On the 27th, temperatures climbed into the mid 80s to lower 90s. It was 92 degrees at Fort Smith (Sebastian County), and 90 degrees at De Queen (Sevier County) and Monticello (Drew County). In the southern Plains, CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) values were extreme (over 6000 Joules/kilogram). Unleashing this much energy would result in not only a higher potential of severe weather, but a greater magnitude of what storms could produce (strong tornadoes, giant hail, hurricane force winds, etc).
There was one limiting factor. An inversion (climbing temperatures with height) aloft was not allowing air parcels to realize all of the energy available above the inversion (the parcels were capped). As long as air parcels were suppressed, storms would be less of an issue. In fact, much of the 27th went by with no storms in the state.
The cap did break in places during the evening, especially the northeast. Storms swept from Missouri through areas north and east of Little Rock (Pulaski County), and were responsible for mainly wind damage. Wind gusts reached 60 to more than 70 mph in places.
A tree was blown onto a car at Ash Flat (Sharp County), with trees on houses in Walnut Ridge (Lawrence County), Lepanto (Poinsett County), Marion (Crittenden County), and Whitton (Mississippi County). Another tree fell onto two mobile homes at Crawfordsville (Crittenden County), and an injury resulted. Downed trees blocked Highways 141 and 358 near Walcott (Greene County). A 67 mph gust was measured at Corning (Clay County).
Toward midnight CDT, the cap broke farther west. One storm spawned a tornado (rated EF1) from Short, OK to Natural Dam (Crawford County). Along the roughly eleven mile track, some homes were damaged and outbuildings were destroyed.
A bowing line of storms tore through barns and outbuildings at Lutherville (Johnson County) and uncorked a 62 mph gust at Russellville (Pope County). Metal roofing was removed from a row of buildings at Pottsville (Pope County). North of Morrilton (Conway County), a tree was pushed on a house.
A similar line of storms caused tree and power line damage in much of Montgomery County and caused roof damage to a dozen storage units near Hot Springs (Garland County).
By the time May ended, above average rainfall totals were common across the central and eastern counties. Amounts were one and a half to more than three inches over par at El Dorado (Union County), Jonesboro (Craighead County), Little Rock (Pulaski County), and Pine Bluff (Jefferson County).

Thunderstorm Wind in JOHNSON, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 23:40:00 to 27-MAY-17 23:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUTHERVILLE
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A few barns and metal outbuildings were destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 00:05:00 to 28-MAY-17 00:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: POTTSVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Metal roofing was removed from a row of businesses. Numerous trees were down or snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 00:05:00 to 28-MAY-17 00:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAKLAND HGTS
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 00:15:00 to 28-MAY-17 00:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONDON
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winds were estimated at 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in CONWAY, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 00:20:00 to 28-MAY-17 00:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: HICKORY HILL
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree fell on a house and the occupants were uninjured.

Thunderstorm Wind in PERRY, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 00:40:00 to 28-MAY-17 00:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILLIAMS JUNCTION
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A large tree was uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind in GARLAND, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 01:40:00 to 28-MAY-17 01:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARDNER
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

There was roof damage to a dozen storage units and a home had a utility pole fall onto it.

Hail in IZARD, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 03:01:00 to 27-MAY-17 03:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: HORSESHOE BEND
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Media reported half dollar size hail in Horseshoe Bend.

Thunderstorm Wind in FULTON, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 19:30:00 to 27-MAY-17 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAMMOTH SPG
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind in MONTGOMERY, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 00:55:00 to 28-MAY-17 00:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: MT IDA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Trees and power lines were down all through the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOT SPRING, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 01:32:00 to 28-MAY-17 01:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONO
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees were reported to be blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in PIKE, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 01:36:00 to 28-MAY-17 01:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: KIRBY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

A tree branch fell through the roof of a home.

Hail in GARLAND, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 01:53:00 to 28-MAY-17 01:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: EUCLID HGTS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail was reported south of Hot Springs.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOT SPRING, ARKANSAS
From 28-MAY-17 02:08:00 to 28-MAY-17 02:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONO
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees were blown down.

Hail in BOONE, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 00:16:00 to 27-MAY-17 00:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRICKET
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Hail in BOONE, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 00:30:00 to 27-MAY-17 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: OMAHA
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in BOONE, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 00:32:00 to 27-MAY-17 00:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: OMAHA
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Hail in BOONE, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 00:44:00 to 27-MAY-17 00:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOWRY
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in MARION, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 01:30:00 to 27-MAY-17 01:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BULL SHOALS LAKE WES
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Nickel size hail fell for 4 minutes.

Thunderstorm Wind in BAXTER, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 01:52:00 to 27-MAY-17 01:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOUNTAIN HOME
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tree limbs were down and shingles were blown off a roof.

Hail in FULTON, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 02:15:00 to 27-MAY-17 02:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: GEPP
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Nickel size hail fell for 15 minutes.

Hail in BAXTER, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 02:35:00 to 27-MAY-17 02:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: JORDAN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Dime to quarter size hail was reported at Jordan Marina on Norfork Lake.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHARP, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 19:50:00 to 27-MAY-17 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: ASH FLAT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Power lines were blown down and a tree was blown down on a house.

Hail in SHARP, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 19:47:00 to 27-MAY-17 19:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: HARDY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in BAXTER, ARKANSAS
From 27-MAY-17 01:58:00 to 27-MAY-17 01:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLARKRIDGE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Wind gusts were estimated between 40 and 50 mph. Report was relayed via NWS Springfield, MO.