Alert archive / Arkansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 53, NWS Little Rock, AR
NWS Little Rock, AR issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 12, 2020, 6:26 PM CDT for 4 counties in Arkansas. It was in force for 49 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 12, 2020, 6:26 PM CDT (23:26 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 12, 2020, 7:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 49 min
- Issued by
- NWS Little Rock, AR
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Montgomery County, AR, Polk County, AR, Scott County, AR, Yell County, AR
The radar
The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:29 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 3:44 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 242 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 841 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -80 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 519 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 60 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 276 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 299 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 5.3
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Little Rock, AR wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 12, 2:48 PM CDT, 3 hours 38 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 12, 2:48 PM CDT, 3 hours 38 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 248 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020 .Short Term...Tonight thru Saturday... We are setting up for another possible severe weather event tonight across the area. Last night I had expected the warm front to push all the way northward to the AR/MO border, but that did not happen...the front stalled out over central AR. Thru the day the front has moved more to the north, but quite frankly it is a bit diffuse and hard to pinpoint exactly. Regardless, a cold front will be sweeping down into the state tonight, and convection is expected to fire up along and ahead of the front. Models are a mixed bag, with some showing more of a QLCS situation, with some favoring supercells ahead of a line. There is a fair amount of directional and speed shear present, albeit less than I anticipated yesterday. Even so, I anticipate that any larger storms should be capble of forming mesocyclones and rotating. Skies cleared quite a bit today across northern AR and the river valley, with partial clearing across much of the rest of the state. This has allowed temperatures to rise above forecat values, and presumably CAPE values will be higher for convection this afternoon and evening. I am thinking that many areas across the northern half of the state have mixed layer 1000-1500j/kg CAPE values, with some higher pockets likely. Forecast BRN values are in the teens to the 30's, and this strongly favors the development of supercells. One caveat is that forecast soundings show a fair amount of capping, but this could be beneficial to any stronger storms that break thru the cap. We have a 21Z sounding going up today, and hopefully this will give us a better picture of how the atmosphere has evolved during the day. Putting it all together, I think we could see some cells develop out ahead of the front, with some possibly becoming supercells, followed by a broken squall line behind it. SPC may be issuing a tornado watch for part of the area soon, and this certainly seems justified. After tonight, I haven't made any large scale changes to the existing forecast. The upper low across the southwest will move quickly toward the area and will exhibit considerable deamplification. There should be enough energy with this shortwaveto keep chances for showers and isolated thunderstorms in the forecast thru Saturday. && .Extended Term...Saturday Night Through Wednesday... Not many changes to the long term portion of the forecast this afternoon, with most eyes still focused on short term severe weather impacts. Cooler temperatures than what have been observed recently will be in place across the area this weekend into early next week. Throughout the week, temperatures will begin to moderate. A surface boundary will remain in the vicinity of the state through the long term portion of the forecast, acting as a focusing mechanism for precip. A few H500 lows will meander their way eastward from the western US, while encountering ridging across the Gulf of Mexico into the southern US. Across the state, persistent energy will overspread the area in the SW flow aloft. With abundant moisture in place near the surface, persistent and widespread rainfall is expected across the forecast area. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 49 55 42 48 / 60 30 80 80 Camden AR 58 58 51 70 / 100 100 60 50 Harrison AR 44 53 39 48 / 10 30 90 90 Hot Springs AR 54 56 47 61 / 100 80 70 80 Little Rock AR 53 56 46 58 / 100 70 70 70 Monticello AR 57 59 52 70 / 100 90 50 50 Mount Ida AR 52 55 46 61 / 90 90 80 80 Mountain Home AR 45 55 39 46 / 10 20 80 90 Newport AR 50 55 44 49 / 80 20 80 80 Pine Bluff AR 54 55 49 65 / 100 80 60 60 Russellville AR 52 56 45 55 / 40 60 80 80 Searcy AR 52 54 44 54 / 90 50 80 80 Stuttgart AR 54 55 47 60 / 100 70 70 70 && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...NONE. && Short Term...53 / Extended Term...67
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 12, 4:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 453 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020 ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-131000- Boone-Marion-Baxter-Fulton-Sharp-Randolph-Newton-Searcy-Stone- Izard-Independence-Lawrence-Johnson-Pope-Van Buren-Cleburne- Jackson-Logan-Conway-Faulkner-White-Woodruff-Scott-Yell-Perry- Polk-Montgomery-Garland-Saline-Pulaski-Lonoke-Prairie-Monroe-Pike- Clark-Hot Spring-Grant-Jefferson-Arkansas-Dallas-Cleveland- Lincoln-Desha-Ouachita-Calhoun-Bradley-Drew- 453 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...This evening and Tonight Thunderstorms will continue to develop this afternoon and evening. A few strong to severe storms are expected. Large hail and damaging winds will be possible with the strongest storms. Isolated tornadoes will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday Through Wednesday Rain and a few thunderstorms are expected through most of the long term period. Locally heavy rainfall may be a concern toward the end of the week and into the weekend. Currently...flash flooding potential remains low...but some localized high water issues may occur. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation may be needed this evening. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 12, 5:37 PM CDT, 49 minutes before
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</html>Special weather statement, Mar 12, 5:57 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
557 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020
ARZ017-122345-
Lawrence AR-
557 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTY UNTIL 645
PM CDT...
At 556 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Lake Charles State Park, moving east at 45 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Walnut Ridge... Hoxie...
Black Rock... Lake Charles State Park...
College City... Portia...
Minturn... Sedgwick...
Powhatan... Whiskerville...
Giles Spur... Lauratown...
Clover Bend... Calvin...
Dicus... Coffman...
Arbor Grove... Powhatan Historic State Park...
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas.
LAT...LON 3608 9082 3604 9084 3602 9084 3599 9086
3598 9084 3595 9087 3593 9086 3592 9087
3588 9088 3588 9095 3597 9123 3615 9119
3614 9108 3612 9108 3612 9106 3614 9106
3613 9077 3611 9077
TIME...MOT...LOC 2256Z 278DEG 41KT 3606 9112
CrossLocal storm report, Mar 12, 6:11 PM CDT, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
611 PM CDT THU MAR 12 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0503 PM HAIL HORSESHOE BEND 36.22N 91.74W
03/12/2020 E1.25 INCH IZARD AR SOCIAL MEDIA
&&
EVENT NUMBER LZK2000157
GOUDSWARDSpecial weather statement, Mar 12, 6:12 PM CDT, 14 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
612 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020
ARZ056-063-064-122345-
Cleveland AR-Lincoln AR-Jefferson AR-
612 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN CLEVELAND...SOUTH
CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND LINCOLN COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT...
At 612 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Toledo, or near Rison, moving east at 50 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Star City... Rison...
Gould... Grady...
Nebo... Feenyville...
Whitefield... Cane Creek State Park...
Mills... Kedron...
Toledo... Garrett Bridge...
Tarry... Palmyra...
Rose Hill... Crigler...
Glendale in Lincoln County... Calhoun...
Rowell... Fresno...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3384 9156 3389 9222 3407 9220 3411 9156
3396 9155
TIME...MOT...LOC 2312Z 266DEG 44KT 3396 9211
62Special weather statement, Mar 12, 6:15 PM CDT, 11 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Little Rock AR 615 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020 ARZ037-038-040-041-130000- Polk AR-Scott AR-Yell AR-Montgomery AR- 615 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN POLK...SOUTHEASTERN SCOTT...SOUTHWESTERN YELL AND NORTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT... At 615 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Waldron to 11 miles northeast of Mena. Movement was east at 30 mph. Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Waldron... Oden... Muddy Creek WMA... Y City... Needmore... Cedar Creek... Harvey... Pencil Bluff... Boles... Sims... Parks... A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for western and central Arkansas. LAT...LON 3486 9356 3459 9368 3470 9418 3491 9411 TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 280DEG 24KT 3487 9406 3470 9409 46
Special weather statement, Mar 12, 6:25 PM CDT, 1 minute before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Little Rock AR 625 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020 ARZ012>014-022-023-130000- Pope AR-Searcy AR-Newton AR-Stone AR-Van Buren AR- 625 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN STONE...SOUTHERN SEARCY...SOUTHEASTERN NEWTON...NORTHERN VAN BUREN AND NORTHEASTERN POPE COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT... At 625 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Moore, or 24 miles southeast of Jasper, moving east at 45 mph. Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Clinton... Shirley... Kay... Witts Spring... Rocky Hill... Moore... Dabney... Solo... Smyrna... Elba... Bohannon... Woolum... Imo... Old Lexington... Choctaw... Watts... Leslie... Ben Hur... Alread... Rupert... A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central and north central Arkansas. LAT...LON 3558 9316 3579 9306 3586 9233 3551 9230 TIME...MOT...LOC 2325Z 278DEG 37KT 3569 9299 Cross
The office that day
Everything else NWS Little Rock, AR issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 3:09 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Boone | 36 min |
| Mar 12, 3:46 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Baxter | 29 min |
| Mar 12, 3:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Baxter, Fulton, Marion | 27 min |
| Mar 12, 3:58 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Marion | 47 min |
| Mar 12, 4:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Baxter, Fulton, Izard | 38 min |
| Mar 12, 4:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Baxter, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Sharp | 44 min |
| Mar 12, 4:48 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Stone | 42 min |
| Mar 12, 4:51 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LZK | Fulton, Independence, Izard, Sharp | 39 min |
| Mar 12, 4:52 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Logan | 38 min |
| Mar 12, 4:55 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Scott | 35 min |
| Mar 12, 5:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Baxter, Cleburne, Independence, Izard, Marion, Searcy and 1 more | 38 min |
| Mar 12, 5:11 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Pope | 49 min |
| Mar 12, 5:15 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Randolph | 30 min |
| Mar 12, 5:23 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Yell | 52 min |
| Mar 12, 5:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Fulton, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp | 34 min |
| Mar 12, 5:27 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LZK | Jackson, Lawrence, Sharp | 29 min |
| Mar 12, 5:37 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Scott | 53 min |
| Mar 12, 5:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Cleburne, Independence, Izard, Stone | 33 min |
| Mar 12, 5:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Polk | 46 min |
| Mar 12, 5:57 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Lawrence | 48 min |
| Mar 12, 6:12 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Cleveland, Lincoln | 33 min |
| Mar 12, 6:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Independence, Jackson | 12 min |
| Mar 12, 6:15 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Scott | 45 min |
| Mar 12, 6:25 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Van Buren | 35 min |
| Mar 12, 6:31 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LZK | Van Buren | 44 min |
| Mar 12, 6:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LZK | Pope, Van Buren | 45 min |
| Mar 12, 6:56 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | LZK | Montgomery, Polk, Scott | 3 hr |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arkansas, 2020Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020
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.