Arkansas, 2002Flash Flooding in Arkansas, April 8, 2002
April 8, 2002 · NWS TSA · 4 events in 4 counties and zones
4 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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 8, 10:10 AM CST, 3 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 8, 10:10 AM CST, 3 hours 30 minutes before
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1110 AM CDT MON APR 8 2002
CLOUDS STILL BLANKETING THE AREA THIS MORNING...BUT BEGINNING TO SEE
JUST A FEW BREAKS. AREAS THAT DO TEND TO SHOW SOME BREAKS QUICKLY
FILLING BACK IN THOUGH. SURFACE PATTERN STILL MUDDLED THIS MORNING
IN WAKE OF COMPLEX THAT EXITED THE AREA DURNG THE THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS. RADAR SHOWING SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS/TSRA TRYING TO
REDEVELOP WITH COLD CORE OF UPPER SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS.
EXPECT COVERAGE TO CONTINUING INCREASING WITH POTENTIAL FOR ANY
ORGANIZED SEVERE WX DEPENDING ON AMOUNT OF CLEARING AND HOW MUCH AMS
CAN RECOVER. WILL UPDATE ZONES AND KEEP LIKELY POPS IN MOST AREAS
FOR THIS AFTERNOON. ALSO SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO WINDS/TEMPS.
.TSA...
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY FOR ZONES ARZ001>002...
ARZ010>011...ARZ019>020...ARZ029.
OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY FOR ZONES
OKZ049...OKZ053...OKZ065>076.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Apr 8, 11:59 AM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-091200-
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
100 PM CST MON APR 8 2002
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TODAY ALONG AND SOUTH OF AN OKEMAH TO
BENTONVILLE LINE...
AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE TROUGH WAS LOCATED OVER WESTERN OKLAHOMA
AND EXTENDED SOUTH IN TO NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON. THE
UPPER TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO WEAKEN AS IT MOVES EAST NORTHEAST THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT INTO MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS.
ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE RAIN ENDED EARLY THIS MORNING...SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN TO REDEVELOP IN IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN
OKLAHOMA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WILL LIKELY SEE
DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON. THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL END
LATER THIS EVENING ACROSS ALL OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS THE UPPER LEVEL STORM MOVES OFF TO THE EAST.
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS TODAY AND TONIGHT WILL GENERALLY BE LESS
THAN AN INCH WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS AROUND 1 1/2 INCHES POSSIBLE IN
STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. 3 TO 6 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THE
FLASH FLOOD WATCH AREA SINCE EARLY SUNDAY...WHICH RESULTED IN FLASH
FLOODING. THE EXPECTED ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TODAY MAY ONCE AGAIN
RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING SINCE THE SATURATED GROUND CANNOT HOLD MUCH
MORE WATER. PLEASE REFER TO THE FLOOD WATCH PRODUCT /OKCFFATUL/
ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE EARLIER THIS MORNING FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON
THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH.
IN ADDITION...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING MAY BECOME SEVERE AND PRODUCE HAIL UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER.
.SPOTTER ACTIVATION...
STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS IN THE FLASH FLOOD
WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE RAINFALL TRENDS AND ANY
FLOODING TODAY. IN ADDITION...THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE A
CONCERN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS ALL OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA
AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
.DISCUSSION...
COLD AIR ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER LEVEL STORM WILL
DESTABILIZE THE AIRMASS ENOUGH FOR THE POTENTIAL OF HAIL WITH
THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
THREAT TABLE
VALID THROUGH 7 AM TUESDAY
THREAT AREA 1...ALL OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
THUNDERSTORM PROBABILITY...100
SEVERE WEATHER PROBABILITY IF STORMS OCCUR...50
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER PROBABILITY IF STORMS OCCUR...10
THREAT AREAS DEFINE THE GREATEST RISK. PROBABILITIES ARE IN PERCENT.
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER IS DEFINED AS F1 OR GREATER WIND/TORNADO
DAMAGE AND/OR GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL OR LARGER.
RELATED GRAPHICAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA
Special weather statement, Apr 8, 1:00 PM CST, 40 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-091200-
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
100 PM CST MON APR 8 2002
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TODAY ALONG AND SOUTH OF AN OKEMAH TO
BENTONVILLE LINE...
AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE TROUGH WAS LOCATED OVER WESTERN OKLAHOMA
AND EXTENDED SOUTH IN TO NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON. THE
UPPER TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO WEAKEN AS IT MOVES EAST NORTHEAST THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT INTO MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS.
ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE RAIN ENDED EARLY THIS MORNING...SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN TO REDEVELOP IN IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN
OKLAHOMA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WILL LIKELY SEE
DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON. THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL END
LATER THIS EVENING ACROSS ALL OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS THE UPPER LEVEL STORM MOVES OFF TO THE EAST.
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS TODAY AND TONIGHT WILL GENERALLY BE LESS
THAN AN INCH WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS AROUND 1 1/2 INCHES POSSIBLE IN
STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. 3 TO 6 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THE
FLASH FLOOD WATCH AREA SINCE EARLY SUNDAY...WHICH RESULTED IN FLASH
FLOODING. THE EXPECTED ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TODAY MAY ONCE AGAIN
RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING SINCE THE SATURATED GROUND CANNOT HOLD MUCH
MORE WATER. PLEASE REFER TO THE FLOOD WATCH PRODUCT /OKCFFATUL/
ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE EARLIER THIS MORNING FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON
THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH.
IN ADDITION...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING MAY BECOME SEVERE AND PRODUCE HAIL UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER.
.SPOTTER ACTIVATION...
STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS IN THE FLASH FLOOD
WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE RAINFALL TRENDS AND ANY
FLOODING TODAY. IN ADDITION...THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE A
CONCERN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS ALL OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA
AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
.DISCUSSION...
COLD AIR ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER LEVEL STORM WILL
DESTABILIZE THE AIRMASS ENOUGH FOR THE POTENTIAL OF HAIL WITH
THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
THREAT TABLE
VALID THROUGH 7 AM TUESDAY
THREAT AREA 1...ALL OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
THUNDERSTORM PROBABILITY...100
SEVERE WEATHER PROBABILITY IF STORMS OCCUR...50
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER PROBABILITY IF STORMS OCCUR...10
THREAT AREAS DEFINE THE GREATEST RISK. PROBABILITIES ARE IN PERCENT.
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER IS DEFINED AS F1 OR GREATER WIND/TORNADO
DAMAGE AND/OR GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL OR LARGER.
RELATED GRAPHICAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA
Flash Flood, Crawford
- When
- April 8, 1:40 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Crawford County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.589, -94.243 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
After heavy rains the night before a quick inch or two of rain caused widespread flooding of county roads across Crawford county during the afternoon hours.
Flash Flood, Sebastian
- When
- April 8, 2:05 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Sebastian County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.199, -94.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
After heavy rain the night before a quick inch or two of rain caused widespread flooding of county roads across Sebastian county.
Flash Flood, Madison
- When
- April 8, 2:20 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Madison County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.011, -93.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
After heavy rain the night before a quick inch or two of rain caused flooding of county roads across Madison county. The flooding of low lying areas caused the evacuation of part of St. Paul. The water did not flow into any homes, however.
Flash Flood, Franklin
- When
- April 8, 3:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Franklin County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.512, -93.891 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
After heavy rain fell across the county the night before a quick inch or two of rain caused widespread flooding of county roads across Franklin county the afternoon of the 8th.
- 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.
- Flash Flooding in Texas, April 8, 20021 death · $300,000 · 3 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, April 8, 2002$114,000 · 0.75 in hail · 28 events
- Damaging Wind in Alabama, April 8, 2002$300,000 · 65 kt wind · 1 event
- Flash Flood and Hail in Texas, April 8, 2002$130,000 · 1.75 in hail · 3 events
- Flash Flood in Texas, April 8, 2002$130,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Mississippi, April 8, 2002$100,000 · 65 kt wind · 1 event
- Flash Flooding in Louisiana, April 8, 2002$75,000 · 3 events
- Damaging Wind in Texas, April 8, 2002$50,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Louisiana, April 8, 2002$25,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Alabama, April 8, 2002$25,000 · 60 kt wind · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Alabama, April 8, 2002$25,000 · 55 kt wind · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Louisiana, April 8, 2002$20,000 · 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: 5290098, 5290100, 5290101, 5290099.