Flash Flooding and Hail in Arkansas, February 24, 2001

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Arkansas, February 24, 2001
Start: 2001-02-24T13:27
End: 2001-02-24T15:30
Location: Arkansas

February 24, 2001 · NWS TSA · 18 events in 7 counties and zones

10 thunderstorm wind, 5 flash flood, 3 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $12,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 18

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 24, 12:30 PM CST, 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 24, 12:30 PM CST, 57 minutes before

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1230 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

LINE OF STORMS IS PROGRESSING EAST WITH ONLY SCATTERED SHOWERS
BEHIND IT FOR THE MOST PART. WILL UPDATE ZONES TO REMOVE COUNTIES
FROM FLASH FLOOD AND TOR WATCH. /13

.TUL...
.AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH...WIND ADVISORY TODAY FOR ZONES
1-2-10-11-19-20-29.
.OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH...WIND ADVISORY TODAY FOR ZONES
49-53-58-063-068>70-72-73>76.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 24, 12:03 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1203 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1127 AM    STIDHAM                   OK    .75 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   MCINTOSH                        [EUFAULA EOC]

1135 AM    MUSKOGEE                  OK    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   MUSKOGEE                        [CITY OF MUSKOGEE EOC]

1140 6AM    MUSKOGEE                  OK    .75 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   MUSKOGEE                        [CITY OF MUSKOGEE EOC]

Local storm report, Feb 24, 12:05 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1205 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1135 AM    MUSKOGEE                  OK    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   MUSKOGEE                        POWER LINES DOWN ON THE
                                           WEST SIDE OF MUSKOGEE
                                           CITY OF MUSKOGEE EOC

Local storm report, Feb 24, 12:15 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1215 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1140 AM    1 W CHECOTAH              OK    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   MCINTOSH                        POWER LINES AND TREES
                                           DOWN 1 MILE WEST OF
                                           INTERSECTION OF
                                           INTERSTATE 40 AND
                                           HIGHWAY 69 [AMATEUR
                                           RADIO]

Special weather statement, Feb 24, 12:20 PM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes before

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-251200-

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1220 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

..TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND ALL OF
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS UNTIL 5 PM...

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WAS LOCATED OVER COLORADO THIS
AFTERNOON. SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WAS LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST
KANSAS WITH A DRYLINE EXTENDING SOUTH TROUGH EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND
INTO EASTERN TEXAS. SEVERE STORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A FEW
TORNADOES...ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON JUST AHEAD OF THE DRYLINE AS
IT SWEEPS ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS
AFTERNOON.

.SPOTTER ACTIVATION...
SPOTTERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED FOR THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS MOST
OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

.DISCUSSION...STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS HAVE BEEN ONGOING OVER PARTS
OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.  AS THE UPPER SYSTEM MOVES
OUT INTO THE PLAINS THE SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE
EASTWARD ACROSS KANSAS...SWEEPING THE DRYLINE ACROSS THE REMAINDER
OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND ALL OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON.
THE THREAT FOR STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND THE POTENTIAL
FOR TORNADOES WILL CONTINUE EAST OF MIAMI TO HUGO LINE THIS
AFTERNOON.    I

THREAT TABLE
VALID THROUGH 1200 UTC SUNDAY

THREAT AREA...FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND ALL OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
THUNDERSTORM PROBABILITY...100
SEVERE WEATHER PROBABILITY IF STORMS OCCUR...100
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER PROBABILITY IF STORMS OCCUR...60

THREAT AREAS DEFINE THE GREATEST RISK. PROBABILITIES ARE IN
PERCENT.  SIGNIFICANT SEVERE IS DEFINED AS F1 OR GREATER WIND/
TORNADO DAMAGE AND/OR GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL OR LARGER.

.OTHER HAZARDS...
 A FLASH FLOOD WATCH /OKCFFATUL/ REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR FOR EASTERN
OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON AS HEAVY RAINS TODAY
WILL COMBINE WITH RAINFALL OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS

WIND GUSTS OF 25 TO 35 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON.
AS A RESULT...A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON.
WINDS WILL SUBSIDE OVERNIGHT AS THE SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTER
LIFTS NORTHEAST FROM THE AREA. SEE /OKCNPWTUL/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

RELATED GRAPHICAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT...
 WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA

Special weather statement, Feb 24, 12:40 PM CST, 47 minutes before

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-251200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1240 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

..TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 30 AND 31 REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 5PM FOR
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AND MOST OF FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA...

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA...
NOWATA...ROGERS...CRAIG...MAYES...WAGONER...OKMULGEE...MUSKOGEE
MCINTOSH AND PITTSBURG.

THE TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5PM FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA...

OTTAWA...DELAWARE...CHEROKEE...ADAIR...SEQUOYAH...HASKELL...LATIMER
PUSHMATAHA...CHOCTAW AND LE FORE COUNTIES

AND IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...

WASHINGTON... BENTON...CARROLL...MADISON...SEBASTIAN...CRAWFORD
AND FRANKLIN.

AT 1235 PM...RADAR INDICATED THE THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND
TORNADOES HAD MOVED EAST OF A LINE FROM MIAMI TO HUGO. THE LINE
OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST DURING THE
AFTERNOON.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER. LISTEN FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

Special weather statement, Feb 24, 1:19 PM CST, 8 minutes before

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053-058-063-068-069-072-
074>076-241945-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
119 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

...TORNADO WATCHES 30 AND 31 REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF EASTERN
OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELED IN THE FOLLOWING OKLAHOMA
COUNTIES...

OTTAWA...DELAWARE...CHEROKEE...HASKELL...LATIMER...PUSHMATAHA AND
CHOCTAW COUNTIES.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5PM FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...

IN OKLAHOMA...LE FLORE...ADAIR AND SEQUOYAH...

IN ARKANSAS...BENTON...CARROLL...MADISON...FRANKLIN...CRAWFORD AND
SEBASTIAN.

SEE SHORT TERM FORECASTS ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.

The radar

The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 21 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:27 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 thunderstorm wind, 5 flash flood, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sebastian

When: February 24, 1:27 PM CST
Where: Sebastian County, Slaytonville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 35.117, -94.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: February 24, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, 2 mi NE of Mountainburg
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 35.650, -94.133

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: February 24, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 2 mi E of Gentry
Property damage: $100
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 36.267, -94.450

Thunderstorm winds blew down large tree limbs.

Hail, Washington

When: February 24, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Farmington
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.033, -94.250

Hail, Washington

When: February 24, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Washington County, West Fork
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.933, -94.183

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: February 24, 1:32 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Fayetteville
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 36.067, -94.167

Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree which damaged three cars.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: February 24, 1:45 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 2 mi E of Spring Vly
Property damage: $500
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.133, -94.033

Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: February 24, 1:45 PM CST
Where: Benton County, Bentonville
Property damage: $100
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.367, -94.217

Thunderstorm winds blew trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: February 24, 1:45 PM CST
Where: Benton County, Wareagle
Property damage: $500
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.267, -93.933

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: February 24, 1:45 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 2 mi SE of Sulphur City
Property damage: $100
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.950, -94.017

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When: February 24, 1:55 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, Eureka Spgs
Property damage: $100
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.400, -93.733

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: February 24, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Madison County, Clifty
Property damage: $100
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.233, -93.800

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees.

Hail, Franklin

When: February 24, 2:07 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 8 mi NNW of Ozark
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.600, -93.883

Flash Flood, Washington

When: February 24, 2:50 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Fayetteville
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.979, -94.216 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains caused a stream to flow over a bridge.

Flash Flood, Benton

When: February 24, 2:50 PM CST
Where: Benton County, Healing Spgs
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.339, -94.256 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains cause a stream to flow over Highway 264. Other roads in the area were flooded as well.

Flash Flood, Benton

When: February 24, 2:50 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 5 mi N of Gentry
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.339, -94.256 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains caused a road near the intersection of Highway 43 and Highway 102 to be flooded.

Flash Flood, Madison

When: February 24, 3:30 PM CST
Where: Madison County, Huntsville
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.011, -93.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains caused street flooding.

Flash Flood, Franklin

When: February 24, 3:30 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, Charleston
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.512, -93.891 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains caused street flooding.

What these are

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

Every storm in Arkansas in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Arkansas, February 2001

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: 5234963, 5234964, 5234965, 5234966, 5234967, 5234968, 5234969, 5234970, 5234971, 5234972, 5235056, 5235057, 5235058, 5235059, 5235060, 5235061, 5235062, 5235063.