Abnormally dry weather continued across much of Arkansas during the month of December and fueled the spread of moderate (D2) drought conditions over parts of East Arkansas. Dry conditions negatively impacted pastures, triggering more feeding of hay, and causing concern for hay shortages for the winter months.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 MEG wrote it up.
Abnormally dry weather continued across much of Arkansas during the month of December and fueled the spread of moderate (D2) drought conditions over parts of East Arkansas. Dry conditions negatively impacted pastures, triggering more feeding of hay, and causing concern for hay shortages for the winter months. The drought caused river and lake levels to be at low levels.
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 Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 30, 11:20 PM CST, 40 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 1120 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2017 .DISCUSSION... Updated for 06Z Aviation Discussion. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 823 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2017/ UPDATE...Evening Update. Cooler tonight. Current temperatures range considerably across the Midsouth, from near 60 in Northeast Mississippi to to mid 40s across in portions of Northeast Arkansas. Temperatures will continue to cool...most rapidly in Northeast Mississippi resulting in lows in the mid 30s to mid 40s. Drier air will move across the region tomorrow under clear skies. 30 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 520 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2017/ A weak cold front has cleared most of the Midsouth with temperatures ranging from near 60 in Paris, TN to the low 70s in north MS. Temperatures will return to near normal tomorrow, reaching about 60 degrees in Memphis, with a gradual warming trend expected through the weekend under the influence of surface high pressure and weak upper level ridging. By Monday temperatures will be well above normal, near 70 across much of the Midsouth for highs. Dew points will also rise considerably as low-level southerly flow strengthens ahead of the next cold front. This will bring rain chances back to the area on Monday, though the majority of the precipitation looks to hold off until Monday night into Tuesday. Still a good bit of uncertainty in regards to the timing and orientation of the cold front and associated upper level trough, with the GFS being slower and wetter solution. Comparing this to the GFS ensemble guidance it appears to be a bit of an outlier in this regard. Therefore leaned towards the operational Euro and its associated ensemble solutions with a frontal passage during the day Tuesday and total QPF generally in the 1-2 inch range. Marginal instability will support thunderstorms and cannot rule out a strong storm or two at this time, but the potential for severe weather appears low. Frigid arctic air will stream in behind the front, resulting in much colder temperatures by Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. This cold air looks to stick around for some time as a highly amplified upper level pattern becomes stagnant with upper level ridges located over both the western CONUS and the north Atlantic/Greenland.. a classic setup for locking in cold air in the eastern CONUS. WLC && .AVIATION... 06Z TAFs Occasional high VFR cigs...with north or northeast winds at 6-8kts diminishing to 3-4 kts late. JAB && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 323 AM CST Thu Nov 30 2017 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-011200- Alcorn-Benton MS-Benton TN-Calhoun-Carroll-Chester-Chickasaw-Clay- Coahoma-Craighead-Crittenden-Crockett-Cross-DeSoto-Decatur- Dunklin-Dyer-Fayette-Gibson-Greene-Hardeman-Hardin-Haywood- Henderson-Henry-Itawamba-Lafayette-Lake-Lauderdale-Lawrence- Lee AR-Lee MS-Madison-Marshall-McNairy-Mississippi-Monroe-Obion- Panola-Pemiscot-Phillips-Poinsett-Pontotoc-Prentiss-Quitman- Randolph-Shelby-St. Francis-Tallahatchie-Tate-Tippah-Tipton- Tishomingo-Tunica-Union-Weakley-Yalobusha- 323 AM CST Thu Nov 30 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Burn bans have been issued for Clay, Randolph, Lawrence, Poinsett, Craighead, Greene, Mississippi, Lee and Cross counties in Eastern Arkansas. Caution should be used in any outdoor burning. Contact your local government or fire control officials for information regarding any burn restrictions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Strong thunderstorms will be possible during the Monday afternoon through Tuesday time frame ahead of an approaching cold front. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time. KRM
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe (D2) drought conditions eased by the end of the month.
Severe (D2) drought conditions eased by the end of the month.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, December 2017
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: 731643, 731644.