The approach of a cold front triggered a few severe thunderstorms on the afternoon and evening of the 26th. Hot, humid air over Arkansas helped to strengthen the storms.
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.
The approach of a cold front triggered a few severe thunderstorms on the afternoon and evening of the 26th. Hot, humid air over Arkansas helped to strengthen the storms.
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 Jul 26, 2:09 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE FOR AVIATION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 635 PM CDT THU JUL 2012 .AVIATION... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL EFFECT ALL TAFS OVER THE 12 HOURS...ESPECIALLY THIS EVENING TO AROUND MIDNIGHT. THEN CONVECTION WILL LOWER IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY. MAINLY VFR CEILINGS WITH PATCHY MVFR CEILINGS WITH STORMS. A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY DRIFT INTO AR AND DEVELOP THE CONVECTION. WINDS SW 5 TO 15 KNOTS SOUTH OF THE FRONT WHILE W TO NW AT 5 TO 15 KNOTS NORTH OF THE FRONT. FRIDAY THE SCATTERED CONVECTION SHOULD BE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL TO SOUTH AR. (59) && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 309 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012/ .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT COLD FRONT LOCATED ROUGHLY ALONG THE INTERSTATE 44 CORRIDOR IN SOUTHERN MISSOURI...AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTH. ISOLATED CONVECTION HAS DEVELOP ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS THIS AFTERNOON...WITH MORE WIDESPREAD CONVECTION ACROSS THE FAR NORTHWEST. WITH SOME DRIER AIR NEAR THE FRONT...THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS ACROSS NORTHERN ARKANSAS. WITH ANY FIRES...THE DRASTIC WIND CHANGES WILL BE OF GREAT CONCERN. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK ACROSS THE NORTH...WITH THE POTENTIAL MOSTLY CONFINED THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. RAIN CHANCES WILL DECREASE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...BEFORE PICKING BACK UP AS THE FRONT MOVES INTO SOUTHERN ARKANSAS SATURDAY. THE OTHER CONCERN FOR SATURDAY WILL BE TEMPERATURES...ESPECIALLY BEHIND THE FRONT WITH DRIER AIR MIXING DOWN. HAVE GONE 5 OR MORE DEGREES ABOVE GUIDANCE...WITH READINGS APPROACHING 100 DEGREES. WITH THE LOWER DEWPOINTS ACROSS THE NORTH...HEAT HEADLINES ARE NOT EXPECTED. ALSO...CLOUD COVER AND RAINFALL WILL TEMPER READINGS ACROSS THE SOUTH...AND HELP KEEP HEAT INDEX READINGS IN CHECK THERE. UPPER RIDGE QUICKLY BUILDS BACK IN BEHIND THE FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...WITH DRY AND HOT CONDITIONS CONTINUING. MODELS ARE HINTING AT A WEAK FRONT MOVING ACROSS THE REGION SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY...BUT HAVE LEFT A DRY FORECAST AT THIS TIME. && .LONG TERM...MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE DOMINANT WEATHER FEATURE ACROSS ARKANSAS IN THE EXTENDED PERIOD. A COLD FRONT WILL TRY TO NUDGE INTO THE REGION FROM THE NORTH/EAST...BUT WILL PROBABLY FAIL AS IT ENCOUNTERS THE RIDGE. THE PROXIMITY OF THE FRONT...AND TROPICAL MOISTURE OVER THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES MAY LEAD TO AT LEAST ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE STATE. OTHERWISE...IT WILL BE MOSTLY DRY AND HOT...WITH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES. && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR ARKANSAS-BAXTER- CLEBURNE-CONWAY-DESHA-DREW-FAULKNER-FULTON-INDEPENDENCE-IZARD- JACKSON-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-LINCOLN-LOGAN-LONOKE-MONROE-PERRY-POPE- PRAIRIE-PULASKI-SHARP-STONE-WHITE-WOODRUFF-YELL. && SHORT TERM...58 / LONG TERM...46
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 125 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012 ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-271000- 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- 125 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR A LARGE PART OF ARKANSAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THROUGH TONIGHT...MAINLY IN THE NORTHWEST HALF OF ARKANSAS. SOME OF THE STORMS WILL LIKELY BE SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THE MAIN CONCERN. TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON WILL REACH THE UPPER 90S TO AROUND 105 DEGREES. COMBINED WITH MOISTURE IN THE AIR...HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL RANGE FROM 105 TO 110 DEGREES IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE STATE...AND ALSO ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER FROM LITTLE ROCK WESTWARD. A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS POSTED FOR THESE AREAS THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING. A HIGH TO EXTREME WILDFIRE DANGER CONTINUES ACROSS ARKANSAS DUE TO DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND DRY VEGETATION. MOST COUNTIES HAVE BURN BANS IN PLACE. OUTDOOR BURNING OF ANY KIND IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. WINDS OF 10 TO 15 MPH...WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 25 MPH WILL BE NOTED THROUGH THIS EVENING...WHICH WILL SPREAD ANY FIRES THAT START. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY HIT AND MISS THUNDERSTORMS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY... ESPECIALLY FROM CENTRAL INTO SOUTHERN ARKANSAS. THIS WILL BE AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT PUSHING INTO THE REGION FROM THE NORTH. ISOLATED STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE. THE FRONT WILL WASH THIS WEEKEND...WITH HIGH PRESSURE IN THE PLAINS BUILDING OVER ARKANSAS. UNDER THE HIGH...HEAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN. HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL RANGE FROM 100 TO 105 DEGREES DURING THE AFTERNOON...WITH INDICES EXCEEDING 105 DEGREES IN SOME LOCATIONS. BY SUNDAY AND INTO MONDAY...HEAT ADVISORIES MAY BECOME NECESSARY. THE WILDFIRE DANGER IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN HIGH TO EXTREME THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SINCE WIDESPREAD OR ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. && VISIT NWS LITTLE ROCK ON THE WEB. GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV AND CLICK ON CENTRAL ARKANSAS. 57/46
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
133 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
ARZ014>016-261920-
INDEPENDENCE AR-IZARD AR-STONE AR-
133 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL STONE...SOUTHERN IZARD
AND NORTHWESTERN INDEPENDENCE COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM CDT...
AT 130 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MOUNTAIN VIEW...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MOUNTAIN VIEW... HERPEL... GID...
CUSHMAN... CROKER... BRANDENBERG...
TWIN CREEK... SYLAMORE... SAINT JAMES...
LAFFERTY... JAMES... GUION...
BETHESDA... ALLISON... WOLQUARRY...
WOLF MTN... WOLF DEN MTN... WHITE RIVER ARPT...
&&
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...MOVE INDOORS UNTIL THE
STORM PASSES.
LAT...LON 3600 9169 3599 9171 3594 9171 3594 9165
3577 9164 3581 9217 3598 9215 3601 9168
TIME...MOT...LOC 1833Z 269DEG 14KT 3589 9201
46SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
313 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
ARZ003>005-262100-
BAXTER AR-BOONE AR-MARION AR-
313 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BOONE...NORTHWESTERN MARION AND
NORTHWESTERN BAXTER COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM CDT...
AT 310 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DIAMOND CITY...OR 17 MILES
NORTHEAST OF HARRISON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HARRISON... WININGTON... WILLIS...
SELF... PYATT... PRICE PLACE...
OZARK ISLE... MYRTLE... LEAD HILL...
LAKEWAY... DODD CITY... DIAMOND CITY...
CLARK HILL... BERGMAN... ZINC...
SOUTH LEAD HILL... SNOW... RIDGEWAY...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
LAT...LON 3648 9247 3624 9283 3619 9313 3642 9327
3651 9307 3651 9248
TIME...MOT...LOC 2013Z 246DEG 18KT 3645 9293
225PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
353 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0335 PM TSTM WND GST HARRISON 36.24N 93.12W
07/26/2012 M54 MPH BOONE AR OFFICIAL NWS OBS
PEAK WIND OF 54 MILES PER HOUR MEASURED AT HARRISON BOONE
COUNTY AIRPORT.
&&
225SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 355 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012 ARZ005-262125- BAXTER AR- 355 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL BAXTER COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM CDT... AT 353 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF BRIARCLIFF...OR NEAR MOUNTAIN HOME...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MOUNTAIN HOME... SALESVILLE... RODNEY... ROBINSON PT LNDG... NORFORK DAM... NORFORK... DIAMOND BAY... COLFAX... BRIARCLIFF... JORDAN... HENDERSON... WOOD PT PARK... WOLF KNOB... WILD HOG MTN... WESTERN HILLS SUBDVN... WALLACE KNOB... TIMBER LAKE MANOR... SYCAMORE SPRING... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. LAT...LON 3640 9217 3619 9216 3622 9243 3637 9244 TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 270DEG 14KT 3629 9231 64
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 438 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012 ARZ021-022-030-038-262225- JOHNSON AR-LOGAN AR-POPE AR-YELL AR- 438 PM CDT THU JUL 26 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EXTREME NORTHEASTERN YELL... WESTERN POPE...NORTHEASTERN LOGAN AND SOUTHERN JOHNSON COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT... AT 435 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF LONDON...OR 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF RUSSELLVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... RUSSELLVILLE... TARAL... PINEY BAY REC AREA... LONDON... LAKE DARDANELLE... KNOXVILLE... DOVER... DARDANELLE LOCK AND DAM... DARDANELLE... CABIN CREEK REC AREA... PINEY... NEW BLAINE... LUDWIG... DELAWARE... AUGSBURG... TUCKER MTN... SHOAL BAY REC AREA... SHINN MTN... THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 65 AND 81. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. LAT...LON 3546 9309 3519 9316 3529 9348 3541 9343 TIME...MOT...LOC 2138Z 280DEG 9KT 3536 9327 225
The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:48 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 2 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees and some power lines were blown down. One tree fell on a car, and two others landed on a house. Thousands of people in the area from Russellville to west of Dover lost power.
Trees and power lines were blown down. One of the trees fell on Arkansas 223, blocking a lane. Power outages occurred in the southwest part of town.
A tree was blown down onto a power line.
A thunderstorm dropped 1.5 inches of rain in about 45 minutes.
Several roofs were damaged in the Center Ridge area.
Several trees were blown down around Harvey. Power outages occurred around Harvey and Nola.
The automated weather station measured 0.46 inch of rain in 6 minutes.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, July 2012
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: 386063, 386062, 386055, 386057, 386058, 386059, 386060, 386061.