Flash Flooding and Flooding in Arkansas, March 1, 2018

Name: Flash Flooding and Flooding in Arkansas, March 1, 2018
Start: 2018-03-01T00:00
End: 2018-03-01T12:30
Location: Arkansas

March 1, 2018 · NWS LZK · 12 events in 7 counties and zones

Rain and isolated thunderstorms arrived late in late February. Two to more than four inches of rain was common in central and southern sections of the state.

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: None recorded
Events: 12

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.

Rain and isolated thunderstorms arrived late in late February. Two to more than four inches of rain was common in central and southern sections of the state. By the time the rain ended, forty-eight hour rainfall amounts through 600 am CST on March 1st included 4.53 inches at Little Rock (Pulaski County), 4.10 inches at Mount Ida (Montgomery County), 3.42 inches at Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), and 3.02 inches at Hot Springs (Garland County).

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 Feb 28, 11:40 PM CST, 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 11:40 PM CST, 20 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
1140 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018

.AVIATION...

Widespread RA with embedded +RA remains across central AR with
bouncy flight categories, both for vsby and cig. This trend will
continue through the overnight with +RA at LLQ by 01/08Z.
Widespread MVFR will continue with IFR and worse in rain bands
through 01/10-12Z. Some degradation of cigs possible at northern
terminals around and after 01/12Z, but remained optimistic in
TAFs. Gusty N winds expected through the day Thurs. with gradual
improvement N to S during the late AM into the PM. Confidence in
timing and restrictions remains low.

Cooper

&&

PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 244 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018)
DISCUSSION...

Main concerns in this forecast cycle remain the potential for
heavy rain in the next 24 hours and the potential for flooding or
flash flooding over areas that are already saturated or rivers in
flood or close to flood stage. Also a slight and marginal risk of
severe storms this evening to early overnight as the weather
system and cold front move through AR.

This afternoon the area of light to moderate convection has
continued to move east across, earlier over the northern half,
while this afternoon more central and southern AR. Most rain
amounts have been light to moderate, with so far less than an
inch. The rain was in response to a warm front lifting across AR,
which was not located near the AR and MO stateline, and some
upper level short wave energy moving through the mean upper
southwest to northeast flow. Models do gradually move the main
lift from the north to central and southern areas later today,
tonight and into Thursday until the cold front pushes through AR
and clears the rain east. Precip water values have come up to well
over an inch, and the heavy rain threat remains over AR, and a
moderate to high risk of rainfall exceeding flash flood guidance
with this system. Also, the slight to marginal risk of strong to
severe storms is forecast to be focused over the southern half of
AR, when the strongest lift moves across AR this evening to early
night, and the best instability. Winds and hail are the primary
threats, while a low tornado threat will be seen. Temperatures had
warmed to the lower 70s south, while 60s elsewhere.

SHORT TERM...Tonight Through Friday

The forecast will start with a high chance of rain and
thunderstorms, with the threat of heavy rain. Will not include
some severe storms possible due to low threat. The heaviest rain
threat is forecast to center over central to southern AR this
evening and tonight, as the the upper lift is focused over central
to southern AR, and the cold front also gradually moves through
the state. 2 to 4 inches of rain is forecast in the next 24 hours,
with isolated areas seeing up to 5 inches over eastern to
southeastern areas. This will lead to continued flooding on area
rivers and in those areas that are already flooding. Lows tonight
will mostly be in the 50s. Thursday will see the system move out
of AR, taking the rain out of the state. A west to northwest wind
flow will usher in drier and a bit cooler air into the state.
Highs on Thursday will be in the 50s to 60s. Surface high pressure
will then build in over the region, and bring dry weather
conditions on Friday.

LONG TERM...Friday Night Through Wednesday

An upper ridge will be over the Plains to begin the long term period
with upper low pressure systems over the Pacific Northwest and New
England. The High will slowly move east through the weekend and
reach the east coast Monday. An upper low moves into the Plains
Sunday and into the Midwest Monday. Northwest flow sets up over
Arkansas for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Dry conditions with high pressure are expected for Friday night
through Saturday night. Rain chances return to the west Sunday and
spread eastward with an upper level system. A cold front will move
through on Monday and the showers should end in the southeast Monday
morning. Monday night through Wednesday will be dry with high
pressure in place and a northwest flow over the area. Near normal
temperatures will continue through the period.

&&

.LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
Flood Watch through Thursday morning FOR Arkansas-Bradley-
Calhoun-Clark-Cleburne-Cleveland-Dallas-Desha-Drew-Faulkner-
Garland-Grant-Hot Spring-Independence-Jackson-Jefferson-Lincoln-
Lonoke-Monroe-Montgomery-Ouachita-Perry-Pike-Polk-Prairie-
Pulaski-Saline-White-Woodruff.

&&

Aviation...COOPER

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 28, 3:52 PM CST, 8 hours 8 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
352 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018

ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-012200-
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-
352 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas.

.DAY ONE...This Evening and Tonight

Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected through the night
as the next weather system and cold front move through the region.
Rain will be heaviest over central and southern Arkansas where
another two to more than four inches of rain could fall.

This additional rainfall will only aid in the worsening flood
conditions already in place from the most recent heavy rainfall
event across the area.

There will also be the possibility of isolated severe storms, with
hail and winds the main threats. An isolated tornado may also
develop. The main threat area will be over the southern half of
Arkansas late this afternoon and evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday Through Tuesday

Rain will end during the day Thursday. Dry weather is forecast the
rest of Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The chances of rain will be
back in the forecast Sunday with the next weather system to affect
the region.

Due to the recent prolonged period of heavy rainfall, river stages
are expected to remain high into next week. Flooding will continue
in several river basins, including the Black, White, Cache,
Ouachita, and Saline Rivers.

.Spotter Information Statement...

Spotter activation may be necessary late this afternoon and this
evening, given the possibility of severe weather.

&&

Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 28, 10:21 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1021 PM CST WED FEB 28 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1005 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 ENE BISMARCK          34.32N  93.15W
02/28/2018                   HOT SPRING         AR   PUBLIC

            WATER IS FLOODED OVER HICKORY GROVE RD IN BISMARCK

&&

EVENT NUMBER LZK1800103

65

Local storm report, Feb 28, 10:32 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1032 PM CST WED FEB 28 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1024 PM     FLASH FLOOD      BROOKS                  34.57N  92.45W
02/28/2018                   SALINE             AR   PUBLIC

            WIDESPREAD FLASH FLOODING ONGOING IN AND NEAR THE
            COMMUNITIES OF ALEXANDER... SHANNON HILLS... BAUXITE...
            SARDIS... AND BRYANT IN SALINE COUNTY.

&&

EVENT NUMBER LZK1800104

COOPER

Local storm report, Feb 28, 11:21 PM CST, 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1121 PM CST WED FEB 28 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1111 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NW PINEBERGEN           34.10N 91.98W
02/28/2018                   JEFFERSON          AR   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            SORRELLS ROAD AT OLD WARREN ROAD WAS FLOODED.

&&

57

Local storm report, Feb 28, 11:27 PM CST, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1127 PM CST WED FEB 28 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0926 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 NE SHERIDAN           34.34N  92.36W
02/28/2018                   GRANT              AR   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            9.6 MILES OF HWY 46 NORTHEST OF SHERIDAN CLOSED DUE TO
            HIGH WATER.

&&

EVENT NUMBER LZK1800105

COOPER

Local storm report, Feb 28, 11:29 PM CST, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1129 PM CST WED FEB 28 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0924 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 N PRATTSVILLE         34.33N  92.55W
02/28/2018                   GRANT              AR   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            HWY 291 NORTH OF PRATTSVILLE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.

&&

EVENT NUMBER LZK1800106

COOPER

Local storm report, Feb 28, 11:42 PM CST, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1142 PM CST WED FEB 28 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1111 PM     FLASH FLOOD      6 NW PINEBERGEN         34.16N 92.06W
02/28/2018                   JEFFERSON          AR   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            SORRELLS ROAD AT OLD WARREN ROAD WAS FLOODED.

&&

57

The radar

The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:01 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 flash flood, 3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Clark

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Clark County, Caddo Vly to 0.26 mi NNE of Caddo Vly
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 34.180, -93.070

Roads were closed in Caddo Valley due to flash flooding.

Flash Flood, Clark

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Clark County, 0.9 mi SW of Amity to 2.47 mi ENE of Amity
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 34.260, -93.460

Flash flooding occurred across Amity.

Flash Flood, Clark

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to 12:05 AM CST
Where: Clark County, 0.9 mi NW of Richwoods to 0.71 mi WNW of Richwoods
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 34.040, -93.090

Widespread flash flooding occurred across eastern Clark County.

Flash Flood, Clark

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to 12:39 AM CST
Where: Clark County, 1.14 mi E of Arkadelphia to 1.5 mi E of Arkadelphia
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.120, -93.050

The Highway 51 bridge across the Ouachita River was closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Hot Spring

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to 1:03 AM CST
Where: Hot Spring County, 0.9 mi SW of Malvern to 0.43 mi E of Abco
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 34.360, -92.810

Flash flooding occurred in Malvern with several roads closed throughout town.

Flash Flood, Prairie

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to 2:13 AM CST
Where: Prairie County, 4.84 mi S of Fairmount to 5.08 mi SSE of Fairmount
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.530, -91.600

Highway 343 was closed for 2.5 miles in southern Prairie County due to high water.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: March 1, 12:00 AM CST to 1:50 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 2.67 mi ENE of Norman to 0.63 mi S of Mt Ida
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.470, -93.630

Several roads in the southern portion of Montgomery County were washed out and impassable.

Flash Flood, Jefferson

When: March 1, 12:20 AM CST
Where: Jefferson County, 0.69 mi N of Brewster to 1.82 mi SE of Brewster
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.210, -92.020

Some residential streets were flooded in Pine Bluff.

Flash Flood, Hot Spring

When: March 1, 12:30 AM CST to 10:30 AM CST
Where: Hot Spring County, 0.93 mi ESE of Jones Mill to 1.57 mi WNW of Rockport
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 34.423, -92.866

This is a routine high water release from Remmel Dam due to heavy rainfall. Peak flow from the dam was around 44 thousand cubic feet per second. This results in flash flooding of pastureland near the river downstream of the dam, and several county roads and bridges become flooded.

Flood, Conway

When: March 1, 5:45 AM CST to 6:45 AM CST
Where: Conway County, 1.78 mi NW of Hattieville to 0.91 mi NW of Hattieville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 35.300, -92.820

Both lanes of Highway 247 west of Hattieville were blocked due to high water.

Flood, Lonoke

When: March 1, 11:30 AM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: Lonoke County, 1.13 mi W of Carlisle to 0.8 mi W of Carlisle
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.780, -91.770

Water from nearby Two Prairie Bayou flooded Highway 70 west of Carlisle, inundating adjacent properties. At least a few homes and business were impacted.

Flood, Lonoke

When: March 1, 11:30 AM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: Lonoke County, 0.57 mi W of Carlisle to 0.23 mi W of Carlisle
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 34.780, -91.760

Water was over Highway 70 just outside of Carlisle...heading west.

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Arkansas, March 2018

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: 744579, 744580, 744581, 744584, 744585, 744586, 744589, 744583, 767998, 744591, 744588, 744592.