Areas of heavy rainfall were observed as a complex of showers and a few thunderstorms moved across central sections of Arkansas. Several inches of rain fell rather quickly, causing flash flooding.
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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.
Areas of heavy rainfall were observed as a complex of showers and a few thunderstorms moved across central sections of Arkansas. Several inches of rain fell rather quickly, causing flash flooding. As this area of thunderstorms moved into the Little Rock Metro area, these thunderstorms strengthened, causing several weak tornadoes to touch down across central portions of the state. In addition to damage caused by tornadoes, some downburst winds were also observed.
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 2, 5:59 AM CST, 5 hours 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 659 AM CDT Thu May 2 2019 .UPDATE... Updated to include the 12z aviation discussion. .AVIATION... SHRA/TSRA were ongoing across western and northern terminals this morning. VFR conditions were seen at KBPK, KPBF and KLLQ, elsewhere MVFR conditions were observed. Ceilings will gradually lower through the day becoming MVFR as SHRA expand in coverage and spread northeastward. Precipitation will come to an end from southwest to northeast this afternoon into the evening. MVFR ceilings will prevail overnight with areas of fog developing by early Friday morning 08/10z. Winds will generally be southerly at less than 15 knots. && .PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 416 AM CDT Thu May 2 2019) SHORT TERM...Today Through Friday Night It was another unsettled evening across much of AR. Radar indicated two main areas of convection in progress as of 04Z this morning. The northern end of an MCS was affecting the southwest half of AR, while another area of convection was ongoing across northeast AR. Between these systems, a remnant cold pool was propagating across central AR resulting in elevated scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. All storms across the state are below severe limits at this time. Across western portions of AR, radar indicated substantial precipitation fell across this area overnight, with general 1 to 2 inches over the higher elevations of the Ouachitas. Additional heavy rain will be possible today as the system slowly moves east across the state. Limited instability, from time of day, will help keep storms below severe limits. Flash flooding will be the main concern given antecedent conditions. High temperatures to day will range from the upper 60s to around 80 degrees. Precipitation should come to an end this afternoon and evening before another complex of showers and thunderstorms move into the region Friday. On Friday into Friday night another mesoscale convective system is expected to develop over Texas before moving into AR. Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible with damaging winds becoming the main concern. Marginally severe hail will be possible as well. One major factor to consider with this severe potential would be the development of stratiform precipitation out ahead of the main convection to help stabilize the atmosphere. Friday and Friday evening will be monitored closely for any changes to this severe potential. Confidence remains low in this portion of the forecast with so many model discrepancies as to timing and placement of features. This active weather pattern is a result of persistent troughing over the western CONUS and strong persistent ridging over the Western Atlantic. Between these features, southwest upper level winds continues to bring embedded impulses through the flow which in part is interacting with a nearly stationary boundary northwest of AR and partly a result of rich Gulf of Mexico moisture streaming northward pooling in proximity to the boundary. These ingredients will come together to produce a long-duration heavy rain event across the state. As much as one to three inches of additional rainfall will be possible along the I30/Hwy 67/167 corridor through the short term. Flash flooding still posses the greatest risk during the short term. LONG TERM...Saturday Through Wednesday Convection wl be ending from the Sat night as a storm system shifts further to the E of the FA. Models still show a lull in the unsettled wx pattern for Sun and much of Mon as sfc high pres passes acrs the region. Weak ridging in the upper lvls wl also help to keep dry conds in place. However, moisture/rain chances wl once again return heading into Tue and Wed as the upper flow again returns fm the SW. Several upper impulses wl traverse the Mid-South, also aided by a slow movg CDFNT fm the NW, to bring additional rounds of SHRA/TSRA to much of AR. Once again, wl closely monitor heavy rain/severe wx potential heading into the next work week. && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Flash Flood Watch through this evening FOR Baxter-Boone-Conway- Fulton-Izard-Johnson-Logan-Marion-Montgomery-Newton-Pike-Polk- Pope-Scott-Searcy-Stone-Van Buren-Yell. && Aviation...JONES
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 449 AM CDT Thu May 2 2019 ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-031000- Boone-Marion-Baxter-Fulton-Sharp-Randolph-Newton-Searcy-Stone- Izard-Independence-Lawrence-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- 449 AM CDT Thu May 2 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A complex of showers and thunderstorms will continue to move through the state this morning into the early afternoon hours. The potential exists for heavy rainfall leading to isolated flash flooding. One to two inches of rain is expected today. Organized severe weather is not expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Unsettled weather will continue Friday and Saturday, as a front meanders over Arkansas. Good chances for showers and thunderstorms will remain in the forecast. Localized flash flooding will be a concern, but organized severe weather is not expected. The front will move out of the area later in the weekend. A return to an unsettled weather pattern will occur by the middle of next week. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to https://weather.gov/lzk.
The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:25 UTC.
11 flash flood, 9 tornado, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash flooding was noted in Hot Springs along Central Ave. at Files Rd. The intersection was completely under water and there was a vehicle stranded in the flooding.
This tornado formed just east of I-30, east of exit 128, where several trees were either uprooted or limbs blown down. Damage was observed to several businesses along the track, also blowing over tractor trailers near the I-30/I-40 Interchange. The tornado crossed I-30 near this same area, continuing to blow down trees and causing some damage to other buildings. This tornado lifted near Baseline Road.
This tornado formed just northeast of the National Weather Service where some small limbs were snapped off between Wayside Drive and Batesville Pike. As this tornado moved north, several trees were uprooted along Kellogg Acres Road near Windstone Drive, blocking the road and taking down power lines. Several more trees were either snapped or uprooted as the tornado moved north along Batesville Pike. The center of the tornado passed near the intersection of Batesville Pike and Jacksonville-Cato Road were some minor roof damage was noted. This tornado lifted near the intersection of Batesville Pike and Bridge Creek Road. Most of the damage along this track was uprooted trees, and trees falling onto homes or power lines.
Street flooding was occurring in NLR on North Cypress Street.
This tornado touched down just south of the Faulkner County near the intersection of Frenchman Mountain and Watson Roads. This portion of the tornado blew down a couple trees and tree limbs. This tornado passed north into far southeast Faulkner County.
This tornado touched down just south of the Faulkner County near the intersection of Frenchman Mountain and Watson Roads, moving northeast from Pulaski County into far southeast portions of Faulkner County. This tornado then passed back into Pulaski county near the Bridgefield neighborhood.
This tornado continued from far southeast Faulkner County into Pulaski County through the Bridgefield neighborhood where several trees were uprooted or tree limbs snapped off. This tornado continued north across Arkansas Hwy 89 were a small tree was uprooted. As the tornado continue north, more trees were either uprooted or limbs snapped near Sayles Road and Mitchell Road before lifting just north of Mitchel Road.
This short-lived tornado formed near West Cleland Road west of Cabot and continued north to near Arkansas Hwy 89. Mainly trees were either uprooted or limbs snapped, with some damage to a few outbuildings. Some roof damage was also noted to a few homes.
The public reported a building damaged near the town of Furlow. Time and location was estimated from the radar.
There was damage to a house from a tree that fell on it.
This brief tornado moved from northeast to southwest according to radar data, with trees uprooted or limbs snapped along the path. A small shed was destroyed along Faulkner Gap Road.
Flash flooding was reported on Otto Rd. in Vilonia.
This tornado was confirmed by video evidence, forming just southwest of the intersection of Arkansas Hwy 11 and 38 west of Des Arc. This tornado continued northeast over rural areas northwest of Des Arc, lifting southwest of the intersection of Arkansas Hwy 11 and North Colwell Road. Damage was minimal due to this tornado remaining over mainly open fields.
Flooding was reported on Highway 365.
Flooding was reported on Cantrell Rd. in downtown Little Rock near Allsopp Park.
Five incehes of water was over the Roster Rd. between Daugherty Hill Rd. and Middle Rd. in Conway. A culvert was also washed out.
Water was flowing over Hwy. 36 at Nature Valley.
Multiple roads were closed due to flooding including Pershing Rd. and Percy Machin Rd., Crystal Hill at Kelly, Crystal Hill at Wild River Country, Faulkner Lake Rd. between 440 and 391, and Hwy. 165 between Rose and Campbell.
This tornado was observed by Law Enforcement in rural areas of Jackson County southeast of Swifton, just north of Arkansas Hwy 226. Damage was minimal due to staying mainly in open fields.
A small microburst blew down some trees and tree limbs, and caused damage around the baseball field in Augusta.
Numerous reports were received of flash flooding of roads in Searcy and Judsonia.
A report of flooded roads in Grubbs was received from broadcast media via NWSCHAT.
Half dollar size hail was reported west of Lead Hill. Report was delayed.
Quarter size hail was noted at Diamond City. Also, 1.50 inches of rain fell quickly.
Numerous roads were inundated in the county including county roads 3311, 3411, 3451, and 3330. Portions of Hwys. 103 and 352 were also closed. The 911 center indicated the fire department continued closing roads affected by high water at the time of the report.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Arkansas, 2019Warnings in Arkansas, May 2019
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: 822508, 813134, 813110, 822511, 813137, 813138, 813139, 813123, 822518, 822519, 813140, 822520, 813141, 823074, 823075, 823076, 823077, 823078, 813135, 813136, 823079, 823080, 823081, 823082, 823083.