Up to five inches of rain was measured at Tuckerman (Jackson County) to begin the 27th. Three to four inch amounts were tallied near Jacksonport (Jackson County) between 500 am and 700 am CST.
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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.
Up to five inches of rain was measured at Tuckerman (Jackson County) to begin the 27th. Three to four inch amounts were tallied near Jacksonport (Jackson County) between 500 am and 700 am CST. Water covered portions of Highway 226 from just south of Swifton (Jackson County) to the Craighead County Line. The road was closed as a result. Several streets in Newport (Jackson County) were also flooded.
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 27, 5:01 AM CST, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 601 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020 .AVIATION... Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms to continue through the period. Initially, conditions will be mvfr to ifr over the north and west. There may be some improvement in the next few hours, however, with any precip/storms, conditions will be restricted again. && .PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 349 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020) SHORT TERM...Today Through Thursday Night Current surface data this morning shows a boundary stalled out from north central into southeast Arkansas. In the upper levels, a closed low was centered close to western Arkansas. Over the course of the short term periods, the closed low will drift through the state, with showers and thunderstorms continuing. Some areas will remain prone to flash flooding concerns, as rain will be heavy at times, especially as bands lift northeastward ahead of the upper low and interact with the surface boundary. However, with heavy rain not expected to be as widespread now, and the focus for rainfall shifting more toward central and eastern Arkansas, have decided to drop the flash flood watch. Any flash flooding issues are likely to remain localized in nature. Through Thursday, temperatures will be largely dependent on cloud cover and rainfall, though they will likely stay below average (especially daytime maxes). LONG TERM...Friday Through Tuesday The period will begin with a closed low opening up and weakening as it exits Arkansas to the east on Friday. There will be lingering chances of showers/thunderstorms in the eastern half of the state, and then rain will be over for awhile. Northwest flow behind the system and ahead of a ridge in the Plains will drive a cold front through the state by the weekend. This will bring a shot of slightly cooler/drier air, and will keep temperatures at/below average through at least Sunday. Early next week, the ridge to the west will build over the region. While it will remain dry, temperatures will warm to above seasonal levels. && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...NONE. && Aviation...57
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Little Rock AR 352 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020 ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-281000- 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- 352 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Expect scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms to continue today and tonight over much of Arkansas. Rain will be heavy at times. While widespread flash flooding is not expected to be as much of a concern as originally anticipated, localized issues are likely in areas that have received excessive rainfall over the last few weeks...in particular northern and western Arkansas. At this time, the threat of widespread severe thunderstorms is low through tonight. However, a few storms could briefly become strong, with small hail and gusty winds the primary concern. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected on Thursday, especially during the heat of the afternoon and early evening. Hit and miss downpours could result in a quick quarter to half inch of rain where they occur. Any flash flooding will be localized, mainly where rain has been heavy to excessive recently. Any severe weather will be spotty, with strong to damaging winds the main concern. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk. 57/46
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:07 UTC.
4 flash flood, 2 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Law enforcement confirmed flooding on portions of Highway 226 and high water began to impact Highway 157 in Diaz.
The COOP observer reported high water in and near the waste water facility impacting several roads.
A resident of Jacksonport measured 3.60 inches of rain within 2 hours. She also reported flash flooding with water flooding her garage and shed.
ARDOT reported sections of Highways 37 and 226 were closed due to flooding.
A public report was received of dime size hail in Delware.
A storm spotter reported shingles were blown off his roof in London.
Dime sized hail was reported via twitter.
Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree on the Lion's Den Golf Course.
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: 885329, 885330, 885334, 885336, 885337, 885375, 885385, 885387.