Heavy rain and releases from lakes upstream caused a moderate flood on the Arkansas River at Van Buren.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS TSA wrote it up.
Heavy rain and releases from lakes upstream caused a moderate flood on the Arkansas River at Van Buren.
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 10, 3:14 AM CST, 57 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
414 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008
.MESOSCALE UPDATE...
THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO
EASTERN OKLAHOMA HAS BEGUN TO
BECOME MORE ORGANIZED AND WE HAVE
RECEIVED WIND GUST REPORTS FROM
PITTSBURG COUNTY BETWEEN 60 AND 71 MPH.
STRONG LOW AND MID-LEVEL WINDS COMBINED
WITH SOME DESTABILIZATION AHEAD OF THE
LINE DUE TO LOW-LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION
WILL RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE
THREAT WITH THESE STORMS. VERY STRONG
LOW-LEVEL SHEAR WILL ALSO PROMOTE
MESOCYCLONE DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE LINE
WITH AN ASSOCIATED TORNADO THREAT.
&&
.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM THURSDAY FOR OKZ049-OKZ053-OKZ054-
OKZ055-OKZ056-OKZ057-OKZ058-OKZ059-OKZ060-OKZ061-OKZ062-
OKZ063-OKZ064-OKZ065-OKZ066-OKZ067-OKZ068-OKZ069-OKZ070-
OKZ071-OKZ072-OKZ073-OKZ074-OKZ075-OKZ076.
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM THURSDAY FOR ARZ001-ARZ002-ARZ010-
ARZ011-ARZ019-ARZ020-ARZ029.
&&
SHORT TERM...08
LONG TERM....99HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 450 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-111000- ADAIR OK-BENTON AR-CARROLL AR-CHEROKEE OK-CHOCTAW OK-CRAIG OK- CRAWFORD AR-CREEK OK-DELAWARE OK-FRANKLIN AR-HASKELL OK-LATIMER OK- LE FLORE OK-MADISON AR-MAYES OK-MCINTOSH OK-MUSKOGEE OK-NOWATA OK- OKFUSKEE OK-OKMULGEE OK-OSAGE OK-OTTAWA OK-PAWNEE OK-PITTSBURG OK- PUSHMATAHA OK-ROGERS OK-SEBASTIAN AR-SEQUOYAH OK-TULSA OK-WAGONER OK- WASHINGTON OK-WASHINGTON AR- 450 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008 ...SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING... THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. TORNADO. RISK...LIMITED. AREA...NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AND FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA. ONSET...ONGOING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...SIGNIFICANT. AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. ONSET...ONGOING. AREA AT GREATEST RISK...NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. FLASH FLOOD. RISK...SIGNIFICANT. AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. ONSET...ONGOING. AREA AT GREATEST RISK...EASTERN OKLAHOMA. SIGNIFICANT WINDS. RISK...LIMITED. AREA...NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA. ONSET...THIS AFTERNOON. DISCUSSION... A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS ACCELERATING ACROSS SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN ARKANSAS EARLY THIS MORNING. STRONG DAMAGING WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. STRONG LOW-LEVEL SHEAR ALONG THE EDGE OF THUNDERSTORMS AND THE RETREATING WARM FRONT WILL RESULT IN A SMALL TORNADO THREAT WITH THE LINE OF STORMS. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT SHOULD END BY MID-MORNING. IT REMAINS UNCERTAIN HOW FAR EAST THE DRYLINE WILL MIX BY THIS AFTERNOON. REDEVELOP OF THUNDERSTORMS...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER...IS POSSIBLE AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON. THE MOST LIKELY AREA FOR THIS TO OCCUR WILL BE ACROSS WESTERN ARKANSAS. IN ADDITION...WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE INTO THE MORNING. MUCH OF THE AREA HAS RECEIVED BETWEEN 2 AND 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS...AND AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE MID-MORNING. SIGNIFICANT RIVER FLOODING WILL CONTINUE OVER PARTS OF THE REGION AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH TODAY. CLEARING SKIES BEHIND THE DRYLINE WILL RESULT IN STRONG ATMOSPHERIC MIXING BY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS DEVELOPING ACROSS PARTS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...NO HAZARDS. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... A PERIOD OF QUIET WEATHER IS ON TAP FOR THE WEEKEND AND MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. A LIGHT FREEZE MAY BE POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS SUNDAY MORNING. WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA CONTAINS ADDITIONAL TABULAR AND GRAPHICAL INFORMATION.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
342 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008
OKZ060-061-064>067-070-100930-
CREEK OK-MUSKOGEE OK-OKFUSKEE OK-OKMULGEE OK-ROGERS OK-TULSA
OK-WAGONER OK-
342 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 430 AM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
OKMULGEE...WESTERN WAGONER...SOUTHWESTERN ROGERS...EASTERN CREEK
AND TULSA
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
NORTHWESTERN MUSKOGEE AND EASTERN OKFUSKEE
AT 342 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES WEST OF KELLYVILLE TO 2 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF BRYANT...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. LARGE PORTIONS OF THE MENTIONED
COUNTIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS.
THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH.
RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE THE SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ALERT IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.
LAT...LON 3631 9565 3559 9531 3555 9546 3556 9582
3548 9583 3547 9588 3543 9587 3534 9616
3598 9636
TIME...MOT...LOC 0842Z 251DEG 45KT 3598 9627 3538 9599PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
359 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0350 AM TSTM WND GST 7 N ASHLAND 34.87N 96.07W
04/10/2008 M64 MPH PITTSBURG OK MESONET
&&
SFPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
404 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0350 AM TSTM WND GST MCALESTER 34.93N 95.77W
04/10/2008 M71.00 MPH PITTSBURG OK ASOS
&&
SFPSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
440 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008
OKZ062-067-101045-
MAYES OK-WAGONER OK-
440 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 545 AM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
EASTERN WAGONER AND MAYES
AT 440 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM PRYOR TO PORTER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
WAGONER...CHOSKA...TULLAHASSEE...PORTER...OKAY...REDBIRD...PRYOR...
MAZIE...MURPHY...CHOUTEAU...LOCUST GROVE...ROSE...SALINA...
SPAVINAW...STRANG...ADAIR...PENSACOLA AND LANGLEY.
THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS
TO 50 MPH.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 44 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 270 AND 278.
LAT...LON 3619 9503 3616 9511 3608 9511 3608 9520
3598 9528 3589 9525 3583 9530 3577 9562
3580 9564 3608 9553 3608 9545 3632 9543
3651 9536 3652 9503
TIME...MOT...LOC 0940Z 241DEG 38KT 3633 9528 3590 9550PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
454 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0449 AM TSTM WND GST MUSKOGEE 35.75N 95.37W
04/10/2008 M68 MPH MUSKOGEE OK ASOS
&&
SFPSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
502 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008
ARZ001-OKZ063-101100-
BENTON AR-DELAWARE OK-
502 AM CDT THU APR 10 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 600 AM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
WESTERN BENTON
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
DELAWARE
AT 502 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF MAYSVILLE TO 2 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF LEACH...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT
WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...JAY...LEACH...TWIN OAKS...
KANSAS...COLCORD...CHLOETA...ZENA...CLEORA...GROVE...BERNICE...WEST
SILOAM SPRINGS...FAIRMOUNT...SILOAM SPRINGS...SULPHUR SPRINGS...
GENTRY...MAYSVILLE...GRAVETTE...GALLITIN...SPRINGTOWN...CHEROKEE CITY
AND DECATUR.
THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS
TO 50 MPH.
LAT...LON 3655 9460 3650 9460 3650 9445 3648 9438
3614 9442 3615 9456 3617 9457 3618 9500
3621 9502 3668 9499
TIME...MOT...LOC 1002Z 206DEG 44KT 3649 9464 3621 9492The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
At 5:11 am cdt on April 10th the Arkansas River at Van Buren rose above its flood stage of 22 feet. The river crested at 28.66 feet at 12:00 am cdt on April 11th. This crest classified the flood as a moderate flood. The river fell below its flood stage at 1:07 am cdt on April 13th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, April 2008
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: 97080.