Heavy rain caused flash flooding across northwest Arkansas during the morning hours of March 3.
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 caused flash flooding across northwest Arkansas during the morning hours of March 3.
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 Mar 2, 11:16 PM CST, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1116 PM CST SUN MAR 2 2008
.MESOSCALE UPDATE...
THE SUPERCELLS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
HAVE MOVED NORTH OF THE GREATEST LOW-LEVEL INSTABILITY
AND HAVE LOST ORGANIZATION MOVING INTO CENTRAL
LE FLORE COUNTY.
THE SQUALL LINE CONTINUES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE
FORECAST AREA. EXPERIMENTAL WIND AND HAIL FORECAST
GRIDS SHOW VALUES RIGHT AT SEVERE LEVELS. THIS
SEVERE POTENTIAL WILL CONTINUE WITH THE LINE OF STORMS
INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.
THERE REMAINS CONCERN THAT ISOLATED CELLS COULD DEVELOP
AHEAD OF THE LINE IN FAR SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND BECOME
SUPERCELLS AND THIS WILL BE MONITORED. IN ADDITION...
VERY STRONG LOW-LEVEL SHEAR EXISTS...SO LOW-LEVEL
ROTATION COULD DEVELOP WITH ANY OF THE STRONGER
CELLS AND NEAR BOWING LINE SIGEMENTS.
FLASH FLOOD POTENTIAL WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE OVERNIGHT
AS THE LINE OF STORMS MERGES WITH THE EXPANDING AREA
OF THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF THE LINE.
&
.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON MONDAY 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.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY FOR OKZ054-OKZ055-OKZ056-OKZ057-
OKZ058-OKZ059-OKZ060-OKZ061-OKZ062-OKZ063-OKZ064-OKZ065-
OKZ066-OKZ067-OKZ068-OKZ070-OKZ071.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 8 AM MONDAY TO 6 AM TUESDAY FOR OKZ057-
OKZ058-OKZ060-OKZ061-OKZ062-OKZ063-OKZ064-OKZ065-OKZ066-
OKZ067-OKZ068-OKZ069-OKZ070-OKZ071-OKZ072-OKZ073-OKZ074-
OKZ075-OKZ076.
AR...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON MONDAY FOR ARZ001-ARZ002-ARZ010-ARZ011-
ARZ019-ARZ020-ARZ029.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 8 AM MONDAY TO 6 AM TUESDAY FOR ARZ001-
ARZ002-ARZ010-ARZ011-ARZ019-ARZ020-ARZ029.
&&
SHORT TERM...08
LONG TERM....99HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
911 PM CST SUN MAR 2 2008
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-031515-
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-
911 PM CST SUN MAR 2 2008
...A MAJOR STORM WITH SEVERE WEATHER...FLOODING AND WINTER WEATHER
TO AFFECT THE AREA...
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....EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
ONSET....NOW...ENDING BY 6AM.
AREA AT GREATEST RISK...SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND WEST-CENTRAL
ARKANSAS.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
RISK...SIGNIFICANT.
AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
ONSET...NOW...ENDING BY 6AM
FLASH FLOOD.
RISK...ELEVATED.
AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
ONSET...NOW.
AREA AT GREATEST RISK...SOUTHEAST AND EAST-CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
ALONG WITH NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
WINTER WEATHER.
ICE ACCUMULATION.
RISK...LIMITED.
AREA...FAR NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA.
ONSET...AFTER 5AM.
SIGNIFICANT WINDS.
RISK...ELEVATED.
AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
ONSET...NOW.
DISCUSSION...
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT.
AHEAD OF IT THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE WITH THE
THREAT FOR WIND AND HAIL. THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL
FOR A BRIEF TORNADO WITH ANY STORM IN THE AREA GIVEN
THE VERY STRONG AND TURNING LOW-LEVEL WINDS. THIS
LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR WILL BE MAXIMIZED IN THE ARKANSAS
RIVER VALLEY IN EXTREME EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND WEST-CENTRAL
ARKANSAS. PERSONS IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS
SHOULD BE READY TO MOVE TO PLACE OF SAFETY AS TORNADOES
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES CAN DEVELOP SUDDENLY.
WITH THE EXPANDING STORM ACTIVITY...HEAVY RAIN WILL BECOME
WIDESPREAD TONIGHT WITH THE MOST PROLONGED RAINS
EXPECTED FROM SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA INTO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
RAINFALL OF 1 TO 3 INCHES IS EXPECTED TO BE COMMON IN THE
AREA WITH AMOUNTS TO AROUND 4 INCHES POSSIBLE TOWARD MORNING.
STRONG WINDS WILL FOLLOW BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WITH GUSTS
NEAR 45 MPH AT TIMES.
SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
THE REGIONAL SPOTTER NETWORK HAS BEEN ACTIVATED.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
MONDAY...WINTER WEATHER POTENTIAL...HIGH WIND POTENTIAL
...HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL.
TUESDAY...WINTER WEATHER POTENTIAL.
WEDNESDAY...NO HAZARDS.
THURSDAY...NO HAZARDS.
FRIDAY...NO HAZARDS.
SATURDAY...NO HAZARDS.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY BEHIND THE FRONT BRINGING
STORM TOTALS IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
TO AROUND 5 INCHES IN SOME AREAS. FLOODING OF MAIN STEM RIVERS
AND FLASH FLOODING WILL OCCUR IN THE AREAS RECEIVING THE HEAVIEST
RAIN.
AS COLD AIR MOVES IN BEHIND THE FRONT AND THE MAIN UPPER-LEVEL
SYSTEM APPROACHES...WINTRY PRECIPITATION WILL DEVELOP. THERE IS
THE POTENTIAL FOR A BAND OF HEAVY SNOW TO DEVELOP IN
PORTIONS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. BURSTS
OF VERY HEAVY SNOW WITH THUNDER WILL BE POSSIBLE...CAUSING
ACCUMULATIONS DESPITE THE WARM GROUND CONDITIONS.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING STATEMENT...
ALL EMERGENCY AGENCIES IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
SHOULD CLOSE FOLLOW THE LATEST INFORMATION FOR THIS MAJOR STORM AND
PREPARE FOR THE IMPACTS RELATED TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...FLOODING
AND HEAVY SNOW. SEE THE LATEST ADVICES FROM THIS OFFICE FOR
THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION.
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA CONTAINS ADDITIONAL TABULAR AND GRAPHICAL
INFORMATION.SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1157 PM CST SUN MAR 2 2008
OKZ068>074-030645-
ADAIR OK-CHEROKEE OK-HASKELL OK-MCINTOSH OK-MUSKOGEE OK-PITTSBURG
OK-SEQUOYAH OK-
1157 PM CST SUN MAR 2 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1245 AM CST
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
MUSKOGEE...SOUTHERN CHEROKEE AND NORTHWESTERN SEQUOYAH
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
SOUTHERN ADAIR
IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
MCINTOSH...WESTERN HASKELL AND NORTHERN PITTSBURG
AT 1157 PM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES EAST OF FORT GIBSON TO 5 MILES WEST OF
SCIPIO...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
A LARGE PORTION OF MUSKOGEE...SOUTHERN ADAIR...SOUTHERN CHEROKEE...
NORTHWESTERN SEQUOYAH...MCINTOSH...WESTERN HASKELL AND NORTHERN
PITTSBURG COUNTIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS THROUGH 1245 AM
CST.
THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS
TO 50 MPH.
LAT...LON 3584 9450 3503 9536 3500 9608 3582 9533
3582 9528 3586 9523 3588 9451
TIME...MOT...LOC 0557Z 267DEG 44KT 3582 9511 3506 9601SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1213 AM CST MON MAR 3 2008
ARZ001-010-OKZ063-068-069-030715-
ADAIR OK-BENTON AR-CHEROKEE OK-DELAWARE OK-WASHINGTON AR-
1213 AM CST MON MAR 3 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 115 AM CST
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
WESTERN WASHINGTON AND BENTON
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
SOUTHEASTERN DELAWARE AND ADAIR
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
EASTERN CHEROKEE
AT 1213 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 2 MILES EAST OF SULPHUR SPRINGS TO KANSAS TO 8
MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELDON...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT
WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...STILWELL...BARON...
PROCTOR...WESTVILLE...WATTS...JAY...OAKS...TWIN OAKS...KANSAS...
COLCORD...WEST SILOAM SPRINGS...ELDON...SCRAPER...FAIRMOUNT...
MILLER...WALNUT GROVE...BENTONVILLE...SILOAM SPRINGS...ROGERS...
SULPHUR SPRINGS...GENTRY...GRAVETTE...PEA RIDGE...HEALING SPRINGS...
SPRINGTOWN...HIGHFILL...CAVE SPRINGS...CHEROKEE CITY...DECATUR...
CENTERTON...AVOCA...HIWASSE...BELLA VISTA...PRAIRIE GROVE...
STRICKLER...MORROW...VINEY GROVE...WEDINGTON...WHEELER...TONTITOWN...
ELM SPRINGS AND MARIETTA.
THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS
TO 50 MPH.
LAT...LON 3648 9402 3625 9416 3577 9431 3578 9499
3619 9492 3650 9486 3651 9423 3649 9402
TIME...MOT...LOC 0613Z 263DEG 15KT 3649 9440 3620 9475
3583 9489SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1231 AM CST MON MAR 3 2008
ARZ019-020-029-030715-
CRAWFORD AR-FRANKLIN AR-SEBASTIAN AR-
1231 AM CST MON MAR 3 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 115 AM CST
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
NORTHEASTERN SEBASTIAN AND NORTHERN FRANKLIN
IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
SOUTHEASTERN CRAWFORD
AT 1231 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7
MILES WEST OF VESTA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT
WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...PLEASANT HILL...PARADISE...
OZARK...MULBERRY...VESTA...CECIL...TONEY...LONELM...CRAVENS...
WATALULA...JETHRO...BARNES...TURNERS BEND...CASS...REDDING...
WIEDERKEHR VILLAGE AND DYER.
THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO
50 MPH.
LAT...LON 3578 9379 3548 9370 3530 9417 3549 9417
TIME...MOT...LOC 0631Z 227DEG 40KT 3537 9414SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1251 AM CST MON MAR 3 2008
OKZ068>076-030745-
ADAIR OK-CHEROKEE OK-HASKELL OK-LATIMER OK-LE FLORE OK-MCINTOSH
OK-MUSKOGEE OK-PITTSBURG OK-SEQUOYAH OK-
1251 AM CST MON MAR 3 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 145 AM CST
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
SOUTHEASTERN MUSKOGEE...SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE AND SEQUOYAH
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
SOUTHERN ADAIR
IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
EASTERN MCINTOSH...HASKELL...NORTHERN LE FLORE...EASTERN
PITTSBURG AND LATIMER
AT 1251 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTH OF GORE TO 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
PITTSBURG...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
A LARGE PORTION OF SOUTHEASTERN MUSKOGEE...SOUTHERN ADAIR...
SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE...SEQUOYAH...EASTERN MCINTOSH...HASKELL...
NORTHERN LE FLORE...EASTERN PITTSBURG AND LATIMER COUNTIES WILL BE
AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS THROUGH 145 AM CST.
THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO
50 MPH...AND BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINFALL. MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT CROSS
WATER COVERED ROADWAYS WHERE THE WATER DEPTH IS UNKNOWN.
LAT...LON 3565 9447 3471 9519 3470 9596 3567 9517
3568 9448
TIME...MOT...LOC 0651Z 269DEG 33KT 3565 9506 3466 9583SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
101 AM CST MON MAR 3 2008
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-OKZ069-072-030800-
ADAIR OK-BENTON AR-CARROLL AR-CRAWFORD AR-FRANKLIN AR-MADISON
AR-SEQUOYAH OK-WASHINGTON AR-
101 AM CST MON MAR 3 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 200 AM CST
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
WASHINGTON...CARROLL...NORTHERN CRAWFORD...EASTERN BENTON AND
MADISON
IN WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
NORTHERN FRANKLIN
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
SOUTHERN ADAIR
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
NORTHEASTERN SEQUOYAH
AT 101 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES NORTH OF PEA RIDGE TO 4 MILES EAST OF
CANEHILL TO 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BUNCH...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. MUCH
OF THE ALERT AREA WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS LINE OF STORMS.
THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS
TO 50 MPH.
LAT...LON 3648 9328 3613 9328 3611 9330 3611 9345
3597 9342 3594 9347 3575 9360 3575 9367
3560 9371 3562 9484 3594 9449 3650 9430
3652 9379
TIME...MOT...LOC 0701Z 270DEG 26KT 3650 9409 3590 9432
3562 9470SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
148 AM CST MON MAR 3 2008
ARZ019-020-029-OKZ049-072>076-030845-
CRAWFORD AR-FRANKLIN AR-HASKELL OK-LATIMER OK-LE FLORE OK-PITTSBURG
OK-PUSHMATAHA OK-SEBASTIAN AR-SEQUOYAH OK-
148 AM CST MON MAR 3 2008
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 245 AM CST
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
SEBASTIAN AND FRANKLIN
IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
CRAWFORD
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
EASTERN SEQUOYAH
IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
EASTERN HASKELL...LE FLORE...SOUTHEASTERN PITTSBURG...NORTHERN
PUSHMATAHA AND LATIMER
AT 148 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM CASS TO MOFFETT TO 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF DUNBAR...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. A LARGE PORTION OF THE ALERT AREA WILL
BE AFFECTED BY THIS LINE OF STORMS.
THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS
TO 50 MPH.
LAT...LON 3445 9578 3454 9568 3500 9541 3565 9449
3570 9368 3539 9369 3538 9378 3530 9381
3530 9389 3521 9392 3523 9400 3514 9403
3507 9423 3496 9423 3491 9443 3453 9449
3449 9502 3445 9507
TIME...MOT...LOC 0748Z 240DEG 29KT 3571 9382 3540 9445
3454 9562The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 14 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:50 UTC.
7 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rain caused several roads to be closed due to high water. Water also entered several buildings. Some water rescues were performed.
Heavy rain caused city streets in Ozark and secondary roads around Ozark to be flooded.
Heavy rains caused numerous city streets to be closed due to high water in Van Buren. Numerous rural roads across the county were also flooded.
Heavy rain caused a few secondary roads in the southwest part of Benton County to be closed due to high water.
Heavy rain caused water to flow over some secondary roads.
A road near Elkins was closed due to high water.
Heavy rain caused numerous roads across Carroll County to be closed due to high water.
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, March 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: 87506, 87512, 87515, 87516, 87519, 87521, 87525.