Arkansas, 2002Flash Flooding in Arkansas, April 7 to 8, 2002
April 7 to 8, 2002 · NWS TSA · 6 events in 6 counties and zones
6 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $150,000
- 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 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 Apr 7, 2:30 PM CST, 2 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 7, 2:30 PM CST, 2 hours 57 minutes before
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
330 PM CDT SUN APR 7 2002
INITIAL CONCERN WITH THIS FORECAST WILL BE FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN THE
SOUTHERN PART OF THE AREA FOR TONIGHT. HAVE SEEN AMOUNTS IN THE 1
TO 3 INCH RANGE COMMON THROUGH THE DAY GENERALLY TO THE SOUTH OF
I-40. WILL EXTEND THE WATCH FOR TONIGHT TO INCLUDE SEQUOYAH COUNTY
IN EAST CENTRAL OK...AND ALSO INTO PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
INCLUDING THE FORT SMITH AREA.
UPPER LOW MOVING OUT OF NEW MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON INTO WEST TEXAS.
SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD INTO THE STATE DURING THE
NIGHT...THEN BEGIN TO OPEN AND LIFT NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE AREA
DURING THE DAY ON MONDAY. HEAVY RAIN AXIS SHOULD SHIFT TO THE EAST
OF THE AREA BY TOMORROW MORNING...THEN CONCERN WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR
SEVERE WEATHER. FOCUS THIS AFTERNOON IS ALONG DRYLINE OVER FAR WEST
TX...AND ALSO ALONG WARM FRONT THAT STRETCHES SOUTH OF THE RED RIVER
TO THE DFW VICINITY. SEVERE THREAT INTO MONDAY WILL LIKELY DEPEND
ON HOW MUCH CLEARING CAN TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE AREA.
WILL SEE WARM FRONT BEGIN LIFTING TO THE NORTH LATER TONIGHT...SO
HAVE WORDED ZONES MAINLY FOR EVENING LOWS WITH STEADY OR SLOWLY
RISING TEMPS DURING THE NIGHT. WILL KEEP LIKELY POPS GOING AREAWIDE
THROUGH THE DAY ON MONDAY...THEN CHANCE POPS ON INTO MONDAY NIGHT.
MAY ALSO NEED TO INCLUDE SOME POPS FOR AT LEAST EARLY TUESDAY IN THE
EAST...BUT FOR NOW WILL LEAVE THE TUESDAY PERIOD DRY.
EXPECT DRY WEATHER WITH WARMING TEMPS THROUGH THE WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY
TIME FRAME...BEFORE NEXT SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE AREA BY LATE IN THE
WEEK. WILL KEEP SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORECAST FOR
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...AND ALSO EXTEND IN SUNDAY.
FCSTID = 4
TUL 50 68 50 67 / 100 60 40 10
FSM 49 68 54 70 / 100 70 50 10
MLC 50 70 53 69 / 100 60 40 10
BVO 50 66 47 66 / 100 60 40 10
FYV 47 66 50 66 / 100 70 50 10
BYV 47 66 50 66 / 100 70 50 10
MIO 50 67 49 66 / 100 60 40 10
MKO 50 68 50 67 / 100 60 40 10
F10 50 68 50 67 / 100 60 40 10
HHW 50 71 57 71 / 100 60 40 10
.TSA...
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TONIGHT FOR ZONES ARZ019>020...ARZ029.
OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TONIGHT FOR ZONES
OKZ049...OKZ053...OKZ072>076.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Apr 7, 12:04 PM CST, 5 hours 23 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-081200-
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
100 PM CST SUN APR 7 2002
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...
A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM OVER NEW MEXICO EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WILL
MOVE EAST INTO SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA BY LATE TONIGHT. RAIN AND EMBEDDED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON...WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN
AT TIMES. RAIN WILL TAPER OFF FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST BY LATE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...THOUGH REDEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY OVERNIGHT.
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL REMAIN A THREAT IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA. 1 TO 2
INCHES OF ADDITIONAL RAIN WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS OVER 3 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE. THIS MAY RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
LATER TONIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO THE FLOOD WATCH PRODUCT
/OKCFFATUL/ FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH.
THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WILL REMAIN BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS AS THE RAIN COOLED AIRMASS WILL REMAIN TOO STABLE TO SUPPORT
LARGE HAIL OR DAMAGING WINDS.
CHANCES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST MONDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING AS SOME CLEARING DURING THE DAY WILL ALLOW THE AIRMASS TO
DESTABILIZE. AS THE UPPER LEVEL STORM MOVES OVERHEAD DURING THE
AFTERNOON...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY REDEVELOP AND SOME
OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL.
Special weather statement, Apr 7, 1:00 PM CST, 4 hours 27 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-081200-
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
100 PM CST SUN APR 7 2002
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...
A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM OVER NEW MEXICO EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WILL
MOVE EAST INTO SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA BY LATE TONIGHT. RAIN AND EMBEDDED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON...WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN
AT TIMES. RAIN WILL TAPER OFF FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST BY LATE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...THOUGH REDEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY OVERNIGHT.
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL REMAIN A THREAT IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA. 1 TO 2
INCHES OF ADDITIONAL RAIN WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS OVER 3 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE. THIS MAY RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
LATER TONIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO THE FLOOD WATCH PRODUCT
/OKCFFATUL/ FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH.
THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WILL REMAIN BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS AS THE RAIN COOLED AIRMASS WILL REMAIN TOO STABLE TO SUPPORT
LARGE HAIL OR DAMAGING WINDS.
CHANCES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST MONDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING AS SOME CLEARING DURING THE DAY WILL ALLOW THE AIRMASS TO
DESTABILIZE. AS THE UPPER LEVEL STORM MOVES OVERHEAD DURING THE
AFTERNOON...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY REDEVELOP AND SOME
OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL.
Flash Flood, Crawford
- When
- April 7, 5:27 PM CST to April 8, 2:00 AM CST
- Where
- Crawford County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.589, -94.243 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy rain fell on and off across Crawford County from the late afternoon hours of the 7th til just after midnight on the 8th. 6.04 inches of rain fell at Van Buren while 7.11 inches and 6.41 inches of rain fell in Mountainburg respectively. This rain caused flooding of low lying areas and roads across the county.Several vehicle resues were needed in Van Buren and flooding occurred in the neighboring Industrial Park.
Flash Flood, Sebastian
- When
- April 7, 6:15 PM CST to April 8, 2:00 AM CST
- Where
- Sebastian County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.199, -94.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy rain fell on and off across Sebastian county from the late afternoon hours of the 7th to just after midnight on the 8th. 4.49 inches of rain fell in Forth Smith and 4.41 inches of rain fell at Midland. This rain caused the flooding of several roads across the county. Severe street flooding occurred in Fort Smith and several cars were reported to be stranded.
Flash Flood, Franklin
- When
- April 7, 7:00 PM CST to April 8, 8:00 AM CST
- Where
- Franklin County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.512, -93.891 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy rain fell on and off across Franklin county from the evening of April 7th to the early morning hours of April 8th. 5.50 inches of rain fell near Ozark. This excessive rainfall resulted in the flooding of numerous county roads. One bridge was washed out near Cass and Highway 23 was flooded 5 miles south of Cass.
Flash Flood, Carroll
- When
- April 7, 9:32 PM CST to April 8, 4:00 AM CST
- Where
- Carroll County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.341, -93.538 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy rain which fell from the evening of the 7th to the early morning hours of the 8th caused widespread flooding of rural roads and low water crossings across Carroll county.
Flash Flood, Madison
- When
- April 7, 9:35 PM CST to April 8, 8:00 AM CST
- Where
- Madison County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.011, -93.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy rain fell on and off across Madison county from the evening of the 7th to the early morning hours of the 8th. St. Paul received 5.92 inches of rain. This rain caused severe flooding of rural roads around the county.
Flash Flood, Washington
- When
- April 7, 9:37 PM CST to April 8, 2:00 AM CST
- Where
- Washington County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.979, -94.216 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy rain fell on and off across Washington county during the evening. 3.34 inches of rain fell at Fayetteville. The rain caused flooding of some rural roads including a bridge near Johnson.
- 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.
- Flooding and Rip Currents in Guam, April 7 to 8, 20021 death · 3 injured · $150,000 · 4 events
- Tornado and Hail in Texas, April 7, 2002$800,000 · F2 · 2 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Texas, April 7, 2002$40,000 · F2 · 32 events
- Dust Storm in Colorado, April 7, 200219 injured · 1 event
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, April 7, 20023 injured · $800,000 · F0 · 6 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, April 7 to 8, 20021 injured · $770,000 · 2.75 in hail · 21 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, April 7 to 8, 2002$183,000 · 1.75 in hail · 41 events
- Flash Flood and Hail in Texas, April 7 to 8, 2002$350,000 · 2.5 in hail · 2 events
- Tornado and Hail in Texas, April 7, 20022 injured · $150,000 · F0 · 3 events
- Damaging Wind in Texas, April 7, 2002$100,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Louisiana, April 7, 2002$80,000 · 80 kt wind · 1 event
- Flash Flood in Texas, April 7, 2002$60,000 · 1 event
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: 5290092, 5290093, 5289992, 5290095, 5289993, 5290094.