This was one of the strongest tornadoes of an outbreak of 23 that occurred during the evening of March 15, 1982. Most of the twisters were in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. This tornado was given a rating of F3. It had a path of 70 miles. There were 2 fatalities and 8 injuries.
The tornado developed 4 miles east of Girard, KS. It hit the towns of Arma and Mulberry. Several homes on the south side of Arma were moved off their foundation. At Mulberry, 50 homes were destroyed, another 90 were damaged. A grocery store south of the tornado was demolished by downburst winds. Judith James was killed in a mobile home.