Alert archive / Arkansas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2003

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Tulsa, OK

June 2, 2003Franklin County, Arkansas

NWS Tulsa, OK issued this flash flood warning at Jun 2, 2003, 2:39 AM CDT for Franklin County, Arkansas. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Jun 2, 2003, 2:39 AM CDT (07:39 UTC)
Expired: Jun 2, 2003, 6:30 AM CDT
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Tulsa, OK
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Franklin County, AR

The radar

The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 42 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:42 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 00:00Z, 7.7 hours before the alert went out and 156 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1134 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 44 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 138 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WGUS54 KTSA 020739
FFWTUL
ARC047-021130-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
239 AM CDT MON JUN 2 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS

* UNTIL 630 AM CDT

* AT 237 AM CDT RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN   
WERE SPREADING INTO FRANKLIN COUNTY AND WILL LAST THROUGH 4AM.  
RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES WILL BE COMMON WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS AROUND 3 
INCHES LIKELY.  THIS WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING ON CREEKS AND STREAMS 
AND RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY THE HEAVY RAIN 
INCLUDE CHARLESTON AND OZARK.

HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS AND LOW LYING AREAS RAPIDLY...SO DO NOT DRIVE
YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER OF AN UNKNOWN DEPTH COVERS THE
ROAD. IT ONLY TAKES TWO FEET OF RUSHING WATER TO CARRY AWAY MOST
SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUPS. TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO REACH
YOUR DESTINATION OR WAIT UNTIL THE WATER RECEDES. REMEMBER...MOST
FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.

LAT...LON 3540 9411 3524 9406 3575 9366 3575 9395

5 follow-up statements

000 
WGUS74 KTSA 020807
FFSTUL
ARC033-047-131-OKC001-135-021100-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
305 AM CDT MON JUN 2 2003

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR CRAWFORD...SEBASTIAN...SOUTHERN 
ADAIR AND EASTERN SEQUOYAH COUNTIES UNTIL 615 AM CDT...

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 630 AM 
CDT...

AT 300 AM CDT...RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN ACROSS MUCH OF SEBASTIAN...CRAWFORD...FRANKLIN AND SOUTHERN 
ADAIR COUNTIES.  THE RAIN HAD MOVED OUT OF EASTERN SEQUOYAH COUNTY. 

BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 3AM RADAR SHOWED THAT BETWEEN 2 AND 3 INCHES OF 
RAIN INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER FROM AROUND 
ROLAND...THROUGH FORT SMITH AND VAN BUREN AND ON EAST TO NEAR CECIL. 
WITH HEAVY RAIN TO PERSIST IN THESE AREAS THROUGH 4 AM THE THREAT 
FOR FLASH FLOODING WILL CONTINUE.

GIVEN THAT THE HEAVY RAIN IS OVER IN EASTERN SEQUOYAH COUNTY THE 
WATER LEVELS THERE SHOULD SLOWLY RECEDE.

REMEMBER...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR 
IS OCCURRING. RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS...CREEKS AND DRAINAGE 
DITCHES SHOULD BE READY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF FLOODING IS 
OBSERVED. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER BY FOOT OR BY
AUTO...YOU MAY BE SWEPT AWAY BY THE STRONG CURRENT. IT ONLY TAKES TWO
FEET OF RUSHING WATER TO CARRY AWAY MOST SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND 
PICKUPS. TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION OR WAIT 
UNTIL THE WATER RECEDES.

LAT...LON 3568 9480 3543 9479 3529 9442 3527 9406
          3562 9369 3576 9393 3561 9407 3565 9447
          3582 9467

000 
WGUS74 KTSA 020808 CCA
FFSTUL
ARC033-047-131-OKC001-135-021100-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT...CRRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
305 AM CDT MON JUN 2 2003

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR CRAWFORD...SEBASTIAN...SOUTHERN 
ADAIR AND EASTERN SEQUOYAH COUNTIES UNTIL 615 AM CDT...

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 630 AM 
CDT...

AT 300 AM CDT...RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN ACROSS MUCH OF SEBASTIAN...CRAWFORD...FRANKLIN AND SOUTHERN 
ADAIR COUNTIES.  THE RAIN HAD MOVED OUT OF EASTERN SEQUOYAH COUNTY. 

BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 3AM RADAR SHOWED THAT BETWEEN 2 AND 3 INCHES OF 
RAIN HAS FALLEN ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER FROM AROUND ROLAND... 
THROUGH FORT SMITH AND VAN BUREN AND ON EAST TO NEAR CECIL. WITH 
HEAVY RAIN TO PERSIST IN THESE AREAS THROUGH 4 AM THE THREAT FOR 
FLASH FLOODING WILL CONTINUE.

GIVEN THAT THE HEAVY RAIN IS OVER IN EASTERN SEQUOYAH COUNTY THE 
WATER LEVELS THERE SHOULD SLOWLY RECEDE.

REMEMBER...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR 
IS OCCURRING. RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS...CREEKS AND DRAINAGE 
DITCHES SHOULD BE READY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF FLOODING IS 
OBSERVED. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER BY FOOT OR BY
AUTO...YOU MAY BE SWEPT AWAY BY THE STRONG CURRENT. IT ONLY TAKES TWO
FEET OF RUSHING WATER TO CARRY AWAY MOST SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND 
PICKUPS. TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION OR WAIT 
UNTIL THE WATER RECEDES.

LAT...LON 3568 9480 3543 9479 3529 9442 3527 9406
          3562 9369 3576 9393 3561 9407 3565 9447
          3582 9467

000 
WGUS74 KTSA 020857 CCA
FFSTUL
ARC033-047-131-OKC001-135-021100-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
355 AM CDT MON JUN 2 2003

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR CRAWFORD...SEBASTIAN...SOUTHERN 
ADAIR AND EASTERN SEQUOYAH COUNTIES UNTIL 615 AM CDT...

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 630 AM 
CDT...

AT 355 AM CDT...RADAR SHOWED THAT THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING AWAY 
FROM THE AREAS THAT HAD RECEIVED THE HEAVY RAIN IN THE ARKANSAS 
RIVER VALLEY OF WEST-CENTRAL ARKASNAS AND EXTREME EAST CENTRAL 
OKLAHOMA.  THIS WILL ALLOW WATER LEVELS TO RECEDE AND LESSEN 
THE THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING.  

ADDITIONAL SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE 
WARNED AREA IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS...SO THE WARNINGS WILL BE 
LEFT IN PLACE UNTIL IT BECOMES CLEAR HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL RAIN WILL 
FALL.  

IN THE MEAN TIME...MOTORISTS IN THE WARNED AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO 
EXERCISE CAUTION AS WATER MAY STILL BE OVER SOME RURAL ROADS OR IN 
POORLY DRAINED AREAS AND DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE DARK.

LAT...LON 3568 9480 3543 9479 3529 9442 3527 9406
          3562 9369 3576 9393 3561 9407 3565 9447
          3582 9467

000 
WGUS74 KTSA 021034 CCA
FFSTUL
ARC033-047-131-OKC001-135-021130-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
535 AM CDT MON JUN 2 2003

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR CRAWFORD...SEBASTIAN...SOUTHERN 
ADAIR AND EASTERN SEQUOYAH COUNTIES UNTIL 615 AM CDT...

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 630 AM 
CDT...

AT 530 AM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS HAD BEGUN TO SPREAD BACK INTO SEQUOYAH 
AND ADAIR COUNTIES AND WILL SPREAD INTO MUCH OF THE WARNED AREA 
THROUGH 630AM.  AN ADDITIONAL 1/2 TO 1 INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE WITH 
THE LATEST ROUND OF STORMS.  WATER MAY ONCE AGAIN RISE ALONG CREEKS 
AND DRAINAGE DITCHES...WITH PONDING OF WATER EXPECTED IN LOW LYING 
AREAS.

MOTORISTS IN THE WARNED AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION AS 
WATER ON ROADWAYS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE DARK.

LAT...LON 3568 9480 3543 9479 3529 9442 3527 9406
          3562 9369 3576 9393 3561 9407 3565 9447
          3582 9467

000 
WGUS74 KTSA 021131
FFSTUL
ARC047-021145-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
630 AM CDT MON JUN 2 2003

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

AT 625 AM CDT...RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 23 
MILES NORTH OF CASS TO 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF LONELM TO 24 MILES 
NORTHWEST OF TONEY TO 34 MILES WEST OF CHARLESTON...MOVING NORTHEAST 
AT 25 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE SHOWN A WEAKENING TREND AND WILL PROGRESS 
STEADILY EASTWARD THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS.  THIS WILL LIMIT THE 
THREAT FOR ADDITIONAL FLASH FLOODING...THEREFORE THE FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS WILL CONTINUE AS THE LINE OF 
THUNDERSTORMS MOVES ACROSS...HOWEVER SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING 
PROBLEMS ARE NOT ANTICIPATED.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ACROSS WATER COVERED ROADWAYS.

LAT...LON 3576 9395 3542 9412 3524 9406 3575 9368

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tulsa, OK issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 2, 1:34 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Crawford, Sebastian	41 min
Jun 2, 2:14 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Franklin	46 min
Jun 2, 2:21 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	TSA	Crawford, Sebastian	4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arkansas, 2003 Every flash flood warning in 2003

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.