Heat in Arkansas, July 20 to 31, 1998

A blistering heat wave struck the south-central part of the nation in July 1998, including much of western and northwestern Arkansas. The second half of the month also saw little, if any, rainfall in northwest Arkansas. This was all brought about by a persistent upper level ridge of high pressure over the south-central and southwestern parts of the nation.In the Arkansas River valley at Fort Smith, the temperature rose to at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit on 12 of the last 14 days of the month and reached as high as 107 on the 30th. Further north at Fayetteville, the temperature rose to at least 95 degrees on 12 of the last 14 days of the month and reached as high as 101 on the 30th. 100+ degree temperatures are certainly unusual in the higher elevations of northwest Arkansas. Neither Fort Smith nor Fayetteville saw measurable rainfall from the 13th through the end of the month.Two deaths in northwest Arkansas are blamed on the heat. According the Arkansas Department of Health's Center for Health Statistics, two Benton County infants died from the heat. Newspaper articles did not list the gender of the victims, nor did they list the date or location of their deaths.