Parkin, AR Hail Storm – March 2025

What Happened

A severe hail storm moved through Parkin, AR on March 23, 2025, with peak verified hail of 2 inches and a long run of hail reports into the evening. The event began with radar confidence for 1-inch hail at 4:17 PM CDT, then strengthened through the late afternoon as verified reports climbed to 1.5 inches and 2 inches.

By 4:53 PM CDT, radar and spotter confidence supported 1.5-inch hail. Verified reports of 1-inch hail followed at 5:00 PM CDT and 5:14 PM CDT, then a 2-inch report came in at 5:27 PM CDT. Additional radar and spotter verified alerts kept the storm active through the early evening, including 1-inch hail at 5:45 PM CDT, 5:57 PM CDT, and 6:00 PM CDT.

The strongest cluster of reports landed between 6:26 PM CDT and 6:43 PM CDT. That stretch included 1.5-inch hail at 6:26 PM CDT, 2-inch hail at 6:39 PM CDT, and two more 1.5-inch reports at 6:40 PM CDT and 6:43 PM CDT. A separate ground report at 7:11 PM CDT described half dollar hail along Hwy 45 near Okolona, followed by ping pong ball hail reported through mPING at 8:08 PM CDT.

Late-evening reports kept the hail footprint broad. Spotter-verified hail of 1 inch was reported at 7:18 PM CDT, 7:48 PM CDT, 7:57 PM CDT, 8:28 PM CDT, 8:46 PM CDT, and 9:09 PM CDT. A 1.25-inch report came in at 7:20 PM CDT, and another 1-inch report was logged at 8:16 PM CDT on Hatley Detroit Road.

Damage Assessment

The field reports show a mix of hail impact and localized wind and tree damage across the Parkin area. The most direct surface impacts came in the hail reports from Hwy 45 near Okolona and Hatley Detroit Road, where spotters described half dollar hail and quarter-sized hail. Those reports place the hail core over roads and exposed property in the wider Parkin metro area during the afternoon and evening cycle.

Tree damage followed later in the event. At 8:34 PM CDT, trees were reported down on Camargo Road. At 9:02 PM CDT, more trees were down on White Rock Rd. At 9:08 PM CDT, a report noted a tree down on Thornton Lane and a few tree limbs down on Nash Road. A report at 9:13 PM CDT noted outbuilding damage. At 9:09 PM CDT, a brief EF0 tornado produced minor tree damage east of Hatley.

Those reports point to a storm that did more than drop hail. The sequence includes hail first, then scattered tree and structure impacts later in the evening. The damage notes are concentrated on rural roads and exposed structures east and southeast of the Parkin area, with spotter-verified observations spread across several hours.

What Contractors Should Know

Crews working Parkin, Hatley, Okolona, and the surrounding road network should expect a mixed hail and wind response pattern from this event. The hail reports reached 2 inches, but the field damage is not uniform. Some roads saw only quarter to half dollar hail, while others later showed downed trees, limbs, and an outbuilding hit. Scope should start with roof surfaces, vents, soft metals, and exterior trim, then move to tree strikes and edge damage on outbuildings.

Parkin, AR Hail Storm – March 2025

NWS WARNING AREAS · 71

What Happened

Damage Assessment

What Contractors Should Know

Storm Details

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