Flooding returned to some areas of Arkansas in late May due to heavy rain.
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.
Flooding returned to some areas of Arkansas in late May due to heavy rain.
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 23, 1:48 AM CST, 7 hours 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 248 AM CDT Sat May 23 2020 .SHORT TERM...Today Through Monday Continuing to monitor a region of excessive rainfall over parts of Wrn AR this early AM. Efficient rainfall from nearly stationary storms earlier Fri evening and continuous training storms will continue to require diligent monitoring for flash flooding as well as river flooding over the next few days. Short term CAM guidance has struggled to depict the evolution of convection Fri night, with a broken line of convection which has remained outflow dominant for a few hours is beginning to translate towards the S/E. Efficient rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour will remain possible as these storms continue to move S/Ewrd in the presence of rich PWATs of 1.5-2 inches and a 30-40 kt LLJ. Heavy rainfall and accumulations will continue across much of Cntrl and Srn AR through this morning with precipitation dissipating after sunrise Sat morning. For the rest of Sat, relatively "dry" conditions will resume, with a few scattered showers possible, and a stagnant pattern setting up. Srly flow will continue to advect rich gulf moisture into the state, with dewpoints reaching the upper 60s/lower 70s by Sat evening. Through the remainder of the period, upper ridging will settle across the Cntrl/Srn US, leaving the fcst area devoid of large scale forcing for any kind of pattern change. However, abundant low-level moisture in the presence of WAA/isentropic ascent will allow for PoPs to increase in coverage and magnitude by Sun morning, with scattered precipitation and a few rumbles of thunder possible over much of the fcst area. && .LONG TERM...Monday Night Through Friday An upper level trough will be in place over the Rockies into the High Plains at the start of the long term period...with a ridge over the SERN CONUS. Flow over AR will be mainly from the south and SW starting Mon...with moisture levels remaining high over the region. A shortwave trough will lift NE over TX into OK...but looks to then become enveloped into the larger scale upper trough as the larger trough drifts east into the Plains. As this happens...expect a closed upper low to develop as a result...rotating just west of AR over OK and TX. This upper low looks to then slowly meander over this general area for several days next week. The aforementioned pattern doesn't bode well for any extended dry periods in the coming week. In fact...much of the area will see rain chances remaining fairly high for much of the upcoming week. Given the already saturated soils across much of the state...any areas of excessive rainfall may create flash flooding...as well as keep already high river levels up...or allow them to rise further. The question however will be where the exact areas of heavy rainfall will occur. Given the upper low situated to the west of AR...do think the heavier rainfall will be for the WRN half of the area. Even so...any part of the CWA will see at least some potential for heavy rain through the upcoming week. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 86 70 87 68 / 40 10 40 30 Camden AR 90 71 88 69 / 50 10 40 30 Harrison AR 83 67 84 65 / 30 10 30 30 Hot Springs AR 85 71 86 68 / 80 10 40 40 Little Rock AR 88 71 88 68 / 80 10 30 30 Monticello AR 90 72 89 71 / 40 10 30 30 Mount Ida AR 84 71 85 67 / 80 10 40 40 Mountain Home AR 84 67 86 66 / 30 10 30 30 Newport AR 85 70 87 70 / 40 10 40 30 Pine Bluff AR 90 71 89 69 / 70 10 30 30 Russellville AR 86 70 87 68 / 40 10 40 40 Searcy AR 87 70 88 69 / 80 10 30 30 Stuttgart AR 88 71 89 71 / 70 10 30 30 && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...NONE. && Short Term...GREEN / Long Term...62
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Little Rock AR 417 AM CDT Sat May 23 2020 ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-241000- 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- 417 AM CDT Sat May 23 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain possible through the late morning. Widespread severe weather is not expected, but some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds and small hail. The largest concern from these storms will locally heavy rainfall especially on areas that have already seen considerable rain Friday night. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible once again this afternoon and evening with some of the stronger storms still capable of producing gusty winds and heavy rain. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Showers and storms will be possible virtually every day through next week with the most widespread activity expected late Sunday and into next week. Heavy rainfall and localized flooding will be possible. While all storms are accompanied by a lightning threat, some of the stronger storms may produce locally strong wind gusts and small hail. A few severe storms are possible, but at this time, the timing and certainty of any severe threat remains unclear. With several rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected through the week, heavy rainfall could allow for rises on area lakes and rivers. Your best bet is to continue to monitor the latest forecasts and outlooks from your National Weather Service as updates will be made in the coming days. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
851 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1229 AM TSTM WND DMG BLACK FORK 34.77N 94.43W
05/23/2020 SCOTT AR LAW ENFORCEMENT
MULTIPLE TREES DOWN.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LZK2000356
GOUDSWARDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
853 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0225 PM LIGHTNING 3 NE MACON 34.95N 92.13W
05/22/2020 PULASKI AR LAW ENFORCEMENT
LIGHTNING CAUSED A HOUSE FIRE 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF
MACON. TWO PEOPLE HAD TO BE RESCUED.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LZK2000357
51PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
854 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1147 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW MORGAN SPRINGS 34.86N 94.37W
05/22/2020 SCOTT AR LAW ENFORCEMENT
NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LZK2000358
GOUDSWARDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
858 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1153 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 E BEAUCHAMP 34.81N 94.20W
05/22/2020 SCOTT AR LAW ENFORCEMENT
NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
&&
EVENT NUMBER LZK2000359
GOUDSWARDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
859 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0220 PM LIGHTNING 4 E MABELVALE 34.66N 92.32W
05/22/2020 PULASKI AR LAW ENFORCEMENT
LIGHTNING CAUSED A HOUSE FIRE 3.7 MILES EAST OF
MABLEVALE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LZK2000360
51PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
902 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 AM TSTM WND DMG GIBSON 34.90N 92.23W
05/23/2020 PULASKI AR NWS EMPLOYEE
TWO TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN GIBSON.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LZK2000362
51The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding developed in late May on the Fourche LaFave River at Houston due to heavy rain.
Flooding returned to the Petit Jean River at Danville due to heavy rain.
Flooding developed in late May on the White River at Des Arc due to heavy rain.
Flooding developed in late May on the Cache River at Patterson due to heavy rain.
Flooding once again developed on the Fourche LaFave River at Houston due to heavy 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: 887667, 887669, 887665, 887666, 887668.