As of 100 pm CDT, there were no storms yet. A sounding (temperature and dewpoint profile with height) revealed plenty of instability, and it was just a matter of time before the fireworks began. There was also a lot of dry air aloft, and forecasters knew this would likely lead to very large hail. Low level moisture driven into this dry environment overhead would create a lot of evaporation/cooling, making it easy for ice to form.
Between 230 pm and 330 pm CDT, thunderstorms developed rapidly in northwest and west central Arkansas. South and east, hen egg to tennis ball size hail occurred near Botkinburg (Van Buren County) and south of Joan (Clark County), and golf ball size stones occurred in Shirley (Van Buren County) and northwest of Tag (Pope County).
A 66 mph wind gust was measured at Newport (Jackson County), with a 61 mph gust at McCreanor (Lonoke County), and a gust to 60 mph at Russellville (Pope County). At College City (Lawrence County) and Little Rock (Pulaski County), 56 mph gusts were recorded.
Trees were toppled at Conway (Faulkner County), northeast of Russellville (Pope County), Swifton (Jackson County), Walnut Ridge (Lawrence County), and northwest of Wilburn (Cleburne County). Outbuildings were damaged east of Jerusalem (Conway County).
Much cooler air followed the storms. By 500 pm CST, temperatures were in the 50s and 60s across much of northern and western Arkansas. At Little Rock (Pulaski County), the thermometer showed 81 degrees at 555 pm CST. Fifteen minutes later, the mercury dropped to 60 degrees! In addition, 1.71 inches of rain fell in an hour (ending at 653 pm CST). While this was a lot of precipitation in a short time locally, most locations did not receive nearly this much liquid (quarter to three quarter inch totals were common).

Hail in VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 16:20:00 to 15-APR-23 16:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHIRLEY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in SALINE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:53:00 to 15-APR-23 17:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW SUMMIT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in CLARK, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 16:40:00 to 15-APR-23 16:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAVEL JCT
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A picture of a large hailstone was seen on social media with no measurement reference in the photo.

Hail in PULASKI, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:56:00 to 15-APR-23 17:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: WARSAW
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in GARLAND, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 16:50:00 to 15-APR-23 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUCKVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Hail in SALINE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:59:00 to 15-APR-23 17:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: COLLEGEVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in OUACHITA, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 16:58:00 to 15-APR-23 16:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: KIRKLAND
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in LONOKE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 18:02:00 to 15-APR-23 18:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: AUSTIN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 14:30:00 to 15-APR-23 14:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SIMPSON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm spotter reported 1.75 inch hail 9 miles northwest of Hector, AR...or 3 miles northwest of Tag.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLEBURNE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:07:00 to 15-APR-23 17:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEBER SPGS MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A social media post showed trees and powerlines down over a road in addition to a tree on a shed.

Hail in PULASKI, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 18:03:00 to 15-APR-23 18:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAMMACK VLG
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in LOGAN, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 14:50:00 to 15-APR-23 14:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAULKSVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in HOT SPRING, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:10:00 to 15-APR-23 17:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONO
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in LONOKE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 18:10:00 to 15-APR-23 18:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: WARD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in LOGAN, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 14:58:00 to 15-APR-23 14:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHISMVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in GARLAND, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:12:00 to 15-APR-23 17:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOUNTAIN PINE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in LONOKE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 18:12:00 to 15-APR-23 18:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: WARD
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in POLK, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 15:16:00 to 15-APR-23 15:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: ACORN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The report was received via mPING.

Hail in GARLAND, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:24:00 to 15-APR-23 17:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in LONOKE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 18:12:00 to 15-APR-23 18:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTH BEND
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in JOHNSON, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 15:29:00 to 15-APR-23 15:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONE PINE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A social media report was received of estimated pea to quarter size hail in Woodland.

Thunderstorm Wind in FAULKNER, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:29:00 to 15-APR-23 17:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: CONWAY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

A large tree was blown down on a building. This was a delayed report.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAWRENCE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 18:20:00 to 15-APR-23 18:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: WALNUT RIDGE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were down in Walnut Ridge.

Hail in MARION, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 15:30:00 to 15-APR-23 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLIPPIN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in GARLAND, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:30:00 to 15-APR-23 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: FOUNTAIN LAKE (UNINCORPORATED)
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in LONOKE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 18:35:00 to 15-APR-23 18:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: MCCREANOR
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

This is a correction to a previous non-thunderstorm wind gust report from 3 S McCreanor. A personal weather station measured 61 mph.

Hail in LOGAN, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 15:38:00 to 15-APR-23 15:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: MIDWAY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The report was received via mPING.

Hail in GRANT, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:32:00 to 15-APR-23 17:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRATTSVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in CONWAY, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 16:20:00 to 15-APR-23 16:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOBBLERS PT
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

There was damage to outbuildings east of Jerusalem.

Hail in VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 15:55:00 to 15-APR-23 15:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOTKINBURG
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in INDEPENDENCE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:35:00 to 15-APR-23 17:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTHSIDE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 15:55:00 to 15-APR-23 15:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOTKINBURG
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:52:00 to 15-APR-23 17:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEWPORT MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 16:01:00 to 15-APR-23 16:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: (RUE)RUSSELLVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:52:00 to 15-APR-23 17:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWIFTON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trees and powerlines were down in Swifton. Gusts were estimated at 60-70 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 16:05:00 to 15-APR-23 16:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: (RUE)RUSSELLVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

This corrects the previous thunderstorm wind damage report from 3 northeast of Russellville Regional Airport. Large trees were blown down and roots pulled from the ground.

Hail in PULASKI, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:53:00 to 15-APR-23 17:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARTINDALE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in STONE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 16:16:00 to 15-APR-23 16:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: FOX
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in SALINE, ARKANSAS
From 15-APR-23 17:53:00 to 15-APR-23 17:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: COLLEGEVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee