. F0E of Allen※HughesOklahoma20:40–?‡‡Trees in the countryside were downed. The tornado passed northwest of Gerty. F2Northeastern Claremore※RogersOklahoma20:45–?A school and several businesses incurred damage. The NCEI incorrectly list the touchdown as being southwest of Sequoyah. F1Southwestern Baxter Springs※CherokeeKansas20:50–?Mobile homes and other structures received damage, as well as roofing, windows, and electrical lines. F3±N of MariettaLoveOklahoma20:50–?This tornado derailed 24 freight cars, most of which were unfilled. Outbuildings and trees were also damaged nearby. F2±ENE of Pryor CreekMayesOklahoma21:00–?This tornado flipped a mobile home. F2N of Bokchito※BryanOklahoma21:05–?This tornado damaged seven homes. F0Iconium※St. ClairMissouri21:07–?‡A brief touchdown failed to produce any damage. F3WNW of Boswell to N of Soper‡ChoctawOklahoma21:10–?Many farms and outbuildings were damaged. F0Green Ridge※PettisMissouri21:15–?‡No damage was reported. F3SW of Boyd to WNW of Toco※Fannin, LamarTexas21:20–21:55※~※1 death – This tornado developed near Ravenna and tracked eastward at through Allens Chapel and Allens Point. The most extensive damage occurred in these two communities; an elderly woman in the area was killed, and her husband sustained injuries. Along its entire path, the tornado destroyed numerous frame houses, mobile homes, barns, and rural outbuildings. The NCEI incorrectly list the path as extending from north of Ector to just north of Brookston. F1SW of WaverlyLafayetteMissouri21:25–?‡This tornado felled trees in an orchard. F2±BoydFanninTexas21:25–?※Trees were damaged near Lake Bonham. F2KeoLonokeArkansas21:45–?This was the first member of a long-tracked tornado family, the parent thunderstorm of which generated a swath of scattered damage, felling 60 transmission towers along the way, and traveled as far as Forrest City. Two homes and a cropdusting firm were destroyed or damaged. Two people were injured. F5S of Speer to Messer to SE of Eagletown※Choctaw, McCurtainOklahoma21:50–?♯※※See section on this tornado – 29 people were injured. F2SlovakPrairieArkansas22:00–?※†This short-lived tornado damaged rural shops, roofs, outbuildings, machinery, and electrical transmission towers. F4Northern Paris to NE of Detroit※Lamar, Red RiverTexas22:00–22:30※♯※≥ ※10 deaths – See section on this tornado – 170 people were injured. F1SSW of ParisLamarTexas22:05–?≥ Outflow by the Paris F4 may have helped generate this near-simultaneous tornado. A small structure was destroyed on the outskirts of Paris. The tornado may have continued farther, damaging trailers on the southern sides of Blossom and Reno, as it paralleled the main event. F2Northern Bagwell※Red RiverTexas22:30–?This tornado began and ended a few miles west-southwest and east-northeast of town, respectively. Some businesses and homes were unroofed. Trees were torn apart as well. F1N of Clarksville‡Red RiverTexas22:40–22:42※※Only minor damage was reported. F3NE of Clarksville (TX)‡ to NNW of Ogden (AR)※Red River (TX), Bowie (TX), McCurtain (OK), Little River (AR)Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas22:40–23:40※1 death – See section on this tornado – Four people were injured. F2BrinkleyMonroeArkansas22:49–?20 transmission towers were downed. Several homes, a trio of farms, and a cemetery were damaged as well. F2Forrest CitySt. FrancisArkansas23:15–?†1 death – This tornado damaged or destroyed a dozen homes, seven mobile homes, half a dozen businesses, and a school. The death occurred in a trailer. 13 people were injured. F4WSW of Stringtown to ESE of WallaceburgSevier, Howard, HempsteadArkansas23:20–?3 deaths – This powerful tornado proceeded generally eastward at and affected several rural communities. 15 homes, two mobile homes, 16 chicken coops, and various outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, along with many trees. All of the deaths occurred in the community of Buck Range, near Nashville, where a home was flattened. Most of the damage was F2 or F3 in intensity. Storm Data and the NCEI listed 23 injuries, but a reanalysis by Grazulis found 27. F1E of EldonMillerMissouri23:25–?※A few outbuildings were destroyed. F3Bergman※BooneArkansas23:28–?A few trailers were destroyed, along with a pair of homes, the fire department, and city hall. 29 homes sustained damage as well. Five injuries occurred. F1N of PhillipsburgLacledeMissouri23:30–?※A house was damaged, a barn wrecked, and cattle killed. F1NE of Beaman※PettisMissouri23:35–?A few barns were wrecked and a home partly so. F1N of EldonMillerMissouri23:45–?※A few barns and a trailer were wrecked. A shed was severely damaged as well. F3S of McNab to E of Hope※HempsteadArkansas00:55–?5 deaths – This erratic tornado destroyed or damaged 37 homes. A five-member family at home was fatally crushed beneath a oak tree. The tornado also damaged of pine and hardwood forest. 23 people were injured. F4E of Tecumseh※ to Caulfield to West PlainsOzark, HowellMissouri00:15–?2 deaths – This violent tornado damaged 20 homes and destroyed five trailers, but leveled only one home. Lesser damage occurred to businesses. Most of the damage was to 200 used automobiles at a dealership. 28 people were injured, three seriously. F1S of Camdenton※CamdenMissouri00:15–?※※Details are unavailable. F3N of Vidette†FultonArkansas00:20–?2 deaths – A barn and five homes were damaged. A number of cattle were killed, and one home was wrecked. Two injuries occurred. F1NE of Eldon※MillerMissouri00:37–?Details are unavailable. F0TaosColeMissouri00:45–?Details are unavailable. F1MagnoliaColumbiaArkansas01:00–?Roofing, power lines, and trees were damaged. Fallen wires ignited a few fires. Two people were injured. F3ConwayFaulknerArkansas01:00–?2 deaths – A machine shop, 38 trailers, and 10 homes were flattened. A few other trailers and three homes were seriously damaged. One of the dead was a stillborn infant. 37 injuries occurred, many quite severe. F1E of Whelen Springs to WNW of KansasClarkArkansas01:15–?※Some roofing was damaged, along with much timber. F3NE of Dyersburg※DyerTennessee01:20–?※A factory, mobile homes, eight homes, and some businesses were destroyed or damaged. Trees were impacted as well. An injury occurred. F2W of Kenton to W of Martin※Obion, WeakleyTennessee01:58–?††※Windows were broken and structures damaged at a Texas Gas Transmission facility. A few trailers were wrecked elsewhere, and several better-built buildings were damaged, along with trees. F1NW of LillieUnionLouisiana02:00–?Only trees were damaged. F1W of Milo to N of Snyder※AshleyArkansas03:00–?Outbuildings, power lines, and trailers received damage. of pinewood were flattened. F1HazelCallowayKentucky04:00–?Many older structures in town were wrecked. F0Union CityObionTennessee04:33–?※※A few large, fallen trees damaged vehicles and homes. Signage and windows were damaged as well.

April 3 event