A cold front approached from the Plains, with several thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. The thunderstorms were huge west of Little Rock (Pulaski 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 LZK wrote it up.
A cold front approached from the Plains, with several thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. The thunderstorms were huge west of Little Rock (Pulaski County). Hail bigger than baseballs pelted areas between Dover and Hector (both in Pope County). Hen egg size hail was measured at Mountain Valley (Garland County), with golf ball size hail just southwest of Harrison (Boone County). After sunset, storms started to weaken in the west, but a new round of storms flared up in eastern Arkansas as the front arrived. These new storms were wind makers, and they packed a wallop.
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 Jun 1, 5:27 PM CST, 2 hours 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 627 PM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018 .DISCUSSION... Updated to include the 00Z aviation discussion below... && .AVIATION... Whatever isolated convection ongoing early this evening will dissipate shortly after sunset. While some patchy fog will be possible overnight...widespread fog is not expected. A cold front will be dropping south into the state late in the period...with increased chances for SHRA/TSRA for NRN sections of the state as a result. && .PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 256 PM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018) SHORT TERM...Tonight Through Sunday In case you were wondering, it's disgusting outside. Temperatures in the 90s. Dewpoints in the mid to upper 70s. I'm ready for fall now. But, since reality dictates otherwise... Isolated showers/storms have developed along remnant mesoscale boundaries left over from this morning's convection. These will continue into the early evening, should primarily be confined to central and east central Arkansas, and should dissipate after sunset. Bigger rain chances will come tomorrow afternoon and evening, as the anomalously strong upper ridge centered over west Texas/ northern Mexico will allow a cold front currently in the plains to move across Arkansas. Showers and thunderstorms will develop along and ahead of the front, with a few severe thunderstorms possible. This would be most likely in the afternoon and evening hours. With any severe thunderstorms that develop, winds will be the primary concern, though hail would be possible as well. With high precipitable water over and fairly light low level storm motion, heavy rainfall will be a possibility with any stronger storms, which could cause localized flooding issues. Ahead of the front, temperatures will rise well into the 90s. With the high dewpoints over us, heat index values will continue to be a concern. Some areas may briefly exceed 105 degrees, but my feeling at the moment is that this shouldn't last long, given increasing cloud cover tomorrow afternoon. So, for now, am holding off on any heat-related headlines. Rain chances will decrease late Saturday night/early Sunday morning as the front moves south of the the state. Cooler air will follow the front, with the period ending with temperatures much closer to average. LONG TERM...Sunday Night Through Friday The front that moved through during the near term will be to the southwest of Arkansas before stalling. The front will come to a halt because of a ridge of high pressure over the southern Rockies/southern Plains. In the wake of the front, slightly cooler/drier/more comfortable air will be in place. Even so, temperatures will remain a little above average. It appears the ridge will start building back toward the area Monday night/Tuesday. As this happens, the aforementioned front will lift back into the region from the southwest. Given this, have isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. By Thursday/Friday, the ridge will be more dominant, and temperatures will be on the way up. Heat index values may approach 100 degrees in southern/western sections of the state on Friday. Fire Weather... No significant fire weather issues are expected in the next seven days. && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...NONE. && Aviation...62
Hazardous Weather Outlook...Updated National Weather Service Little Rock AR 930 AM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018 ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-021000- Boone-Marion-Baxter-Fulton-Sharp-Newton-Searcy-Stone-Izard- Independence-Johnson-Pope-Van Buren-Cleburne-Jackson-Logan-Conway- Faulkner-White-Woodruff-Scott-Yell-Perry-Polk-Montgomery-Garland- Saline-Pulaski-Lonoke-Prairie-Monroe-Pike-Clark-Hot Spring-Grant- Jefferson-Arkansas-Dallas-Cleveland-Lincoln-Desha-Ouachita-Calhoun- Bradley-Drew- 930 AM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected through this afternoon in the northeast half of Arkansas, or generally north and east of Little Rock. Otherwise, it will be hot and humid today. Afternoon heat index values will range from the upper 90s to near 105 degrees, with the highest values across the western, central, and southern counties. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday Through Thursday Hot and humid conditions will continue on Saturday. Afternoon heat index values will range from the upper 90s to around 105 degrees. A cold front will cross the state from the north Saturday night, with slightly cooler and drier air in its wake. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will accompany the front, and some storms may be severe. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation may be needed Saturday night. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Little Rock AR 605 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018 ARZ033-045-046-012345- White AR-Lonoke AR-Prairie AR- 605 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN PRAIRIE... NORTHEASTERN LONOKE AND SOUTH CENTRAL WHITE COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT... At 604 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near McRae, or 12 miles south of Searcy, moving south at 20 mph. Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Barrettsville... Thurman... McRae... Vinity Corner... Butlerville... Hickory Plains... Woodlawn... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 3511 9185 3511 9170 3485 9165 3486 9189 TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 358DEG 16KT 3506 9177 44
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
609 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018
ARZ057-065-012345-
Desha AR-Arkansas AR-
609 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN DESHA AND
SOUTHEASTERN ARKANSAS COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT...
At 609 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Gillett, or 15 miles west of White River National Wildlife Refuge,
moving south at 15 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Gillett... Watson...
Yancopin... Merrisach Lake...
Trusten Holder WMA... Arkansas Post...
Morgan Point Recreation Area... Pendleton...
Tichnor...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3415 9144 3421 9135 3421 9125 3392 9107
3386 9138
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 343DEG 15KT 3412 9132
44Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
725 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018
ARZ045-046-020100-
Lonoke AR-Prairie AR-
725 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL PRAIRIE AND EAST CENTRAL
LONOKE COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...
At 724 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
McCreanor, or near Lonoke, moving south at 15 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Lonoke... Carlisle...
McCreanor... Prairie Center...
Sisemore... Parkers Corner...
Culler...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3487 9190 3490 9183 3489 9174 3465 9163
3462 9188
TIME...MOT...LOC 0024Z 346DEG 15KT 3484 9181
44Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Little Rock AR 734 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018 ARZ032-044-020115- Pulaski AR-Faulkner AR- 734 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN FAULKNER AND NORTHEASTERN PULASKI COUNTIES UNTIL 815 PM CDT... At 733 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Vilonia, or 12 miles east of Conway, moving south at 10 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Little Rock AFB... Vilonia... Olmstead... Gibson... Holland... Saltillo... Macon... Otto... Cato... Hamlet... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3518 9227 3517 9216 3490 9212 3493 9238 TIME...MOT...LOC 0033Z 010DEG 9KT 3513 9224 62
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
821 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018
ARZ032-044>046-056-057-020200-
Pulaski AR-Lonoke AR-Arkansas AR-Prairie AR-Faulkner AR-Jefferson AR-
821 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN PRAIRIE...LONOKE...
SOUTH CENTRAL FAULKNER...NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON...PULASKI AND
NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM CDT...
At 820 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Gibson to South Bend to 7 miles northeast of
Keo to Stuttgart. Movement was south at 15 mph.
Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Little Rock... North Little Rock...
Sherwood... Jacksonville...
Cabot... West Little Rock...
Maumelle... Downtown Little Rock...
Stuttgart... Lonoke...
North Little Rock Airport... Little Rock AFB...
Southwest Little Rock... England...
Mayflower... Carlisle...
Wrightsville... Argenta...
Humphrey... Humnoke...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3414 9138 3437 9188 3471 9250 3504 9241
3497 9202 3483 9183 3463 9147 3463 9145
3461 9145 3459 9138 3456 9138 3456 9134
TIME...MOT...LOC 0120Z 355DEG 14KT 3491 9222 3487 9206 3467 9191 3451
9156
62Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
902 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018
ARZ043>045-055-056-020245-
Pulaski AR-Grant AR-Lonoke AR-Saline AR-Jefferson AR-
902 PM CDT FRI JUN 1 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN LONOKE...NORTHEASTERN
GRANT...JEFFERSON...EAST CENTRAL SALINE AND SOUTHEASTERN PULASKI
COUNTIES UNTIL 945 PM CDT...
At 901 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Sweet Home to Scott to near Humnoke. Movement
was south at 25 mph.
Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Little Rock... North Little Rock...
Pine Bluff... Sherwood...
Downtown Little Rock... Sheridan...
Southwest Little Rock... White Hall...
England... Wrightsville...
Argenta... Redfield...
Altheimer... Humphrey...
Humnoke... Keo...
Cane Creek... Ironton...
Estes... Toltec Mounds State Park...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3417 9173 3407 9173 3407 9174 3409 9175
3409 9184 3427 9214 3431 9244 3477 9233
3484 9208 3458 9171 3424 9171 3423 9170
3417 9170
TIME...MOT...LOC 0201Z 002DEG 20KT 3471 9225 3472 9211 3449 9181
62The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:08 UTC.
10 hail, 8 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Lincoln and Academy streets were closed due to high water.
Water was over the road near US Hwy 67 and Kiehl Ave.
Power lines were blown down along with power poles snapped. The power lines were hanging just feet above the ground across U.S. Hwy 64 between Atkins and Pottsville.
Several boat docks were turned over on Bull Shoals Lake.
A tree was blown down onto a power line on State Hwy 14 in the southern part of Marion |County.
There was damage to several outbuildings.
Numerous trees were blown down along State Hwy 37 and U.S. Hwy 67. Minor damage was noted to several farm buildings as well.
Trees and power lines were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
Trees and power lines were blown down.
Winds were estimated at 70 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, June 2018
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: 764431, 764432, 764433, 764434, 768033, 764435, 764436, 764437, 764439, 768023, 768024, 768025, 768026, 768027, 768028, 768029, 768034, 768368, 768030, 768031.