Tropical Storm Laura moved ashore from the Gulf of Mexico near Cameron, LA, around 1200 AM CST on August 27, 2020 with 150 mph sustained winds! This part of the state had never experienced such a powerful (Category 4) hurricane.
Every event with a place to put it; 30 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 LZK wrote it up.
Tropical Storm Laura moved ashore from the Gulf of Mexico near Cameron, LA, around 1200 AM CST on August 27, 2020 with 150 mph sustained winds! This part of the state had never experienced such a powerful (Category 4) hurricane. Measured gusts exceeded 130 mph in Lake Charles, LA. Not only was there widespread structural damage, a television tower was destroyed and the WSR-88D (Doppler Weather Radar) at the local National Weather Service (NWS) office was obliterated. Staff at the office was evacuated prior to the arrival of Laura, with backup provided by NWS Brownsville, TX.
Laura remained a hurricane well inland as the system ventured to the north at around 15 mph. A swath of heavy rain (two to more than five inches) spread into southern, central, and northeast Arkansas in the twenty four hour period ending at 700 am CDT on the 28th. Fordyce (Dallas County) received 5.25 inches of precipitation, with 4.48 inches at Cabot (Lonoke County), 4.39 inches at Marche (Pulaski County), 4.37 inches at North Little Rock (Pulaski County), 4.17 inches at Keo (Lonoke County), 3.85 inches at Calamine (Sharp County), 3.60 inches at Stuttgart (Arkansas County), 3.55 inches at Batesville (Independence County) and El Dorado (Union County), 3.53 inches at Sheridan (Grant County), and 3.50 inches at Alicia (Lawrence County).
The atmosphere was loaded with moisture, and this created high rainfall rates. Water came down faster than it could be carried away, and roads flooded at Benton (Saline County), North Little Rock and Sherwood (both in Pulaski County), Walnut Ridge and near Ravenden (both in Lawrence County), and a few miles east of Mena (Polk County).
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 Aug 26, 5:39 AM CST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 639 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020 .UPDATE... Updated to include the 12Z aviation discussion. && .AVIATION... IFR/MVFR cloud decks continue to move into the state from the east. Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms continue to develop across the state this morning and will track north before moving out or dissipating this evening. IFR/MVFR conditions are expected through much of the period, with VFR conditions anticipated by late afternoon when the showers move out. MVFR conditions are expected to return early morning Thursday, ahead of the approaching tropical system. && .PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 454 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020) ..LAURA EXPECTED TO IMPACT ARKANSAS THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY... Early this morning, Hurricane Laura continues to intensify in the Gulf of Mexico. Needless to say, this will be the big weather story for the next few days. Latest official NHC forecast, as well as most model solutions, bring Laura on land near Sabine Pass (Texas/Louisiana border) tonight. Thereafter, Laura moves around the periphery of an upper ridge centered off the southeast CONUS, moving in to southwest Arkansas during the afternoon Thursday where it will gradually degenerate into a depression. By Friday, what's left of Laura will merge into a longwave trough digging down into the mid Mississippi Valley. This should allow the system to accelerate in the Ohio Valley Friday Night into Saturday. Meanwhile, ridging will remain firmly in place over the southwest CONUS. A frontal boundary will move into the region behind Laura, and should stall as it hits the ridge. With several waves moving around the periphery of the ridge into early next week, the interaction of the two systems should provide a focus for scattered showers/storms. Now, back to Laura. Have gone ahead and issued a Flash Flood Watch from southwest into central and north central Arkansas. Southwest/western Arkansas is a given, seeing as how they've had an overabundance of precip as of late. No doubt, response time will be much slower into central and north central Arkansas, but with a moist tropical airmass (efficient rainfall production), rain bands repeatedly hitting the same areas(training), and the amount of qpf in the current forecast, can't justify leaving them out. As we've discussed before, Laura should enter Arkansas as a tropical storm. It will continue to weaken as it shifts through western and into north central Arkansas Thursday night. At the point Laura moves into our forecast area, sustained winds could be tropical storm strength, so have gone with a Tropical Storm Watch for several of my far southwest counties. And, speaking of winds, sustained speeds of 30 to 40 MPH will be possible, with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH, especially around the center of circulation. Tornadoes will be possible in rain bands north and east of the center. These are generally short-lived, shallow circulations. So...to recap the hazards addressed... -Flash flooding, with rainfall amounts of four to six inches (localized in excess of seven), with the highest probability from western/southwest into central Arkansas. Rain will be heaviest Thursday afternoon through the day Friday, diminishing from southwest to northeast during the afternoon. -Gusty winds, possibly sustained tropical storm force initially, with the highest probability over southwest Arkansas as Laura moves into the state during the afternoon and evening Thursday. -A few tornadoes in the rain bands north and east of the center, with the highest possibility Thursday afternoon and evening. Many thanks this morning to WFOs Tulsa, Memphis, Jackson, and Shreveport for excellent coordination and collaboration on this forecast. && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Flash Flood Watch from Thursday afternoon through Friday evening FOR Calhoun-Clark-Cleburne-Conway-Dallas-Faulkner-Garland-Grant- Hot Spring-Independence-Montgomery-Ouachita-Perry-Pike-Polk-Pope- Pulaski-Saline-Scott-Searcy-Stone-Van Buren-White-Yell. Tropical Storm Watch FOR Calhoun-Clark-Dallas-Ouachita-Pike. && Aviation...SHELTON
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Little Rock AR 403 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020 ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-271000- 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- 403 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Chances for showers and thunderstorms will increase Wednesday, ahead of the remnants of Hurricane Laura. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday Through Tuesday The remnants of Laura are expected to move across the state from south to northeast on Thursday evening into late Friday. Heavy rainfall will be possible along the track with this system. Flash flooding will be possible where storms develop and move over the same locations. Forecast rainfall amounts will range from 4 to over 6 inches for much of the area...with locally higher amounts in excess of 7 inches possible. Gusty winds are expected to accompany this system. Winds of 30 to 40 mph are expected, with gusts to 50 mph possible. There will also be a limited tornado threat across all but northwest Arkansas, generally to the north and east of the center of circulation. Showers and thunderstorms will return on Sunday, however the threat of additional hazardous weather is low at this time. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Little Rock AR 737 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020 ARZ037-040-261300- Polk AR-Scott AR- 737 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL POLK AND SOUTHWESTERN SCOTT COUNTIES UNTIL 800 AM CDT... At 737 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Mena, moving north at 10 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Mena... Beauchamp... Queen Wilhelmina State Park... Acorn... Y City... Rich Mountain... Ink... Eagleton... Shady Grove... Boles... 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. && LAT...LON 3458 9411 3458 9431 3485 9443 3486 9403 TIME...MOT...LOC 1237Z 159DEG 11KT 3465 9422 67
The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:31 UTC.
30 tropical storm, 10 flash flood, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
The sheriff office reported portions of Highway 84 West near Langley was flooded.
A picture was shared on social media of large trees down over Old State Road southwest of Monticello.
Trees, limbs, and power lines were reported down. A Pizza Hut sign was destroyed.
The sheriff's office reported power lines down in McGehee.
A large hardwood tree was reported down.
Trees were reported down across Camden, with at least one tree down on a home in Camden.
Trees were reported down across Camden, with at least one tree down on a home in Camden.
A few trees and power lines were down in the county.
Trees and power lines were reported down along county roads across parts of of Ouachita County.
A metal roof was blown off a shop building.
There were several reports of trees down across Drew County.
Lots of trees were reported down and one tree was on a house in Thornton, relayed by broadcast media via pictures on social media.
A tree was down on a car and some roofs were ripped off.
A road or two had water over them. There was a road washed out.
Flash flooding was reported.
Several trees and power lines were down in Tillar. A picture and report were aquired on social media from local broadcast television. The time of damage was estimated from radar.
Sheriff office reported a few trees were blown down.
The sheriff office reported 19 reports of trees and power lines down in Roland, Hensley, and Jacksonville. Calls came in between 1 pm CDT and 530 pm CDT.
Several large trees were blown down. One tree fell onto a house and caused significant damage.
Several trees were blown down across Cleveland County.
Trees were blown down across Hot Spring County.
Poles were snapped along Highway 67 near east Dobson.
There were multiple reports of trees and power lines down across Clark County.
A large tree was down and through a fence in De Witt. The report was relayed via a picture on social media by broadcast media.
A large tree was downed by strong winds in Arkadelphia. The picture was relayed via social media by broadcast media.
Several large trees were downed in Stuttgart and relayed by pictures via social media.
Lots of trees were down across the county. Fourteen trees were down and power lines also with most of those reports. Trees were across roads in Ward, Austin, and Greystone. A privacy fence was also blown over.
Highway 13 north of Carlisle was flooded. Also Highway 89 by Gentry was flooded, along with Central High Rd.
A video showed water flowing over roads in Benton on social media, relayed by broadcast media.
The intersection of Brockington and Kiehl was flooded and impassable to traffic.
Several streets and intersections in North Little Rock were flooded and impassable. Several pictures and reports were acquired via social media. The time was estimated based on the time of tweet and radar data.
A storm survey crew from the NWS Office in Little Rock found tornado damage consistent with an EF0 rating.
This tornado formed just northeast of the intersection of highways|37 and 269 north of McCrory, where a covered parking area roof was|blown west. At that same residence, a large tree fell southwest|onto the home. This tornado continued northwest over cropland,|pushing over a power pole off County Road 338, then proceeded to|cross State Highway 17 blowing down more trees and tree limbs.|This tornado lifted shortly afterwards to the northwest.
A house carport was destroyed with a hole in the wall of the carport.
Roof damage was reported between Tupelo and Beeddeville.
Multiple trees were blown down.
Multiple trees were blown down.
Power lines were down in Ozark Acres.
Transformers were blown and power lines were down in Sedgwick on Smith Ave.
Northwest 4th and Main Street were closed due to high water in Walnut Ridge.
A storm survey crew from the NWS Office in Little Rock found tornado consistent with an EF2 rating. A house sustained major roof damage on Highway 328 west of Maynard, with most of the walls still standing. An agricultural shop was destroyed 2 miles south of Biggers.
The tornado started just southeast of US67/62 southwest of|Biggers, destroying a metal farm building and snapping trees|along Lutrell Cemetery Road. The tornado continued northwest|blowing in some garage doors on some large metal buildings, along|with snapping limbs off of multiple trees along Gas Plant and|Biggers-Reyno roads. The tornado continued northwest for several|miles, causing mainly damage to trees, from broken limbs, to|uprooting or snapping those tree trunks. The worst damage was|observed at a site built home off of State Hwy 328 and Jerrett|Loop Road southwest of Maynard, where large sections of the roof|were torn off allowing a couple walls to fall inward. At the same|residence, a large metal outbuilding or barn was destroyed. Many|mature trees were snapped or uprooted around this location. The|tornado finally lifted further northwest along State Hwy 251|south of Palestine Road.
County Rd. 106 had a portion of it washed out by flooding. A picture and report were received from social media.
Several county roads were flooded across eastern Polk County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Arkansas, 2020Warnings in Arkansas, August 2020The 2020 hurricane season
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: 913007, 913009, 917127, 917131, 913011, 913012, 913013, 917141, 913014, 913015, 913016, 913017, 917116, 917124, 917125, 913018, 913019, 917115, 913020, 913021, 913023, 913042, 913043, 913046, 913047, 913048, 917148, 917151, 913049, 913051, 913057, 916551, 916528, 916529, 916530, 916531, 916532, 916533, 916534, 916535, and more.