Heavy rain brought flooding to the Arkansas River and Fourche Lafave. In addition to heavy rain, upstream reservoirs were very full and needed to release water, adding to the 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.
Heavy rain brought flooding to the Arkansas River and Fourche Lafave. In addition to heavy rain, upstream reservoirs were very full and needed to release water, adding to the flooding. This resulted in record river stages at 4 of the gauge sites in our area.
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 24, 5:29 AM CST, 5 hours 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 629 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019 .AVIATION... High pressure will keep dry weather over the area through the period. Scatterd mid level clouds are moving into the west and east sections this morning. Gusty winds are expected in the north today. VFR conditions will continue. && .PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 347 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019) SHORT TERM...Today Through Saturday Night An upper level high pressure system continues over the southeast U.S. with an upper low over the northern Rockies. The upper low will move northeast through the upper midwest this afternoon and tonight, around the influence of the upper ridge. Another upper low moves into the western U.S. Saturday. Surface high pressure is just east of Arkansas. This high will keep dry weather over Arkansas through the short term period. Any storms that form in the Plains today or Saturday will remain north and west of the state. Warm and fairly humid conditions will continue through Saturday. Highs today and Saturday will be in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Lows will be in the upper 60s to lower 70s. LONG TERM...Sunday Through Thursday A ridge of high pressure over the southeast United States will be the dominant weather feature to begin the extended period. Under the high, above average temperatures are expected, with little to no rain. As the period progresses, the ridge will flatten/weaken somewhat. A storm system from the southwest United States will head into the middle of the country, and will drag a cold front into Arkansas. This will result in good chances of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday and Wednesday. By Thursday, the front should be in central or southern Arkansas, and will stall. The front may eventually wash out. Any thunderstorms will be isolated, and nearest the front from Little Rock southward. Weak high pressure/dry conditions will be noted farther north. Temperatures will be a bit cooler/more seasonal. && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...NONE. && Aviation...51
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Little Rock AR 500 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019 ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-251000- 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- 500 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday Through Thursday Major flooding is expected at most forecast points along the Arkansas River. The river will be on the rise this weekend, with crests occurring next week. This should be an historic event, with record or near record crests in some cases. Afternoon heat index values will climb into the 90s across much of the region this weekend into early next week. It will be mostly dry through Monday. Chances of showers and thunderstorms return to the forecast Tuesday and Wednesday. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk. 51/46
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding began on the Fourche LaFave River at Houston on May 24 and continued into June.
River flooding began on the Arkansas River at Morrilton May 24 and continued through the end of the month. The river had a record crest in June.
River flooding began on the Arkansas River at Dardanelle May 24 and continued through the end of the month. The river crested there at 45.91 feet on May 31 and this was a record stage.
Flooding began on the Arkansas River at Toad Suck on May 25 and continued into June. The river reached a record stage in June.
Flooding began on the Arkansas River at Pine Bluff on May 26 and continued into June.
Flooding began on the Arkansas River at Little Rock on May 28 and continued into June.
Flooding began on the Arkansas River at Pendleton on May 28 and continued into June. The river reached a record stage in June of 37.63 feet.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 832007, 831958, 831951, 831975, 831998, 831980, 832002.