Arkansas, 1998

Hail and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, June 9 to 10, 1998

June 9 to 10, 1998 · NWS TSA · 6 events in 5 counties and zones

Later during the early morning of June 10, a line of thunderstorms moving across southeast Oklahoma strengthened as it entered western Arkansas along the Arkansas River valley. These storms brought marginally severe wind gusts to the Fort Smith-Van Buren area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
$6,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 TSA wrote it up.

Summary of events for June 9 PM-June 10 AM 1998:An isolated severe thunderstorm developed over Franklin County on the evening of June 9 around 1030 PM CDT, dropping hail to the size of quarters between Ozark and Cass.Later during the early morning of June 10, a line of thunderstorms moving across southeast Oklahoma strengthened as it entered western Arkansas along the Arkansas River valley. These storms brought marginally severe wind gusts to the Fort Smith-Van Buren area. Well to the north of these storms, rapidly sinking air brought locally strong winds generally along and north of the Boston Mountains between 330 and 430 AM CDT.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

3 high wind, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Franklin

When
June 9, 9:45 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, 5 mi N of Ozark
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
35.570, -93.830

Thunderstorm Wind, Sebastian

When
June 10, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Sebastian County, Ft Smith
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
35.380, -94.420

Several trees and power lines were blown down across town between 300 and 315 AM CDT.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When
June 10, 2:20 AM CST
Where
Crawford County, Van Buren
Property damage
$100
Coordinates
35.430, -94.350

A large tree limb was knocked down by thunderstorm winds.

High Wind, Washington

When
June 10, 2:30 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Measured
44 kt (51 mph)
Coordinates
35.979, -94.216 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Locally high winds developed from the Oklahoma state line eastward along the Boston Mountains as a result of rapidly sinking air to the north of a thunderstorm complex along the Arkansas River valley. Winds gusted to 51 mph at Drake Field in Fayetteville (KFYV) at 353 AM CDT. Trees and power lines were blown down in Ozark (Franklin County) between 345 and 415 AM CDT.

High Wind, Franklin

When
June 10, 2:30 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
Where
Franklin forecast zone
Property damage
$3,000

High Wind, Madison

When
June 10, 2:30 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Property damage
$100
Coordinates
36.011, -93.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arkansas in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, June 1998

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: 5644130, 5644131, 5644132, 5644133, 5644213, 5644214.