Below and the map are borrowed from Wikipedia.
Summits can reach elevations of just over 2,560 feet (780 m) with valleys 500 to 1,550 feet (472 m) deep (150 m to 450 m). Turner Ward Knob is the highest named peak. Located in western Newton County, Arkansas, its elevation is 2,463 feet (751 m). Nearby, five unnamed peaks have elevations at or slightly above 2,560 feet (780 m). Drainage is primarily to the White River, with the exception of the Illinois River, although there also is considerable drainage from the south slopes of the Boston Mountains to the Arkansas River. Major streams of this type include Lee Creek, Frog Bayou, Mulberry River, Spadra Creek, Big Piney Creek, Little Piney Creek, Illinois Bayou, Point Remove Creek, and Cadron Creek. Many Ozark waterways have their headwaters in the uplands of the Boston formation, including the Buffalo, King’s, Mulberry, Little Red and White rivers.
The tornadoes were weak because they were at higher elevations.
Turner Ward Knob is the highest named peak. Located in western Newton County, Arkansas, its elevation is 2,463 feet (751 m)
Newton County, Seneca. Categorized as an EF-1.
Newton County, Neosho. Categorized as an EF-1.
The others:
May 21, 2017
By Frances Watson
...Survey teams with the National Weather Service (click here) have been making the rounds. Their final count was 16 tornadoes swept through the state.
The majority of them, 13 in all hit in the Ozarks:
Barry County, 3 miles SE of Shell Knob. Categorized as an EF-0.
Taney County, 3 miles W of Branson. Categorized as an EF-0.
Taney County, Rockaway Beach/Taneyville. Categorized as an EF-1.
Greene County, Turners. Categorized as an EF-0.
Christian County, 1 mile SE of Chadwick. Categorized as an EF-0.
Webster County, 6 miles WSW of Conway. Categorized as an EF-1.
Wright County, Dawson/Mountain Grove. Categorized as an EF-0.
Lawrence County, Stotts City/Mt. Vernon. Categorized as an EF-1.
Lawrence County, Miller. Categorized as an EF-0.
Dade County, 3 miles SE of Everton. Categorized as an EF-0.
Dade County, 2 miles NE of Everton. Categorized as an EF-0.
Greene/Polk Counties, 3 miles WNW of Walnut Grove. Categorized as an EF-0.
Oregon County, Thayer. Categorized as an EF-0.
Three tornadoes were recorded just west of the Ozarks:
McDonald County, 3 miles E of Jane. Categorized as an EF-1.
These two were mentioned above.
Newton County, Seneca. Categorized as an EF-1.
Newton County, Neosho. Categorized as an EF-1....
Tornadoes don't normally occur in mountainous regions. There have been an occasional reporting that dates back to 2012, but, nothing like this. No tornado outbreak has ever occurred in mountainous regions before.
For tornadoes to occur at elevation as well as in deep valleys is extremely curious. That just doesn't happen.
It could be the available water vapor of the forests, rivers and streams that allow heat to accumulate and then add fuel to the air mass. I have to wonder if local warm water vapor can ignite this?
Taney County, 3 miles W of Branson. Categorized as an EF-0.
Taney County, Rockaway Beach/Taneyville. Categorized as an EF-1.
Greene County, Turners. Categorized as an EF-0.
Christian County, 1 mile SE of Chadwick. Categorized as an EF-0.
Webster County, 6 miles WSW of Conway. Categorized as an EF-1.
Wright County, Dawson/Mountain Grove. Categorized as an EF-0.
Lawrence County, Stotts City/Mt. Vernon. Categorized as an EF-1.
Lawrence County, Miller. Categorized as an EF-0.
Dade County, 3 miles SE of Everton. Categorized as an EF-0.
Dade County, 2 miles NE of Everton. Categorized as an EF-0.
Greene/Polk Counties, 3 miles WNW of Walnut Grove. Categorized as an EF-0.
Oregon County, Thayer. Categorized as an EF-0.
Three tornadoes were recorded just west of the Ozarks:
McDonald County, 3 miles E of Jane. Categorized as an EF-1.
These two were mentioned above.
Newton County, Seneca. Categorized as an EF-1.
Newton County, Neosho. Categorized as an EF-1....
Tornadoes don't normally occur in mountainous regions. There have been an occasional reporting that dates back to 2012, but, nothing like this. No tornado outbreak has ever occurred in mountainous regions before.
For tornadoes to occur at elevation as well as in deep valleys is extremely curious. That just doesn't happen.
It could be the available water vapor of the forests, rivers and streams that allow heat to accumulate and then add fuel to the air mass. I have to wonder if local warm water vapor can ignite this?
