Arkansas, 1997

Flash Flooding in Arkansas, April 5, 1997

April 5, 1997 · NWS LZK · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Flash flooding occurred over portions of Cleburne, Fulton and Lonoke counties as a result of heavy rainfall. A number of county roads and bridges were covered by high water for a period of time.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LZK wrote it up.

Flash flooding occurred over portions of Cleburne, Fulton and Lonoke counties as a result of heavy rainfall. A number of county roads and bridges were covered by high water for a period of time. Several roadways were also washed out in spots.

The radar

The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:47 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Cleburne

When
April 5, 12:45 AM CST to 6:30 AM CST
Where
Cleburne County, Countywide
Coordinates
35.538, -92.027 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Fulton

When
April 5, 12:45 AM CST to 6:30 AM CST
Where
Fulton County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.382, -91.818 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Lonoke

When
April 5, 12:45 AM CST to 6:30 AM CST
Where
Lonoke County, Countywide
Coordinates
34.754, -91.889 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arkansas in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, April 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5598419, 5598420, 5598421.