Mother Dog Reunites With Her Puppy After ‘Monster’ Arkansas Tornado

A mother dog was seen reuniting with one of her puppies in Lake City, Arkansas, Thursday morning after an estimated EF-3 tornado ripped through the community overnight.

Newsweek reached out to the National Weather Service (NWS) via email Thursday for comment.

Why It Matters

Tornadoes have ravaged communities in the South and Midwest already this year, leading to multiple deaths. National Guard troops were previously deployed in Arkansas, a particularly hard-hit state, to help communities remove debris from damaged properties.

The severe weather has also displaced swathes of people, causing numerous power outages and widespread flooding.

What To Know

The NWS reported multiple tornado watches and warnings across numerous states Wednesday afternoon, including Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. Threats of flooding or a flash flood associated with the tornadoes have also raised concerns amid the ongoing tumultuous weather.

During the expansive storm, a level 5 tornado threat was issued for portions of Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee, including Memphis, on Wednesday.

Videos of terrifyingly large tornadoes inundated social media Thursday morning as the sunlight cast reality on the damage left behind.

While reporting from Lake City, ABC News Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee posted about the heartwarming reunion between the canines, saying, “The dog we have been with all morning just found one of her puppies in the rubble of this tornado in Lake City, Arkansas!”

In a follow-up post, Zee added, “Good news! Her owners showed up and they survived in the storm shelter. Last night they couldn’t get her to come with and another tornado behind the first.” The mother dog was eventually reunited with all five of her puppies, Zee noted.

The dogs can be seen standing in and on debris of a destroyed home. Zee referenced a video of the tornado in her posts on X, calling it a “monster.”

According to the NWS office in Memphis in a preliminary report, the area experienced an EF-3 tornado with winds of 150 mph. An EF3 scale ranges from 136 mph to 165 mph.

The NWS says that surveys of damage have been suspended today “due to ongoing storms and concern for safety of the survey team.”

Mother dog and puppy — A mother dog and her puppy can be seen in the aftermath of a preliminary EF-3 tornado in Lake City, Arkansas, on April 3. (Photo from Ginger Zee on X)

What People Are Saying

NWS Little Rock in a post on X on Thursday: “Severe weather is expected to continue this afternoon through Saturday. Tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds are all possible. Please continue to remain weather aware through Saturday! #arwx“

Republican Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on X on Thursday: “The @arkansasguard is on the ground and local officials are distributing sandbags to avoid flooding. We’re going to have bad weather and potential flooding for the next few days. Follow all official guidance and be extra cautious on the roads.”