On the 29th and 30th, a front was nearly stationary near the Arkansas/Missouri border. Thunderstorms built into the western part of Arkansas on the afternoon and evening of the 29th.
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 LZK wrote it up.
On the 29th and 30th, a front was nearly stationary near the Arkansas/Missouri border. Thunderstorms built into the western part of Arkansas on the afternoon and evening of the 29th. During the early morning hours of the 30th, a cluster of thunderstorms approached Arkansas from the west. Although these storms died out, they left behind an area of low pressure aloft. This low pressure then caused the development of new storms during the afternoon and evening.
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 Little Rock, AR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 29, 5:50 PM CST, 1 hour 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 650 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 .AVIATION... SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW AN MCS RUMBLING THROUGH NORTH TEXAS AND EAST OKLAHOMA WITH THE EASTERN EDGE IN ARKANSAS. SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS MAINLY THE WESTERN HALF OF ARKANSAS. THE RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO LAST INTO LATE TONIGHT. SEVERAL SHORT WAVES WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT AND THURSDAY. THIS WILL KEEP RAIN CHANCES IN THE AREA THOUGH THUNDER CHANCES WILL DECREASE. MAINLY MVFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 313 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009/ SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE SPREADING FROM OKLAHOMA INTO ARKANSAS OVERNIGHT. SATELLITE SHOWING BACK BUILDING INTO PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHERN TEXAS...WITH NEWLY DEVELOPED CELLS TRACKING TOWARD SOUTHWEST OR WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS. THIS MAY LEAD TO HEAVY/EXCESSIVE RAIN...WITH ONE TO TWO INCH AMOUNTS AND LOCALLY OVER THREE INCHES. FROM CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST SECTIONS OF THE STATE...THE GROUND IS ALREADY SATURATED FROM A RECENT HEAVY RAIN EVENT...AND IT WILL NOT TAKE MUCH ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION TO CAUSE HIGH WATER PROBLEMS. GIVEN THE SCENARIO...WENT AHEAD AND POSTED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TONIGHT FOR AREAS NORTH AND WEST OF MURFREESBORO...MALVERN... LITTLE ROCK...SEARCY AND BATESVILLE. PRECIPITATION WILL BECOME MORE HIT AND MISS LATER TONIGHT...WITH ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY... MAINLY DURING THE HEAT OF THE AFTERNOON. THE ATMOSPHERE WILL REMAIN VERY MOIST...WITH LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE. AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM CANNOT BE RULED OUT. A STORM SYSTEM WILL DRAG A COLD FRONT INTO ARKANSAS FROM THE PLAINS ON FRIDAY...WITH A BETTER CHANCE FOR SEVERE STORMS. THE FRONT WILL LIKELY STALL OVER THE REGION THIS WEEKEND...AND WILL ACT AS A FOCUS FOR SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. HEAVY TO EXCESSIVE RAIN MAY OCCUR ALONG AND NORTH OF THE FRONT...MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE STATE. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH AT/BELOW NORMAL READINGS POSSIBLE BEHIND THE FRONT IN THE NORTH THIS WEEKEND. LONG TERM...SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE IN THE LONG TERM. FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL BE WOBBLING AROUND THE LOWER AND MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. SEVERAL WAVES WILL MOVE ALONG THE FRONT AND INTERACT WITH IT...AND THIS WILL BRING SEVERAL ROUNDS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. RAIN CHANCES WILL DECREASE SLIGHTLY ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY...AS THE FRONT WOBBLES BACK INTO MISSOURI. BETTER CHANCES WILL RETURN ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...AS UPPER TROUGH COMING DOWN FROM THE ROCKIES PUSHES A FRONT BACK INTO THE REGION. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... BATESVILLE AR 65 74 66 80 / 80 60 40 30 CAMDEN AR 64 81 67 84 / 50 40 20 20 HARRISON AR 63 74 63 76 / 80 60 40 30 HOT SPRINGS AR 64 78 66 83 / 80 40 20 20 LITTLE ROCK AR 65 78 66 82 / 80 50 20 20 MONTICELLO AR 65 80 67 84 / 40 40 20 20 MOUNT IDA AR 64 77 66 82 / 80 40 20 20 MOUNTAIN HOME AR 64 74 64 76 / 80 60 40 30 NEWPORT AR 65 75 66 81 / 80 60 40 30 PINE BLUFF AR 65 80 67 84 / 50 40 20 20 RUSSELLVILLE AR 64 76 65 81 / 80 50 30 20 SEARCY AR 65 76 66 82 / 80 50 30 30 STUTTGART AR 66 78 67 83 / 70 50 30 20 && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR BAXTER-BOONE- CLARK-CLEBURNE-CONWAY-FAULKNER-FULTON-GARLAND-HOT SPRING- INDEPENDENCE-IZARD-JOHNSON-LOGAN-MARION-MONTGOMERY-NEWTON-PERRY- PIKE-POLK-POPE-PULASKI-SALINE-SCOTT-SEARCY-SHARP-STONE-VAN BUREN- WHITE-YELL. && AVIATION...51
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 339 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-301000- ARKANSAS-BAXTER-BOONE-BRADLEY-CALHOUN-CLARK-CLEBURNE-CLEVELAND- CONWAY-DALLAS-DESHA-DREW-FAULKNER-FULTON-GARLAND-GRANT-HOT SPRING- INDEPENDENCE-IZARD-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-LINCOLN-LOGAN-LONOKE- MARION-MONROE-MONTGOMERY-NEWTON-OUACHITA-PERRY-PIKE-POLK-POPE- PRAIRIE-PULASKI-SALINE-SCOTT-SEARCY-SHARP-STONE-VAN BUREN-WHITE- WOODRUFF-YELL- 339 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR A LARGE PART OF ARKANSAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BUILD FROM EASTERN OKLAHOMA INTO WESTERN ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON. SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE FROM MOUNT IDA...TO BENTON...TO HAMPTON. STRONG TO DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 11 PM FOR MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND PARTS OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS. THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY MOIST...AND THIS WILL MAKE THUNDERSTORMS MORE EFFICIENT RAINMAKERS. RAINFALL RATES MAY BECOME EXTREME IN THE WESTERN COUNTIES...WITH FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE INTO THIS EVENING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY REACH ONE TO TWO INCHES...WITH LOCALLY MORE THAN THREE INCHES. PRECIPITATION WILL REMAIN LIKELY OVERNIGHT IN ABOUT THE NORTHWEST HALF OF THE STATE. HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY LEAD TO SOME HIGH WATER PROBLEMS...AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED THROUGH TONIGHT FOR AREAS NORTH AND WEST OF LITTLE ROCK. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ON THURSDAY. AN ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORM CANNOT BE RULED OUT...WITH LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. ON FRIDAY...A STORM SYSTEM WILL DRAG A COLD FRONT INTO ARKANSAS FROM THE NORTHWEST. THERE MAY BE A FEW SEVERE STORMS ALONG THE FRONT BEFORE THE FRONT STALLS ACROSS THE REGION. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN PARKED ACROSS ARKANSAS THIS WEEKEND...AND WILL BE A FOCUS FOR HEAVY RAIN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. PRECIPITATION WILL BE MOST LIKELY ALONG AND NORTH OF THE FRONT...WHICH INCLUDES MUCH OF THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE STATE. RAINFALL MAY BECOME EXCESSIVE IN SOME AREAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED IN WESTERN ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON...WITH A LINE OF SEVERE STORMS MOVING INTO THE REGION FROM OKLAHOMA. && VISIT NWS LITTLE ROCK ON THE WEB. GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV AND CLICK ON CENTRAL ARKANSAS. 59/57/46
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 416 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ARZ037-038-040-041-052-292145- MONTGOMERY-PIKE-POLK-SCOTT-YELL- 416 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MONTGOMERY...PIKE...POLK...SCOTT AND YELL COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT... AT 416 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF UNION HILL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. AREAS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE ODEN. 56
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 438 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ARZ037-040-041-292210- MONTGOMERY-POLK-SCOTT- 438 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MONTGOMERY...POLK AND SCOTT COUNTIES UNTIL 510 PM CDT... AT 438 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR UNION HILL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. AREAS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE ODEN. 56
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 540 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ARZ037-038-041-292310- MONTGOMERY-SCOTT-YELL- 540 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MONTGOMERY...SCOTT AND YELL COUNTIES UNTIL 610 PM CDT... AT 540 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTH OF MUDDY CREEK WMA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. AREAS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE ALY AND ONYX. 56
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 552 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ARZ022-023-031-292325- CONWAY-POPE-VAN BUREN- 552 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR CONWAY...POPE AND VAN BUREN COUNTIES UNTIL 625 PM CDT... AT 553 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES EAST OF HECTOR...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL OTHERWISE IMPACT MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF THE INDICATED COUNTIES. 56
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 650 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ARZ053-054-062-300020- CLARK-DALLAS-HOT SPRING- 650 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR CLARK...DALLAS AND HOT SPRING COUNTIES UNTIL 720 PM CDT... AT 650 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CADDO VALLEY TO GURDON...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. AREAS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE SPARKMAN AND MANNING. 56
The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:30 UTC.
4 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 1 flash flood, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Street flooding occurred in the city of Waldron.
Trees were down and the awning was blown down at a gas station.
A tornado moved across open, plowed farm fields. There were several witnesses to the tornado. The tornado entered Jackson County just southwest of Macks.
The tornado from Independence County moved into Jackson County, southwest of Macks. The tornado knocked down a power pole and then moved across an open, plowed field before lifting.
The tornado that occurred in the Macks area then lifted, becoming a funnel cloud. The funnel was photographed just west of Newport.
Power lines were down in Diaz.
Three homes had roof damage and tree limbs and power lines were down on the southeast side of Grubbs.
Penny size hail occurred in the Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Arkansas, 2009Warnings in Arkansas, April 2009
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: 159053, 159065, 159066, 159067, 163223, 159061, 159062, 159058, 159057, 159056, 159054.