Heavy rain brought flooding to parts of northeast Arkansas in early April.
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.
Heavy rain brought flooding to parts of northeast Arkansas in early April.
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 8, 5:48 AM CST, 4 hours 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 648 AM CDT Fri May 8 2020 .AVIATION... For the 12Z TAFs, IFR and MVFR conditions are expected as showers and thunderstorms continue to move east through the state. Low clouds and reduced visibility remain even where precipitation has ended. This trend should continue for the next several hours until a cold front moves through and brings cooler and drier air. Strong winds out of the north are expected, around or below 15 kts with gusts near 25 kts. Conditions will become calm, and skies should clear late in the period. Some patchy fog may be possible across the far northern terminals early Saturday morning depending on air moisture. && .PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 318 AM CDT Fri May 8 2020) SHORT TERM...Today Through Saturday Night It'll be an active start to the forecast as a surface low and cold front approach the state. Latest radar data depicts a line of convection across Oklahoma that extends into portions of northern Arkansas and eastern Texas. As the frontal boundary draws closer, expect the thunderstorms to move eastward into Arkansas. Some storms could become strong to severe, especially across the southwestern portions of the state where marginal instability resides and is sufficient to maintain ongoing convection. Main hazards are expected to be large hail and strong winds. Precipitation will increase from west to east through 10Z or so, and should begin to exit the state from the west to east through mid-to-late morning/early afternoon. Through this time, rainfall amounts will range from an inch to an inch and a half across southern and western Arkansas, with around half an inch expected elsewhere. Locally higher amounts will also be possible, especially with more developed thunderstorms, and could lead to isolated flash flooding. Skies will gradually clear behind the cold front, however strong northerly winds (between 15 to 25 mph and gusts near or above 30 mph at times) will keep temperatures from warming up much. Highs today are expected to range from the upper 50s across the north, to lower 70s across the south. With clear skies and calm conditions overnight, temperatures will fall quite a bit, and rival some standing records. Lows will range from the mid to upper 30s across the north, to lower to mid 40s across the south. There may be some patchy frost across the north, especially in the valley regions, however low confidence remains on area coverage given drier air filtering into the state. Regardless, given the time of year, precautions should be taken to protect sensitive vegetation tonight in areas falling into the upper 30s. High pressure will return to the area for the weekend, and will help keep pleasant conditions in the forecast. High temperatures on Saturday and Sunday will be in the 60s and 70s, with lows in the 40s and lower 50s. LONG TERM...Sunday Through Thursday SFC high pressure will be just east of the state at the start of the long term period...with NW flow aloft continuing. A new upper shortwave will drop SE in the NW flow aloft...with a new cold front dropping south through the state late Sun into Sun night. This will bring a reinforcing shot of cool and dry air to the state for the start of the work week on Mon. This will keep below normal conditions persisting for Sun into Mon. By Tue...the flow aloft looks to become more zonal...with a weak upper disturbance passing over the state. This disturbance will bring moisture north over the drier/cooler air near the SFC...with some SHRA and isolated TSRA possible Tue into Tue night. Rain chances decrease for the middle of the week as upper level ridging develops over the state. However...the upper level flow will become more SWRLY by the end of the forecast. This will bring warmer...near or even above normal temps to the forecast...as well as increasing moisture levels. Even so...no major fronts or disturbances look to be moving near or over the state late in the forecast. As a result...will keep POPs fairly limited for next Thu. && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT this evening FOR Arkansas-Desha-Drew-Independence-Jackson-Jefferson-Lawrence- Lincoln-Lonoke-Monroe-Prairie-Pulaski-Randolph-Sharp-White- Woodruff. && Aviation...CROSS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Little Rock AR 313 AM CDT Fri May 8 2020 ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-090815- 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- 313 AM CDT Fri May 8 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Showers and thunderstorms are expected to affect most of the state through the mid to late morning hours. Some storms may become strong to severe, especially across the southwest portions of the state. Strong winds and large hail are the main threats. Moderate to briefly heavy rainfall can also be expected with the strongest storms, which may lead to isolated flash flooding. Strong winds are expected today with speeds up to 15 to 25 mph, and higher gusts near or above 30 mph possible. Tonight, temperatures will drop into the mid to upper 30s across northern portions of the state, and may lead to patchy frost. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday Through Thursday The threat for hazardous weather will remain low through early next week. Thunderstorms return to the forecast Tuesday into Wednesday. However, the threat for strong to severe thunderstorms looks low at this time. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
547 AM CDT Fri May 8 2020
ARZ053-062-066-067-081115-
Calhoun AR-Clark AR-Dallas AR-Ouachita AR-
547 AM CDT Fri May 8 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN CLARK...CALHOUN...
SOUTHEASTERN DALLAS AND OUACHITA COUNTIES UNTIL 615 AM CDT...
At 546 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Bluff City to 7 miles north of McNeil.
Movement was east at 60 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Camden... Fordyce...
Hampton... Bearden...
Stephens... Thornton...
Chidester... Louann...
Poison Springs State Park... Cullendale...
White Oak Lake State Park... Harlow...
Hampton Municipal Airport... Highland Industrial Park...
East Camden... Amy...
Artesian... Delhi...
Harmony Grove... Reader...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for
southwestern Arkansas.
LAT...LON 3332 9252 3337 9255 3337 9259 3336 9261
3337 9265 3336 9267 3337 9271 3339 9275
3337 9279 3338 9312 3378 9310 3379 9313
3380 9313 3389 9242 3332 9248
TIME...MOT...LOC 1046Z 268DEG 50KT 3373 9317 3345 9319
62Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
549 AM CDT Fri May 8 2020
ARZ053>056-062-063-081115-
Hot Spring AR-Grant AR-Cleveland AR-Clark AR-Dallas AR-Jefferson AR-
549 AM CDT Fri May 8 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN CLEVELAND...SOUTHEASTERN
CLARK...SOUTHERN GRANT...DALLAS...SOUTHWESTERN JEFFERSON AND
SOUTHEASTERN HOT SPRING COUNTIES UNTIL 615 AM CDT...
At 549 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles west of Thiel to near Arkadelphia to
Gurdon. Movement was east at 60 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Arkadelphia... Rison...
Gurdon... Leola...
Sparkman... Carthage...
Whelen Springs... Beirne...
Gum Springs in Clark County... Lamont...
Jenkins Ferry State Park... Kedron...
Richwoods... Thiel...
Dogwood... Ain...
Lono... Tulip...
Curtis... Ouachita...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for
southeastern and southwestern Arkansas.
LAT...LON 3382 9314 3380 9318 3383 9322 3383 9326
3385 9329 3414 9304 3430 9255 3408 9195
3405 9196 3387 9236 3381 9291 3382 9291
3382 9293 3381 9294 3379 9312
TIME...MOT...LOC 1049Z 289DEG 50KT 3422 9274 3413 9299 3392 9316
62PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
732 AM CDT FRI MAY 08 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 AM TSTM WND DMG PINE RIDGE 34.59N 93.91W
05/08/2020 MONTGOMERY AR FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
A TREE WAS BLOWN DOWN ONTO A CHURCH.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LZK2000316
JHOODPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
736 AM CDT FRI MAY 08 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0425 AM TSTM WND DMG ACORN 34.64N 94.20W
05/08/2020 POLK AR LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEVERAL TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN THE AREA.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LZK2000317
JHOODThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding redeveloped in early May on the Cache River at Patterson due to heavy rain.
Flooding developed in early May on the Black River at Pocahontas due to heavy rain.
Flooding developed in early May on the Black River at Pocahontas 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: 887654, 887652, 887653.