Hit and miss thunderstorms ramped up on the 6th. Two to more than three inches of rain was measured at Cane Creek State Park (Lincoln County), Fordyce (Dallas County), Monticello (Drew County), Nashville (Howard County), and Pine Bluff (Jefferson County).
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.
Hit and miss thunderstorms ramped up on the 6th. Two to more than three inches of rain was measured at Cane Creek State Park (Lincoln County), Fordyce (Dallas County), Monticello (Drew County), Nashville (Howard County), and Pine Bluff (Jefferson County). Several roads were under water between Avilla (Saline County) and Ferndale (Pulaski County), and also at Monticello (Drew County).
During the predawn hours of the 7th, thunderstorm winds downed a tree on Highway 53 just south of Gurdon (Clark County). This caused a log truck to overturn. In the afternoon, more trees were toppled in Camden and East Camden (both in Ouachita County). A chapel roof was damaged just southwest of Cummins (Lincoln County), and part of a roof was blown off close to Sorrells (Jefferson County).
At least a dozen Tornado Warnings were issued in portions of Calhoun, Clark, Cleveland, Dallas, Garland, Hot Spring, Montgomery, Ouachita, and Pike Counties. A funnel cloud was spotted by law enforcement at Gum Springs (Clark County). There was a brief tornado reported (rated EFU, where U is unknown because there was no damage to evaluate) to the west of Calion (Union County) at 426 pm CDT. The tornado apparently did little more than kick up some dust.
On the 8th, there was a life threatening deluge in southeast Arkansas. Showers and thunderstorms became widespread, and moved over the same areas for several hours.
Too much rain flooded roads at Star City and Varner (both in Lincoln County), Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), Stuttgart (Arkansas County), and also at Dumas and McGehee (both in Desha County). Water got into many homes. Crop and road damage (washouts) was reported in Bradley County. A creek was out of its banks just southeast of Timber Ridge (Pulaski County).
There was high water along Highway 114 between Calmer and Rison (both in Cleveland County), Highway 425 near Yorktown (Lincoln County), Highway 293 east of Garrett Bridge (Lincoln County), Highway 46 not far from Ebb (Grant County), Highway 276 on the south side of Stuttgart (Arkansas County), and Highway 1 at Kelso (Desha County). These highways were eventually closed temporarily.
The situation was the most serious in Desha and Drew Counties, and a Flash Flood Emergency was issued for the communities of Dumas, Pickens, Rohwer (all in Desha County), and Winchester (Drew County) at 1142 am CDT on the 8th. Radar estimated 10 to more than 15 inches of rain, and there was water everywhere. Some folks indicated (through social media) they had never witnessed flooding of this magnitude.
From an historic perspective, Rohwer (Desha County) received 9.25 inches of rain in the twenty four hour period ending at 700 am CDT on the 8th. This was the most rain in one day at the site, and the fourth largest one day total across the state in June. If that was not enough, 9.97 inches of liquid was measured the next day! Adding the numbers, the whopping 19.22 inches on the 8th/9th was the second biggest two day amount in Arkansas. It was just behind the 21.45 inches at Danville (Yell County) on December 3-4, 1982.
Relentless cloudbursts continued to start the 9th in eastern Arkansas. A rain gauge near DeValls Bluff (Prairie County) completely filled (to six inches) between 400 am and 700 am CST. Buildings were flooded and cars were stalled in Clarendon (Monroe County). It was the same story in Humnoke (Lonoke County), and sandbags were ordered to stop the water.
It was just getting worse in Stuttgart (Arkansas County), with one picture showing more water in a home than ever before (in the life of the photographer/42 years). That claim was likely true because the 7.50 inches of rain that caused the problem easily surpassed the previous one day June record of 4.07 inches on the 29th in 1939. At least fifteen homes were impacted by flooding at Altheimer (Jefferson County). Highway 302 from Highway 17 to Highway 79 was shut down in Monroe County, as was Highway 15 near Sherrill (Jefferson County), Highway 33 east of Tollville (Prairie County), and Highways 85 and 318 near Oneida (Phillips County).
As the weather calmed down in the east by the afternoon of the 9th, temperatures warmed well into the 80s to around 90 degrees across the northern and central counties. Heating and lots of humidity were enough to fuel isolated strong to severe storms toward evening.
Just after 700 pm CDT, a video showed a tornado (rated EFU) that lasted two minutes in a field near Blakemore (Lonoke County). Between 700 pm and 800 pm CDT, there was quarter size hail just east of College Station (Pulaski County). Little Rock (Pulaski County) got a quick 1.10 inches of rain. Trees were blown down at Cave City (Sharp County). At 805 pm CDT, there was a brief weak tornado (rated EF0) a few miles southeast of England (Lonoke County).
The focus shifted back to the southeast early on the 10th. You guessed it...the sky was falling again. Rain plus runoff from the soaking on the 8th/9th in northern and central Desha County inundated farms toward Halley (Desha County) in the south. At 200 pm CDT, an irrigation canal east of Pickens (Desha County) was breached, and adjacent farmland became a lake. The canal was patched by evening. At Florence (Drew County), residents were forced to use boats to get around. Water threatened structures at Dermott and Eudora (both in Chicot County), and sandbagging was in progress. It was clear that assistance was needed, and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson declared a state of emergency.
All was quiet quiet in Little Rock (Pulaski County) on the 10th, and the sun was out. For the first time in 2021, the temperature touched 90 degrees (the high was 92 degrees), and it was three weeks late (it normally happens by May 18th). Toward evening, it got loud toward Pinnacle Mountain (Pulaski County). A severe storm pumped out quarter size hail, winds strong enough to push over a few trees, and up to six inches of rain in less than two hours. The terrain accentuated the flow of water across roads and into neighborhoods.
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 Jun 6, 6:01 PM CST, 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 701 PM CDT Sun Jun 6 2021 .AVIATION...07/00Z TAF CYCLE Wl cont to see additional rounds of convection affect the FA thru the PD, assocd with a slow moving upper lvl low just to the NW of AR. Ongoing activity is expected to diminish later this evening, with more widespread activity again forming on Mon. Flight conds wl mainly rmn MVFR/VFR ovr the area, with lower conds in heavier rain and storms. /44/ && .PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 302 PM CDT Sun Jun 6 2021) SHORT TERM...Tonight Through Tuesday An upper low pressure area is centered over northeast Oklahoma. With an upper high over the southeast U.S., the upper low will slowly move northeast through Tuesday. Unsettled weather will continue through the short term. Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms to become likely at times through Tuesday. Some thunderstorms will produce brief heavy rain at times. Through Tuesday afternoon expect 1 to 1.5 inches to fall in many locations. The best chances for the heavier rainfall will be central and south. Lows tonight will be in the mid to upper 60s, and mid 60s to lower 70s Monday night. Highs Monday will be in the upper 70s to mid 80s, and in the lower to mid 80s Tuesday. LONG TERM...Tuesday Night Through Sunday Beginning the period, southwesterly flow, aided by a low pressure system to the north of the CWA paired with a dominant high pressure continues moisture flow into much of the CWA, at least early in the period. The low tracks into the Ohio Valley, still creating unsettled weather for the CWA through at least late next week. Tuesday night into Wednesday has highest PoPs over the area, especially NE AR, as the upper level low pulls away from the state. By late week, the low appears to move far enough away from the area that impacts appear to be minimal. Models are currently in agreement that by Friday morning rain exits the most/all of the CWA with a break in shower activity. This break looks brief, however, given a building ridge setting up a summer like pattern with PoPs elevated during the afternoon hours. During this stretch of active and wet weather, rain chances will be possible everyday during most of the period. Rain showers and/or thunderstorms are likely going to be scattered in nature meaning all the rain is not likely to come all at once and will fall over an extended period of time. With that said, any areas that see training/stalled storms could get higher rainfall totals than any surrounding areas. Therefore, isolated flash flooding cannot be ruled out. The first half of the period looks to see temperatures remain average to slightly above average as highs look to be in the 80s with lows in the mid to upper 60s. Late in the period, under the building high pressure, temperature look to surge above average with highs in the mid to upper 80s for most areas with some areas possibly reaching into the low 90s. Lows look to remain in the upper 60s and low 70s. && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...NONE. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Little Rock AR 320 AM CDT Sun Jun 6 2021 ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-071000- 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- 320 AM CDT Sun Jun 6 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Isolated to widely scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible through the period with the best chances for seeing thunderstorms during the afternoon through early evening hours. Some locally heavy rainfall will be possible which may lead to an isolated flash flood threat. The overall threat for seeing severe weather will remain low but an isolated strong storm can not be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday Through Saturday Through the early portion of the forecast period, daily chances for showers and some thunderstorms will prevail under a nearly stationary upper level storm system. Rainfall accumulations around the region through the end of next week could approach two to four inches, with the greatest accumulations likely over the southern and southwestern portions of the state. Persistent rainfall could lead to increasing soil saturation/runoff, and contribute to isolated flash flooding, particularly through Monday and Tuesday. At this time...the threat of organized severe weather remains low through the forecast period. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk. 56/232
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
259 PM CDT Sun Jun 6 2021
ARZ040-062045-
Polk AR-
259 PM CDT Sun Jun 6 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN POLK COUNTY UNTIL 345 PM
CDT...
At 258 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Grannis, or 10 miles north of De Queen, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Wickes... Grannis...
Hatfield... Vandervoort...
Shady... Hartley...
Cossatot River State Park... Caney Creek Wilderness...
Mccauley... Cove...
Hatton... Potter...
Bogg Springs...
LAT...LON 3430 9447 3458 9436 3445 9403 3435 9411
3435 9425 3427 9426 3427 9425 3419 9425
3419 9447
TIME...MOT...LOC 1958Z 208DEG 22KT 3419 9439
230Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Little Rock AR 559 PM CDT Sun Jun 6 2021 ARZ043-044-062345- Pulaski AR-Saline AR- 559 PM CDT Sun Jun 6 2021 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL SALINE AND CENTRAL PULASKI COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT... At 559 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Salem in Saline County, or near Bryant. This storm was nearly stationary. Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Little Rock... Benton... West Little Rock... Bryant... Southwest Little Rock... Shannon Hills... Pinnacle Mountain State Park... Otter Creek... Geyer Springs... Mabelvale... Salem in Saline County... Chenal Valley... Alexander... Bauxite... Avilla... Congo... Ferndale... 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 3456 9252 3468 9268 3488 9253 3470 9229 TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 223DEG 2KT 3467 9254 57
The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:14 UTC.
38 flash flood, 8 thunderstorm wind, 4 heavy rain, 2 tornado, 2 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
The intersection at Sparks Rd. at Zuber road flooded. Water was over many roads in the area.
Social media showed a video of street flooding in Monticello.
Heavy rain was reported at the Sanders Lock and Dam on the Arkanasas River. In one hour 2.40 inches of rain fell.
In 54 minutes 2.19 inches fell.
A picture on social media showed water moving across a neighborhood road in Ferndale.
Updated...A tree was blown down over Hwy 53 just south of Gurdon and caused an accident involving a log truck rollover.
An Arkansas State Trooper reported a funnel cloud at Gum Springs south of Highway 26.
The Ouachita County sheriff's office reported scattered trees and power lines down throughout Ouachita County.
A tree was blown down onto a house in East Camden. The damage was confirmed via a photo on social media and relayed by KATV.
A portion of a roof was blown off of a house.
Several tree limbs were down in the area. A portion of the chapel roof was damaged.
The Cleveland County sheriff's department observed water across Highway 114 between Rison and Calmer.
The Lincoln County sheriff's office observed substantial water over several local roads in Star City.
The Desha County sheriff's office reported water over roads around McGehee. Additionally, several county roads were inundated by water.
Numerous areas were covered by water with several roads flooded in the area near Highway 388.
A portion of U.S. Highway 425 was closed due to high water.
A local creek flooded over its banks.
A section of Highway 46 was closed due to high water.
A section of Highway 114 was closed due to high water.
Widespread flash flooding across the city was reported with water in several homes and numerous street flooded.
A section of Highway 1 was closed due to high water.
A trained spotter reported that 34th St. was flooded between Main and Chestnut.
A spotter reported flooding at 33rd St. and Main St.
The Pine Bluff fire station had 1 to 2 inches of water in it. Many roads in the city were closed. The city cannot handle any additional water.
Flash flooding occurred at Mitchellville on McCarrel Street off of U.S. 65. This was confirmed by a picture on social media and relayed by KARK.
The Dumas police chief reported all streets in Dumas have standing water on them. Some buildings are still inundated. People keep driving around barricaded roads and getting stuck.
Water was reported over Hwy. 165 and Yoder Rd.
Highway 293 was closed due to flooding.
Law enforcement with the Cummins Unit Correctional Facility observed a flooding canal that crosses State Hwy. 388. Standing water was also seen over the main parking lot of the Cummins Unit facility.
Track ballast was completely washed away beneath railroad tracks in several locations near U.S. Hwy. 65.
A person that routinely measures rainfall at his home near DeValls Bluff, emptied his rain gage at 4 am CST and noted the gage was overflowing by 7 am CST. His yard and nearby roads flooded very quickly after the rain started. He cannot determine the maximum rainfall, although at least 6 inches of rain fell since 4 am CST.
The observer measured a two day rainfall total of 19.22 inches ending June 9 at 8 am CST.
Many roads were flooded across the area. Several businesses were flooded and numerous cars were stranded as well.
A section of Hwy. 33 was closed due to high water.
A section of Hwy. 302 was closed due to high water.
There was widespread flooding of the roads across the area. Several businesses were flooded with numerous cars stranded as well.
A section of Hwy. 343 was closed due to high water.
A tornado was captured on video, but occurred over an open field that became flooded. No damage was observed. The placement and length of tornado was estimated from the video.
Several trees were blown down in Cave City.
The ASOS recorded 1.10 inches of rain in 56 minutes.
Jefferson County EM reported a tornado between Tucker and England. A very weak tornado was observed that damaged some agriculture.
Some limbs were downed north of Center Hill.
Highway 293 in Lincoln County was clossed due to high water.
Widespread flash flooding was noted over northern portions of Desha County.
Widespread flooding continued over much of the county. Runoff from northern and central portions of the county inundated farms that usually do not flood over southern portions of the county.
Water inundated farms over southern Desha County.
The wall of an irrigation canal was breached and water from the canal flooded surrounding farmland.
Roads in and near the Rose Hill Community flooded.
The community of Florence flooded. Additionally, multiple residents across northeastern Drew County were forced to leave flooded areas by boat.
Nantucket Rd. was inundated with water.
A tree was downed on Chalamont Drive.
Video showed flash flooding near Cantrell Rd. and Chenal Parkway.
Several photos and video showed flash flooding in West Little Rock. Multiple roads were underwater, with water into some homes.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Arkansas, 2021Warnings in Arkansas, June 2021
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: 962301, 962302, 962303, 962304, 962305, 962306, 962310, 962314, 962316, 962317, 962318, 962319, 962320, 962321, 962327, 962328, 962329, 962330, 962331, 962332, 962333, 962437, 962434, 962334, 962336, 962337, 962338, 962339, 962340, 962341, 962342, 962344, 962345, 962409, 962410, 962411, 962412, 964799, 962413, 962414, and more.