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Despite the loss of life, timely watches and warnings from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center and National Weather Service (NWS) undoubtedly saved many lives as destructive tornadoes ravaged parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa and Mississippi on April 27-28.

Let's break down the timeline of the Mayflower and Vilonia, Arkansas, tornado to illustrate the lead time provided and the value of heeding these alerts immediately.

1:50 p.m.: First Tornado Watch

- SPC wording in the watch: "... a strong tornado risk by late afternoon into this evening ... especially near the residual outflow boundary in AR."

- Roughly five hours, 42 minutes prior to the tornado hitting Mayflower.

- Roughly six hours prior to the tornado hitting Vilonia.​

7:06 p.m.: First Tornado Warning Including Mayflower

- Issued by the NWS office in Little Rock, Arkansas.

- Included in the warning: Roland, Mayflower, I-40 (between mile markers 133 and 145).

- Roughly 26 minutes prior to tornado hit Mayflower.

7:10 - 7:14 p.m.: First Report of Damage, Tornado Emergency

- 7:10 p.m.: First report of confirmed tornado with damage southwest of Lake Maumelle.

- 7:14 p.m.: Tornado emergency issued for Roland, Mayflower. 

- Tornado emergency is sometimes issued when a strong tornado is confirmed with significant damage heading toward or through town or city.

- Roughly 18 minutes before tornado hit Mayflower.

- Roughly 20 minutes before tornado crossed I-40.

7:25 p.m.: Tornado Near Roland

- Tornado in progress, according to Arkansas State Police.

- Note the debris ball, indicative of tornadic debris, near the highway 365 label northwest of Maumelle in the image above.

 7:29 p.m.: Tornado Emergency Issued For Vilonia

- First tornado warning (emergency) issued for Vilonia from NWS-Little Rock.

- Roughly 5 minutes before crossing I-40.

- Roughly 21 minutes before the tornado hit Vilonia.

7:32-7:34 p.m.: Mayflower, Interstate 40

- Distinct debris ball (darkest reflectivity) in radar image near Mayflower, Arkansas at 7:32 p.m.

- Tornado crossed Interstate 40 near Mayflower at 7:34 p.m.

7:50 p.m.: Vilonia

- Tornado hits Vilonia, Arkansas. (Radar image three minutes after hitting Vilonia)

- Roughly 21 minutes after tornado emergency issued by NWS-Little Rock.

- In April 2011, Vilonia was hit by a deadly tornado.

VIDEO ON WEATHER.COM: Late April 2014 Tornadoes