Heavy rainfall during the month caused some rivers across the area to rise above flood stage, some of which remained above flood stage into June.
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.
Heavy rainfall during the month caused some rivers across the area to rise above flood stage, some of which remained above flood stage into June.
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 May 16, 2:25 PM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 325 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT SCTD SHRA/TSRA WERE AGAIN NOTED ACRS THE FA THIS AFTN AS YET ANOTHER UPR SHRTWV LIFTS NEWD THRU AR. SIMILAR TO FRI...TEMPS THIS AFTN VARIED FM THE 70S IN RAIN COOLED AREAS TO THE LOWER AND MID 80S WHERE SUNSHINE APPEARED. EXPECT OVERALL COVERAGE TO DCRS THIS EVENING AS THE UPR SYS LIFTS OUT OF THE STATE AND THE EFFECTS OF AFTN HEATING DIMINISH. SHORT TERM/RAPID UPDATE MODEL RUNS CONT TO INDC A BREAK IN THE RAINFALL ACRS AR THIS EVENING AS WE WL BE IN BETWEEN UPR LVL SYS/S. FOCUS WL TURN TO CONVECTION THAT WL BE ONGOING ACRS CNTRL AND ERN OK THRU THE EVENING HRS. THIS ACTIVITY WL EVENTUALLY WORK INTO WRN AR AFT MIDNIGHT...AND THEN FURTHER EWD HEADING INTO SUN BEFORE WEAKENING. CANNOT RULE A FEW STRONG OR SVR STORMS OVR WRN AR LATE TNGT...BUT NOTHING WIDESPREAD. HOWEVER...WITH A VERY MOIST AIRMASS IN PLACE...ANY ADDITIONAL HVY RAINFALL WITH ONLY AGGRAVATE THE FF POTENTIAL OVR PARTS OF WRN AR. THUS...WL ISSUE A FF WATCH FOR PARTS OF W-CNTRL AR FOR LATE TNGT AND SUN MRNG. AFTER ANOTHER LULL IN THE PRECIP LATER SUN INTO SUN NGT...THE NEXT ROUND OF CONVECTION IS FCST TO IMPACT THE AREA LATE SUN NGT AND MON. THIS ROUND WL ALSO BE ENHANCED BY A CDFNT THAT WL BE DROPPING SEWD INTO AR LATE MON AND MON NGT. ANOTHER ROUND OF LOCALLY HVY RAINFALL IS ANTICIPATED LATER SUN NGT AND MON. THE CONCERN FOR FLASH FLOODING WL ALSO EXIST...WITH ADDITIONAL HEADLINES EXPECTED. MODELS CONT TO INDC A SLOWER SEWD MOVEMENT TO THE BNDRY OVR THE LAST FEW RUNS. FEEL THIS IS PLAUSIBLE SINCE THE FNT WL BE ENCOUNTERING W/SWLY UPR FLOW...WHICH WL RESULT IN LINGERING RAIN CHCS BEYOND THIS PD. && .LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE OVERALL UPPER LEVEL PATTERN OVER THE U.S. WILL BECOME LESS AMPLIFIED...AND MORE PROGRESSIVE DURING THIS PERIOD. UNSETTLED CONDITIONS WILL STILL PREVAIL...AS SURFACE BOUNDARIES IN THE VICINITY...ALONG WEAK DISTURBANCES IN PROGRESSIVE FLOW TO FOCUS PERIODS OF CONVECTION. && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 1 AM CDT SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR JOHNSON-LOGAN-MONTGOMERY-NEWTON-PIKE-POLK-POPE-SCOTT-YELL. && SHORT TERM...44 / LONG TERM...55
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 220 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-171000- 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- 220 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR A LARGE PART OF ARKANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. LATER TONIGHT...A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE PLAINS. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO BUILD INTO WESTERN ARKANSAS FROM OKLAHOMA. STORMS WILL WEAKEN SOMEWHAT AS THEY ARRIVE...SO ANY SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD BE ISOLATED. ONE TO TWO INCH RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE FAR WEST...AND THIS MAY BE HEAVY ENOUGH TO CAUSE LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THE AFOREMENTIONED FRONT WILL SLOW DOWN ON SUNDAY...AND WILL DRIFT THROUGH THE REGION ON MONDAY. SURROUNDING THE FRONT...PRECIPITATION SHOULD BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD WITH AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN. GIVEN A NEARLY SATURATED GROUND...SOME FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. THE MOST LIKELY AREA FOR HIGH WATER PROBLEMS IS THE WESTERN HALF OF THE STATE. THERE WILL BE A WINDOW...IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING...FOR SEVERE STORMS...WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. RIVERS MAY GO UP IN PARTS OF THE REGION DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH RAIN ACTUALLY FALLS. THIS WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY. THE FRONT WILL MAKE IT TO THE GULF COAST ON TUESDAY BEFORE STALLING. SHOWERS WILL BE SPOTTY GIVEN DRIER AIR BEHIND THE FRONT. A SOUTHWEST WIND ALOFT WILL DRIVE STORM SYSTEMS TOWARD THE STATE WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...AND THE SYSTEMS WILL INTERACT WITH THE STALLED FRONT. THIS WILL RESULT IN MORE HIT AND MISS PRECIPITATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ISOLATED SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THROUGH SUNDAY. && VISIT NWS LITTLE ROCK ON THE WEB. GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV AND CLICK ON CENTRAL ARKANSAS. 55
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
146 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015
ARZ022-023-031-161910-
CONWAY AR-POPE AR-VAN BUREN AR-
146 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN VAN BUREN...EASTERN
POPE AND NORTHERN CONWAY COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM CDT...
AT 147 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ATKINS...OR 11 MILES EAST OF RUSSELLVILLE...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 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.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
JERUSALEM... HAPPY BEND... CLEVELAND...
BROCK CREEK LAKE... BLICK... ATKINS...
ECONOMY... COGLESVILLE... APPLETON...
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 91 AND 96.
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 3552 9295 3549 9275 3542 9264 3520 9295
3528 9302
TIME...MOT...LOC 1847Z 223DEG 17KT 3527 9294
55SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 336 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 ARZ068-069-162105- BRADLEY AR-DREW AR- 336 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN DREW AND CENTRAL BRADLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM CDT... AT 332 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR INGALLS...OR 17 MILES SOUTH OF WARREN... MOVING NORTH AT 25 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... LANARK... INGALLS... HILO... HERMITAGE... VICK... SUMPTER... MARSDEN... FARMVILLE... CARMEL... 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 3363 9226 3358 9191 3328 9211 3331 9228 TIME...MOT...LOC 2036Z 202DEG 22KT 3340 9217 226
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
553 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015
ARZ032-043-044-162320-
FAULKNER AR-PULASKI AR-SALINE AR-
553 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL SALINE...PULASKI AND
SOUTHWESTERN FAULKNER COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT...
AT 551 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 2 MILES EAST OF LAKE
NORRELL TO DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK...AND MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WEST LITTLE ROCK... SW LITTLE ROCK... SHERWOOD...
N LITTLE ROCK ARPT... NORTH LITTLE ROCK... MAUMELLE...
LITTLE ROCK AFB... LAKE MAUMELLE... JACKSONVILLE...
DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK... SYLVAN HILLS...
SWEET HOME... ROLAND... PROTHRO JUNCTION...
PINNACLE MTN... OTTER CREEK... OLMSTEAD...
MORGAN...
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 30 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 131 AND 142.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 136 AND 161.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 430 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 12.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 440 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 14.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 530 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 2.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 630 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 7.
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 3468 9214 3464 9276 3491 9272 3491 9265
3494 9264 3494 9255 3496 9255 3500 9207
TIME...MOT...LOC 2252Z 206DEG 22KT 3473 9260 3475 9228
226The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The White River at Georgetown rose above flood stage during the evening hours of the 16th, falling back below flood stage during the morning hours of the 28th.
The White River at Clarendon rose above flood stage during the late morning hours of the 17th, remaining above flood stage into June.
The White River at Des Arc rose above flood stage during the evening hours of the 19th, falling back below flood stage during the morning hours of the 28th.
The Ouachita River at Arkadelphia rose back above flood stage for the 2nd time in May, from the 20th through the 21st.
The Petit Jean River at Danville rose back above flood stage for the 2nd time in May, from the 20th through the 22nd.
The Arkansas River at Morrilton rose back above flood stage for the 2nd time in May, from the 21st through the 23rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, May 2015
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: 587980, 587982, 587981, 587979, 587978, 587977.