On the 15th, the focus was mainly to the west of Arkansas. Showers and thunderstorms became widespread across the southern Plains surrounding a storm system wobbling this way from the southwest.
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.
On the 15th, the focus was mainly to the west of Arkansas. Showers and thunderstorms became widespread across the southern Plains surrounding a storm system wobbling this way from the southwest. Some of the fireworks managed to work into western sections of the state during the afternoon and evening.
Rain was very heavy in places, with many streets covered by water in and around Waldron (Scott County). Strong to damaging thunderstorm winds toppled trees a few miles northwest of Murfreesboro (Pike County). There was quarter size hail at Bismarck (Hot Spring County).
In the northwest, it rained at Harrison (Boone County). As rain departed to the southeast between 300 pm and 500 pm CST, the pressure dropped quickly. Temperatures warmed up and the air dried out. This was a sure sign that a small area of low pressure was forming in the wake of the exiting precipitation (a wake low). Winds kicked up and gusted as high as 50 mph.
On the 16th, conditions were expected to go downhill locally. Widespread precipitation was in the forecast, especially in central and western Arkansas.
Given plenty of water to wring out of the clouds, flash flooding was a concern. Between 500 pm and 1000 pm CST, high water problems were realized as a deluge unfolded.|Water flowed across roads in Conway and Greenbrier (both in Faulkner County) and surrounding areas. Barricades had to be used in some cases. It was the same story at Shirley (Van Buren County) and south of Mount Ida (Montgomery County), and creeks were out of their banks. Five miles west and southwest of Arkadelphia (Clark County), Highways 8 and 26 were impassible due to flooding. Highway 71 at Y City (Scott County) was closed for the same reason.
There were quick rises on the Buffalo, Eleven Point, Fourche La Fave, Little Missouri, Petit Jean, Saline, and Spring Rivers, with minor flooding occurring in spots. The Ouachita River also came up fast, and this was due to the rain and releases at Remmel Dam. There was enough water to keep the Black, Cache, and lower White Rivers elevated, which was the norm for much of the year up to this point.
Storms in southeast Arkansas were very isolated, but popped up in a hurry where they managed to develop. Weak rotation in the clouds was stretched as clouds mushroomed. Rotation tightened after being extended leading to a brief landspout just north of Sherrill (Jefferson County) not long after 530 pm CST. This was unlike most springtime tornadoes that are usually associated with mesocyclones (strong persistent circulations that extend thousands of feet into the atmosphere).
The turning motion around the incoming system increased chances of isolated tornadoes southwest of Little Rock (Pulaski County). Numerous Tornado Warnings were issued in the far southwest, and there was damage in places.
Other spotty wind damage was reported. Metal roofing was removed from boat docks and at least a dozen trees were uprooted at a resort just northwest of Crystal Springs (Garland County). Trees and power lines were downed at Leola (Grant County).
The system gradually weakened once it arrived with a cold front on the 17th. Precipitation became more scattered and was not as heavy.
Three to more than five inches of rain dumped at quite a few locations in the western half of the state in the seventy two hour period ending at 600 pm CST on the 17th. This included Alexander (Pulaski/Saline Counties), Benton (Saline County), Booneville (Logan County), Conway (Faulkner County), Damascus (Van Buren County), DeGray Lake State Park (Clark/Hot Spring Counties), Delight (Pike County), Fairbanks (Van Buren County), Fordyce (Dallas County), Harrison (Boone County), Hot Springs (Garland County), Marshall (Searcy County), Mena (Polk County), Menifee (Conway County), Mountain Home (Baxter County), Mount Ida (Montgomery County), Murfreesboro (Pike County), and Waldron (Scott County).
For the month (through the 17th), there was more than the usual precipitation in central/western Arkansas, and it was drier than normal in the east. Surpluses of liquid were over an inch at Harrison (Boone 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 May 15, 12:58 PM CST, 2 hours 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 158 PM CDT Fri May 15 2020 .SHORT TERM...Tonight Through Sunday An MCS has been developing over east OK, developing southward, toward warm and moist air. A 500mb trough is approaching from the west, with a low level jet over OK. The jet is forecast to weaken the MCS to our west. Rain showers and thunderstorms are still expected to persist over the NW part of the CWA through the afternoon hours. Convection is expected to develop over the southern part of the CWA this afternoon as well. Low level flow will carry these isolated showers and storms toward the NE. A little break in the precipitation is expected during the overnight hours, as low level moisture develops low ceilings throughout the state. As the upper trough deepens and approaches the state by Sat morning and low level flow continues to carry warm, moist, Gulf air into the region, showers and thunderstorms will develop over the state. This will continue Saturday through the overnight hours, as a cold front approaches from the west early Sunday morning. The front will move east through the state Sunday, with drier air entering the state behind. Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s is expected through the weekend. However, widespread precipitation Friday has inhibited heating in the NW parts of the state. Highs in this area may only reach the upper 60s today. Lows are expected to be in the 60s through the weekend. && .LONG TERM...Sunday Night Through Friday Rain chances will be diminishing by Sunday Night, as drier air advects in. This will be as the cold front and associated surface low move east, and the trough eminating from a closed upper low over the Great Lakes/Midwest pushes in. Into the week, surface ridging will build in. With the longwave pattern highly amplified, upper flow will be either meridional or northeast, especially as the aforementioned low becomes cut off from the mean flow over the southern Appalachians. So, while we will be dry with the ridge building in, surface flow will remain east/northeast, and as a result, temperatures will largely remain close to or a little below average. Given where we could be this time of year, I don't think many people will complain. At least I won't. For now. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 66 80 65 75 / 50 80 80 70 Camden AR 69 80 66 79 / 40 70 80 70 Harrison AR 63 78 62 73 / 30 70 80 40 Hot Springs AR 69 80 66 78 / 50 90 90 70 Little Rock AR 69 81 67 78 / 40 80 80 70 Monticello AR 69 82 68 78 / 30 50 70 80 Mount Ida AR 67 78 64 77 / 50 90 90 60 Mountain Home AR 65 79 64 74 / 40 80 80 50 Newport AR 67 81 66 76 / 40 80 70 80 Pine Bluff AR 69 82 67 77 / 40 60 80 80 Russellville AR 68 80 66 78 / 40 90 80 50 Searcy AR 67 81 66 77 / 40 80 80 70 Stuttgart AR 68 82 67 78 / 40 70 70 80 && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...NONE. && Short Term...SHELTON / Long Term...57
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Little Rock AR 445 AM CDT Fri May 15 2020 ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-161000- 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- 445 AM CDT Fri May 15 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Showers and thunderstorms will move into the state from the central Plains this morning. A few storms could be strong to severe with isolated damaging winds the primary hazard. These storms are expected to weaken in intensity as they move into central and southern Arkansas. Showers and thunderstorms may linger into the overnight hours, especially over southwestern portions of the state. However, hazardous weather appears low at this time during the overnight period. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday Through Thursday Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible Saturday and Sunday afternoons. However, the overall threat for organized severe weather looks low at this time. Some locally heavy rainfall may also be seen, which may lead to an isolated flash flood threat. However, widespread heavy rainfall is not expected at this time. Drier weather will prevail through the remainder of the period. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk. 44/230
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
350 PM CDT Fri May 15 2020
ARZ037-040-041-152130-
Polk AR-Scott AR-Montgomery AR-
350 PM CDT Fri May 15 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR POLK...SOUTHWESTERN SCOTT AND
WEST CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CDT...
At 350 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles northeast of Mena, moving east at 15 mph.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Mena... Hatfield...
Vandervoort... Opal...
Cossatot River State Park... Mountain Fork...
Polk County Fairgrounds... Mena Intermountain Airport...
Mccauley... Shady...
Hartley... Bard Springs Recreation Area...
Caney Creek Wilderness... Queen Wilhelmina State Park...
Little Missouri Falls Recreatio...
Cove...
Acorn... Big Fork...
Black Fork... Board Camp...
LAT...LON 3479 9445 3479 9388 3435 9393 3436 9425
3434 9426 3434 9447
TIME...MOT...LOC 2050Z 272DEG 12KT 3471 9411
CrossSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
430 PM CDT Fri May 15 2020
ARZ030-037-038-040-041-152215-
Polk AR-Scott AR-Logan AR-Yell AR-Montgomery AR-
430 PM CDT Fri May 15 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOGAN...NORTHEASTERN
POLK...SCOTT...SOUTHWESTERN YELL AND WESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES
UNTIL 515 PM CDT...
At 430 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Opal, or 11 miles east of Mena, moving east at 15 mph.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Waldron... Norman...
Oden... Stonehouse Recreation Area...
Cardiff... Opal...
Mimosa... Little Missouri Falls Recreatio...
Gravelly... Shady...
Bard Springs Recreation Area... Caney Creek Wilderness...
Mauldin... Albert Pike Recreation Area...
Muddy Creek WMA... Black Springs...
Big Fork... Board Camp...
Olio... Ink...
LAT...LON 3506 9365 3435 9365 3435 9400 3436 9413
3506 9415
TIME...MOT...LOC 2130Z 271DEG 11KT 3459 9403
CrossThe Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 50 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:30 UTC.
11 flash flood, 6 thunderstorm wind, 2 heavy rain, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Many roads were covered in water throughout the city and surrounding areas.
A tree was downed on Nathan Road outside Murfreesboro.
Flash flooding impacted several county roads near Greenbrier, requiring the local fire department to deploy barricades. The most highly traveled road impacted was Linder Rd. before Highway 65.
Sixth street in downtown Conway flooded.
Flooding was reported on Harkrider and Siebenmorgan Roads in Conway.
Trees were down on or near Highway 8, west-northwest of Arkadelphia.
Trees were down on Highway 27, south of Mount Ida.
Silver Rock Road on the south side of Shirley, was flooded. Weaver Creek was also out of its banks in eastern Van Buren County. Other commonly flooded low-lying areas were flooded in eastern Van Buren County.
Extensive street flooding was reported on Grand Avenue in Hot Springs.
Owly Road was reported flooded, and Williams Creek had come out of its bank and was running over the bridge nearby.
Thunderstorm winds blew most of the tin roofing off of one of the primary docks at Crystal Springs Resort and set a few boats loose in the lake. A few pine trees were also uprooted or snapped. While the most extensive damage occurred at one dock, a few other docks were pushed together resulting in some minor damage to the docks and boats in between.
Highways 8 and 26 were reported impassable due to flooding 5 miles west of Arkadelphia and 5 miles southwest of Arkadelphia, respectively.
Trees were down on Highway 27, south of Mount Ida.
Highway 71 at Y City was closed due to the high water.
Trees and power lines were down on Sandy Springs Road in Leola.
Several county roads and highways were impassable due to the high water during the overnight hours.
Culverts along Old Dallas Road were washed out due to the high water.
The COOP observer reported a storm total of 5.70 inches of rain.
The COOP observer reported a storm total of 5.60 inches of rain.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, May 2020
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: 885254, 885255, 885256, 885257, 885258, 894321, 885259, 885261, 885265, 885268, 885271, 894130, 885273, 885275, 885278, 894137, 885280, 885282, 885283, 885284.