Flooding in Arkansas, August 18 to 29, 2011

Name: Flooding in Arkansas, August 18 to 29, 2011
Start: 2011-08-18T07:45
End: 2011-08-29T02:00
Location: Arkansas

August 18 to 29, 2011 · NWS LZK · 2 events in 1 county or zone

Heavy rainfall from summertime thunderstorms caused the Cache River at Patterson to rise above flood stage during the latter half of August.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: $5,000
Events: 2

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 happened

The episode as NWS LZK wrote it up.

Heavy rainfall from summertime thunderstorms caused the Cache River at Patterson to rise above flood stage during the latter half of August.

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 Little Rock, AR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 18, 5:00 AM CST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 18, 5:00 AM CST, 2 hours 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE FOR AVIATION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
600 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

.AVIATION...
OVERALL VFR CONDITIONS...SOME CEILINGS...ARE EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT
24 HOURS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE
FORMED THIS MORNING OVER NORTHERN AND WESTERN AREAS...AND MOVING TO
THE EAST. WITH ANY STORM...MVFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE. ONLY LIGHT
FOG...4SM TO 6SM BR...IS BEING SEEN THIS MORNING. WILL HAVE VCTS AND
CB CLOUDS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL TAF SITES THIS MORNING...WITH
POSSIBLE TEMPO GROUPS THIS MORNING AT KHRO AND KBPK. CONVECTION OVER
THE SOUTH...AT KPBF AND KLLQ...EXPECTED MORE LATE MORNING AND IN THE
AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL CONVECTION POSSIBLE ALL TAF SITES LATER TODAY
BUT DUE TO UNCERTAINTY IN COVERAGE...USED VCTS AND CB CLOUDS ALL
TAFS. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT N TO NE OVER NORTHERN AR EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING...THEN 5 TO 10 KNOTS THROUGH THE DAY. THE REST OF THE
STATE...A SOUTH WIND FLOW IS EXPECTED...3 TO 8 KNOTS THIS MORNING TO
5 TO 12 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. (59)

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 332 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011/

.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY

ANOTHER TRICKY FORECAST TEMP WISE THIS AFTERNOON AS ONGOING
CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY THIS MORNING...ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT
POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON WILL KEEP TEMPS DOWN AS A RESULT. UPPER
LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS TO THE WEST OVER THE SRN ROCKIES...WITH
AR IN NW FLOW ALOFT ON THE ERN PERIPHERY OF THAT UPPER HIGH. SCT
SHRA AND A FEW TSRA ARE ONGOING EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS ERN OK AND
FAR WRN AR AS A VERY WEAK UPPER DISTURBANCE DROPS SE ACROSS ERN OK.
EXPECT THE ACTIVITY THIS MORNING TO PERSIST INTO THE MID MORNING
HRS...WITH BEST CHANCES REMAINING ACROSS WRN SECTIONS OF THE CWA.

LATER THIS AFTERNOON...THE AFOREMENTIONED UPPER DISTURBANCE WILL
CONTINUE SLIDING TO THE SE OVER SRN AR...WITH ADDITIONAL CONVECTIVE
ACTIVITY POSSIBLE DURING THE AFTERNOON HEATING. WITH REMNANT CLOUD
COVER FROM THE MORNING PRECIP ACROSS WRN AR...AND ADDITIONAL PRECIP
EXPECTED ACROSS SRN AND PORTIONS OF SWRN AR...TEMPS WILL REMAIN A
BIT COOLER THAN OTHERWISE POSSIBLE. AS A RESULT...WILL LIKELY HOLD
OFF ON HEAT ADV FOR NOW DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY IN AFTERNOON TEMPS.
IF THE CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY HOLD OFF UNTIL LATER THIS AFTERNOON...AND
CLOUD COVER FROM THIS MORNINGS CONVECTION CLEARS OUT SOONER THAN
EXPECTED...TEMPS COULD WARM SEVERAL MORE DEGREES. FOR NOW...HEAT
INDICES LOOK TO REMAIN BELOW THE 105 DEG CRITERIA...BUT STILL
ELEVATED WITH MANY LOCATIONS SEEING HEAT INDICES IN THE UPPER 90S TO
LOW 100S DURING THE MAX HEATING OF THE AFTERNOON.

FOR FRI...THE UPPER RIDGE WILL BEGIN SLIDING TO THE EAST...WITH
PRECIP CHANCES DECREASING...AND MORE LIMITED TO THE NERN THIRD OF
THE CWA. FORECAST AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL INCREASE AS A RESULT...WITH
TEMPS ACROSS THE CWA EXPECTED TO RISE INTO THE LOW AND MID 90S
ACROSS THE NERN COUNTIES...AND IN THE UPPER 90S TO LOW 100S ACROSS
CENTRAL SECTIONS...AND AROUND 105 ACROSS WRN AND SWRN COUNTIES.
RESULTING HEAT INDICES WILL ALSO RISE OVER 100 AT MANY
LOCATIONS...POSSIBLY OVER 105 DEG ACROSS CENTRAL AND SWRN COUNTIES.
AS A RESULT...A HEAT ADV WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED FOR FRI.

SAT SHOULD ALSO REMAIN MOSTLY DRY WITH THE CENTER OF THE UPPER RIDGE
GENERALLY OVER AR. BY SAT NIGHT INTO SUN HOWEVER...A FRONT WILL PUSH
SOUTH INTO THE STATE AS THE UPPER FLOW PATTERN AMPLIFIES ONCE
AGAIN...PUTTING AR BACK IN NW FLOW ALOFT. HAVE POPS INCREASING SAT
NIGHT AND FOR MUCH OF SUN AS THIS FRONT DROPS SOUTH. WILL ALSO SEE
TEMPS DROPPING IN RESPONSE TO THE FRONT AND PRECIP FOR SUN HIGHS.

&&

.LONG TERM...MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE UPPER RIDGE HAS WEAKENED AND BECOME MORE CENTERED OVER THE SW
U.S. AND TEXAS...BRINGING NW UPPER FLOW INTO AR. THIS WILL CONTINUE
TO KEEP WEATHER CONDITIONS UNSETTLED...WITH CHANCES OF CONVECTION
WITH ANY SHORT WAVE ENERGY IN THE MEAN UPPER FLOW. THE TOUGHEST PART
IS FORECASTING THESE SHORTWAVES AND THE TIMING AND INTENSITY. ALSO A
FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO SAG INTO AR FROM THE NE ON
MONDAY...AND BRING CHANCE POP TO NE AREAS...WHILE A SLIGHT CHANCE
THE REST OF THE STATE. ON TUESDAY...THE BOUNDARY MAY SAG A BIT
FARTHER SW WITH A HIGHER CHANCE OF POP OVER SW TO CENTRAL AR...WHILE
THE LOWEST CHANCE IN THE NE. WEDNESDAY WILL BE SIMILAR TO TUESDAY
BUT THE BOUNDARY SHOULD BE WASHING OUT A BIT...BUT SOME CHANCES OF
POP WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE STATE...WITH THE BEST OVER THE SW. BUT
DUE TO UNCERTAINTY ONLY SLIGHT CHANCES ARE IN THE FORECAST. UPPER
LEVEL ENERGY IN THE NW FLOW WILL BE DIFFICULT TO FORECAST AND
UNCERTAINTY IS IN THE FORECAST. TEMPERATURES WILL BE AROUND NORMAL
VALUES AND EVEN LOWER IN THOSE AREAS THAT RECEIVE RAIN.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BATESVILLE AR     96  75  93  75 /  20  30  30  10
CAMDEN AR        103  77 105  76 /  20  20  20  10
HARRISON AR       93  72  92  75 /  20  20  20  10
HOT SPRINGS AR    99  76 102  76 /  20  20  20  10
LITTLE ROCK   AR  97  78  98  78 /  20  20  20  10
MONTICELLO AR     99  75 100  78 /  20  20  20  10
MOUNT IDA AR     100  73 102  75 /  20  20  20  10
MOUNTAIN HOME AR  94  71  93  72 /  20  30  30  10
NEWPORT AR        96  74  92  76 /  20  30  30  10
PINE BLUFF AR     98  75 101  75 /  20  20  20  10
RUSSELLVILLE AR   98  73  98  75 /  20  20  20  10
SEARCY AR         95  73  93  73 /  20  20  20  10
STUTTGART AR      96  75  96  76 /  20  20  20  10
&&

.LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...62 / LONG TERM...59

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 18, 4:00 AM CST, 3 hours 45 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
500 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-191000-
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-
500 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR A LARGE PART OF ARKANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THE COMBINATION OF SHORT WAVE ENERGY IN THE UPPER NORTHWEST FLOW
AND A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVER ARKANSAS...WILL
HELP DEVELOP ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. AN
ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORM WILL BE POSSIBLE...WITH THE MAIN
THREAT BEING DAMAGING WINDS...AND A LOWER THREAT OF LARGE HAIL.
ALSO AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL REACH AROUND 100 TO NEAR 105
DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE UPPER LEVEL NORTHWEST FLOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE SOUTHERN
PLAINS AND BRING SOME SHORT WAVE ENERGY TO ARKANSAS FRIDAY AND
INTO THE WEEKEND. THE CURRENT FRONT WILL WEAKEN...BUT THEN THE
NEXT FRONT IS FORECAST TO SAG INTO ARKANSAS ON SUNDAY. THE
COMBINATION OF THE TWO...WILL BRING ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY...BUT THE OVERALL TIMING AND INTENSITY
ARE UNCERTAIN. THE CHANCE OF RAIN WILL ALSO REMAIN IN THE FORECAST
INTO NEXT WEEK WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN THE OVERALL PATTERN. ISOLATED
STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE MAIN THREAT
BEING DAMAGING WINDS. HAIL WILL BE A LESSER THREAT. AT TIMES...THE
HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL BE OVER 100 TO 105 DEGREES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS WILL BE VERY ISOLATED TODAY AND
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

&&

VISIT NWS LITTLE ROCK ON THE WEB. GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV AND
CLICK ON CENTRAL ARKANSAS.

59

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 18, 4:32 AM CST, 3 hours 13 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
532 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

ARZ014-016-024-181100-
CLEBURNE AR-INDEPENDENCE AR-STONE AR-
532 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN STONE...WESTERN
INDEPENDENCE AND NORTHERN CLEBURNE COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM CDT...

AT 531 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES NORTH OF LUBER...OR 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
MOUNTAIN VIEW...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MOUNTAIN VIEW...      MELROSE...            LUBER...
  WOODROW...            TURKEY CREEK...       SAINT JAMES...
  PRIM...               PARMA...              MARCELLA...
  HANOVER...            DRASCO...             BROWNSVILLE...
  BEN...                WOLF BAYOU...         WEST RICHWOODS...
  HARMONTOWN...         FIVEMILE...           BULLARD LAKE...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY...TURN AROUND DONT DROWN!

LAT...LON 3577 9176 3553 9200 3575 9224 3591 9210
TIME...MOT...LOC 1032Z 302DEG 13KT 3579 9207

62

Special weather statement, Aug 18, 5:14 AM CST, 2 hours 31 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
614 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

ARZ016-024-025-033-181145-
CLEBURNE AR-INDEPENDENCE AR-JACKSON AR-WHITE AR-
614 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN WHITE...SOUTHWESTERN
JACKSON...SOUTHWESTERN INDEPENDENCE AND EASTERN CLEBURNE COUNTIES
UNTIL 645 AM CDT...

AT 613 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES NORTH OF HIRAM...OR 10 MILES EAST OF
HEBER SPRINGS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SEARCY...             STEPROCK...           RUSSELL...
  PANGBURN...           KENSETT...            JUDSONIA...
  HIGGINSON...          GREERS FERRY DAM...   CONCORD...
  BALD KNOB...          WILBURN...            VELVET RIDGE...
  SUNNYDALE...          ROOSEVELT...          PROVIDENCE...
  LETONA...             IDA...                HICKORY FLAT...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY...TURN AROUND DONT DROWN!

LAT...LON 3540 9141 3514 9172 3562 9208 3571 9187
TIME...MOT...LOC 1114Z 313DEG 21KT 3551 9185

62

Special weather statement, Aug 18, 5:44 AM CST, 2 hours 1 minute before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
644 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

ARZ016-024-025-033-034-181215-
CLEBURNE AR-INDEPENDENCE AR-JACKSON AR-WHITE AR-WOODRUFF AR-
644 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN WOODRUFF...EASTERN
WHITE...SOUTHWESTERN JACKSON...SOUTHERN INDEPENDENCE AND SOUTHEASTERN
CLEBURNE COUNTIES UNTIL 715 AM CDT...

AT 643 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTH OF
RUSSELL MTN TO 3 MILES WEST OF WRIGHTS CORNER...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 20 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SEARCY...             AUGUSTA...            WEST POINT...
  TUPELO...             STEPROCK...           RUSSELL...
  PRYOR...              PLEASANT PLAINS...    PANGBURN...
  KENSETT...            JUDSONIA...           HURRICANE LAKE WMA...
  HIGGINSON...          BALD KNOB...          WORDEN...
  WILBURN...            VELVET RIDGE...       THIDA...

THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY...TURN AROUND DONT DROWN!

LAT...LON 3537 9111 3507 9164 3539 9187 3555 9193
      3561 9151
TIME...MOT...LOC 1144Z 311DEG 19KT 3546 9150 3536 9167

62

Special weather statement, Aug 18, 7:00 AM CST, 45 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
800 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

ARZ005-006-015-181345-
BAXTER AR-FULTON AR-IZARD AR-
800 AM CDT THU AUG 18 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN IZARD...WESTERN
FULTON AND NORTHERN BAXTER COUNTIES UNTIL 845 AM CDT...

AT 758 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES WEST OF RED BANK LANDING...OR 9 MILES
NORTH OF MOUNTAIN HOME...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MOUNTAIN HOME...      VIOLA...              STURKIE...
  RODNEY...             ROBINSON PT LNDG...   OTT...
  GAMALIEL LANDING...   FLINT SPRINGS...      FAWN PARK...
  DIAMOND BAY...        BYRON...              BEXAR...
  WILD CHERRY...        VIDETTE...            MITCHELL...
  JORDAN...             HENDERSON...          GEPP...

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY...TURN AROUND DONT DROWN!

LAT...LON 3645 9183 3618 9209 3636 9244 3651 9241
      3651 9208
TIME...MOT...LOC 1300Z 285DEG 37KT 3646 9231

224

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Woodruff

When: August 18, 7:45 AM CST to August 19, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Woodruff County, Patterson to 0.37 mi NW of Cavell
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 35.250, -91.230

Flood, Woodruff

When: August 21, 9:00 PM CST to August 29, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Woodruff County, Patterson to 0.37 mi NW of Cavell
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 35.250, -91.230

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arkansas in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Arkansas, August 2011

Sources

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: 339299, 339300.