The devastating West Little Rock Microburst happened a year ago

West Little Rock, Arkansas – One year has passed since the catastrophic West Little Rock microburst that occurred on September 6, 2023, and occurred this week. After the community was devastated by a tornado on March 31st of that year, the storm struck a region that was still recuperating.

This microburst was like salt on an open wound for a lot of residents. A partially rebuilt home that had already sustained significant damage from the March tornado was among the demolished structures—a devastating blow to a family that was only starting to heal.

Many were shaken and frustrated by the storm’s timing, which occurred just over five months into the reconstruction project. However, it didn’t weaken their will to start over and move on.

What then is a microburst? It is a brief but powerful wind downdraft that typically lasts five to fifteen minutes. Cold air quickly descends from a thunderstorm during a microburst, strikes the ground, and spreads outward to produce strong, destructive straight-line wind. Microburst winds are akin to a mild tornado, with speeds exceeding 100 mph. However, a microburst lacks the revolving column of air that characterizes tornadoes. Rather, its winds caused uniform, wide-ranging destruction as they spread in straight lines.

As we witnessed last year, both microbursts and tornadoes may do significant damage in a matter of months, despite their differences.

The anniversary of these incidents serves as a reminder of our community’s fortitude in the face of hardship. Even though these kinds of losses are challenging, they also highlight our ability to unite and rebuild.