During the morning of May 11th, heavy thunderstorms crossed southeast Arkansas. The storms caused numerous roads to be flooded across Chicot County as well as some streets in the Crossett area of Ashley County.
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 JAN wrote it up.
During the morning of May 11th, heavy thunderstorms crossed southeast Arkansas. The storms caused numerous roads to be flooded across Chicot County as well as some streets in the Crossett area of Ashley County. Radar estimated six to eight inches of rainfall.
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 Jackson, MS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 11, 3:15 AM CST, 4 hours 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
415 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009
.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY...LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS HAS
THE STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY NEAR THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR. THIS
BOUNDARY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE FOCUS FOR MAINLY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT TODAY...BUT ITS THE SERIES OF
DISTURBANCES IN THE PERSISTENT WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT THAT IS
PROVIDING EARLY ACTION ON THE RADARS THIS MORNING. THE DISTURBANCE
THAT BROUGHT OUR SUNDAY EVENINGS COMPLEX WAS NOTED OVER WESTERN
GEORGIA. THE CURRENT DISTURBANCE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MORNINGS
ACTIVITY WAS NOTED OVER THE DELTA AND FARTHER UPSTREAM ANOTHER
DISTURBANCE WAS NOTED OVER EASTERN NEW MEXICO AIDING DEVELOPMENT
OVER THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA. WITH SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE CENTERED NORTH OF OUR CWFA PROVIDING A NORTH WIND TODAY AND
OUTFLOW FROM THIS MORNINGS ACTIVITY...THE BOUNDARY WILL LIKELY
SLIDE SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 BY THIS AFTERNOON. THE 00Z JAN SOUNDING
HAD A PW OF 1.81 INCHES. THE DEEP MOISTURE AND GREATEST INSTABILITY
FOR ANY STRONG TO SEVERE STORM DEVELOPMENT WILL LIKELY SHIFT SOUTH
TO OVER OUR SOUTHERN ZONES TODAY. HOWEVER...CONSIDERING THE WET
SOILS IN OUR NORTH...THIS MORNINGS ACTIVITY AND ANOTHER POSSIBLE
COMPLEX LATER TODAY FROM THE NORTHWEST...HAVE ISSUED ANOTHER FLASH
FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY ROUGHLY FROM WINNSBORO LOUISIANA TO YAZOO CITY
TO EUPORA MISSISSIPPI. WITH THE CLOUDS AND RAIN...QUITE A MAX TEMP
GRADIENT IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TODAY. HIGHS SHOULD BE HELD IN
THE LOWER 70S NORTH AND IN THE MID 80S SOUTH. MOST OF THE CONVECTION
WILL DISSIPATE THIS EVENING WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING. THE
EXCEPTION WOULD BE AN MCS FROM THE NORTHWEST. THE SURFACE HIGH TO
THE NORTH WILL CONTINUE SHIFTING EAST TONIGHT AND HELP PRODUCE A
SOUTHEAST WIND TUESDAY. THE STALLED BOUNDARY WILL BEGIN RETURNING
NORTH AS A WEAK WARM FRONT. THIS WARM FRONT WILL SERVE AS THE FOCUS
FOR CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. HIGHEST POPS WILL BE
CARRIED OVER THE NORTHERN HALF. /22/
.LONG TERM...TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...RATHER ZONAL FLOW WILL
CONTINUE TUESDAY NIGHT INTO THE WEDNESDAY. BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT WE SEE A SHORTWAVE BEGIN TO DIP FROM THE UPPER
MIDWEST TOWARD THE GREAT LAKES REGION. THIS WILL BRING A BOUNDARY
TOWARD THE ARKLAMISS REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT...BUT THIS BOUNDARY IS
EXPECTED TO STALL NORTH OVER THE REGION SO THAT IT WILL NOT IMPACT
THE CWFA. AS A RESULT THE AREA SHOULD BE RATHER QUIET ON WEDNESDAY.
BY THURSDAY THE BOUNDARY NORTH OF THE CWFA SHOULD BE PHASING OUT.
RETURN FLOW WILL EXIST OVER THE CWFA THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE
WORK WEEK. FOR THURSDAY THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF SATURDAY IT LOOKS
LIKE THE AREA WILL SEE DIURNAL CONVECT EACH AFTERNOON...WITH
CONVECTION BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD BY SATURDAY WITH INCREASING
MOISTURE OVER THE AREA.
THIS WEEKEND THE UPPER PATTERN WILL BEGIN TO SHIFT TO MORE AMPLIFIED
IN NATURE. THIS WILL BRING A BROAD UPPER TROUGH TOWARD THE EASTERN
CONUS FOR THE END OF THE WEEKEND. THIS SHOULD BRING ANOTHER
BOUNDARY TOWARD THE ARKLAMISS REGION FOR SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY
TO ALLOW FOR CONVECTION OVER THE ARKLAMISS REGION DURING THIS TIME
PERIOD. THE BOUNDARY AT THIS TIME LOOKS AS IF IT WILL MOVE OUT OF
THE CWFA BY SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING WITH HIGH PRESSURE
MOVING INTO THE REGION. TIMING AND DETAILS WITH THIS BOUNDARY ARE
RATHER UNCERTAIN AS THE ECMWF IS SLIGHTLY SLOWER WITH GETTING THE
BOUNDARY OUT OF THE CWFA. HAVE GENERALLY REMAINED WITH GUI FOR
NOW ON POPS FOR THIS TIME PERIOD.
TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE WORK WEEK WILL CONTINUE TO BE WARM AND
SLIGHTLY WARMER THAN AVERAGE. TOWARD THE WEEKEND TEMPERATURES WILL
BE A LITTLE COOLER WITH CLOUD COVER AND PRECIP EXPECTED AS THE
BOUNDARY IS MOVING THROUGH THE CWFA. OVERALL HAVE REMAINED
RELATIVELY CLOSE TO GUI FOR TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE EXTENDED. /14/
&&
.AVIATION...CONVECTION HAS REDEVELOPED A LITTLE FASTER THAN EXPECTED
EARLY THIS MORNING...ESPECIALLY AFTER THE COMPLEX THAT WENT THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING. RADARS SHOW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS THE NORTH MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST INTO THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF
THE AREA. VFR CONDITIONS ARE BEING OBSERVED OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF
WITH IFR/LIFR CONDITIONS NORTH. CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO
DETERIORATE THIS MORNING IN THE SOUTH AS THE STORMS SPREAD SOUTH.
CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE ANOTHER COMPLEX OF
STORMS BEGINS MOVING IN FROM THE NORTHWEST. /22/
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
JACKSON 79 62 82 68 / 69 41 46 11
MERIDIAN 80 62 82 65 / 66 37 55 23
VICKSBURG 78 63 84 68 / 70 40 38 7
HATTIESBURG 86 66 86 68 / 60 28 40 17
NATCHEZ 81 64 84 68 / 61 29 21 11
GREENVILLE 72 61 79 67 / 73 36 54 17
GREENWOOD 72 59 79 67 / 70 35 57 25
&&
.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR MSZ018-019-025>029-
032-034>036-040>042.
LA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR LAZ007>009-015-016-
023.
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR ARZ074-075.
&&
SHORT TERM/AVIATION: 22
LONG TERM: 14HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 551 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-MSZ018-019-025>042-121100- ASHLEY-CHICOT-MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND- BOLIVAR-SUNFLOWER-LEFLORE-GRENADA-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-WEBSTER-CLAY- LOWNDES-CHOCTAW-OKTIBBEHA-WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS-HOLMES-ATTALA- WINSTON-NOXUBEE-ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY-YAZOO- 551 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI... NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL MOVE SLOWLY TO THE EAST ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA THIS MORNING AND RESULT IN THE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND MINOR FLOODING PROBLEMS. THIS AFTERNOON STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL RATES AND LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE OUTLOOK AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH NEXT SUNDAY. LAZ016-023>026-MSZ043>066-072>074-121100- MADISON LA-FRANKLIN LA-CATAHOULA-TENSAS-CONCORDIA-MADISON MS- LEAKE-NESHOBA-KEMPER-WARREN-HINDS-RANKIN-SCOTT-NEWTON-LAUDERDALE- CLAIBORNE-COPIAH-SIMPSON-SMITH-JASPER-CLARKE-JEFFERSON-ADAMS- FRANKLIN MS-LINCOLN-LAWRENCE-JEFFERSON DAVIS-COVINGTON-JONES- MARION-LAMAR-FORREST- 551 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI... NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY JUST SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE TWENTY WILL COMBINE WITH DAYTIME HEATING AND A MOIST UNSTABLE AIRMASS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL DECREASE DURING THE EVENING AFTER SUNSET. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH NEXT SUNDAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAN. THIS INCLUDES THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. 22
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 239 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-MSZ034-040-110840- ASHLEY AR-CHICOT AR-MOREHOUSE LA-WEST CARROLL LA-EAST CARROLL LA- WASHINGTON MS-ISSAQUENA MS- 239 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHERN ASHLEY COUNTY ARKANSAS... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED OVER PARKDALE AT 239 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN ISSAQUENA...SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON...SOUTHERN CHICOT AND SOUTHEASTERN ASHLEY COUNTIES...AND NORTHERN EAST CARROLL...NORTHERN WEST CARROLL AND NORTHEASTERN MOREHOUSE PARISHES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. MME
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 343 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-MSZ034-040-110945- ASHLEY AR-CHICOT AR-MOREHOUSE LA-WEST CARROLL LA-EAST CARROLL LA- WASHINGTON MS-ISSAQUENA MS- 343 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED FROM 3 MILES NORTH OF GLEN ALLAN TO 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF BEEKMAN AT 343 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN ISSAQUENA...SOUTHERN WASHINGTON...SOUTHERN CHICOT AND ASHLEY COUNTIES...AND NORTHERN EAST CARROLL...NORTHERN WEST CARROLL AND NORTHERN MOREHOUSE PARISHES SHOULD MONITOR THESE STORMS CLOSELY. CAW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 431 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 MSZ035-036-042-111030- HOLMES MS-HUMPHREYS MS-YAZOO MS- 431 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED FROM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF MIDNIGHT TO 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF EBENEZER AT 431 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. PEOPLE IN NORTHEASTERN YAZOO...HUMPHREYS AND SOUTHERN HOLMES COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THESE STORMS CLOSELY. CAW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 540 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 LAZ007-008-111140- MOREHOUSE LA-WEST CARROLL LA- 540 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED OVER JONES AT 540 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. PEOPLE IN WEST CARROLL AND NORTHEASTERN MOREHOUSE PARISHES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. CAW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 611 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 LAZ009-MSZ040-111210- EAST CARROLL LA-ISSAQUENA MS- 611 AM CDT MON MAY 11 2009 A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 8 MILES WEST OF LAKE PROVIDENCE AT 612 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. PEOPLE IN CENTRAL ISSAQUENA COUNTY...AND CENTRAL EAST CARROLL PARISH SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. CAW
The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 163 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:31 UTC.
1 flood, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Some 80 roads across the county had flooded. Persistent rains over the past week have produced four to six inches and the water has no place to drain.
Several streets and area road were flooded in the Crossett area due to repeated rounds of heavy rainfall.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, May 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: 174625, 174627.