Arkansas, 2023

Flooding in Arkansas, February 1 to 28, 2023

February 1 to 28, 2023 · NWS LZK · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

Heavy rain in January brought flooding to rivers in south and east Arkansas that continued into February.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LZK wrote it up.

Heavy rain in January brought flooding to rivers in south and east Arkansas that continued into February.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jan 31, 11:20 PM CST, 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 11:20 PM CST, 40 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
1120 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 255 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

An ice storm warning will remain in effect for much of western,
central, south-central, eastern, and northeast AR through Thurs
afternoon. A winter weather advisory will remain in effect across
northern AR through Tues evening, and through Thurs afternoon across
far SE portions of the CWA.

Winter precipitation types are being reported across much of the CWA
this afternoon, with accumulating ice, snow, and sleet. This
activity is expected to continue through late tonight, with a break
in the precipitation through Wed afternoon.

Accumulating ice amounts between one quarter to one half inch are
possible across portions of west, central, and eastern AR through
Thurs afternoon. Less than one inch of snow/sleet may accumulate
across much of the forecast area, with greater chances of
accumulating snow across northern AR. An ice storm warning will
remain in effect across west-central-south-central-eastern-northeast
AR through Thursday afternoon. This does not mean these areas will
accumulate ice through this entire period. There is expected to be a
lull in the precipitation late Tues night through early Wed
afternoon, with the next round expected to occur between Wed
afternoon through much of the day Thurs.

Slightly warmer temperatures are forecast Wed, though highs will
barely exceed freezing. Thurs will slightly warm as well, with low
temperatures in the 20s to lower 30s by Thurs morning, and warming
to the lower to mid 40s by Thurs afternoon. Warming temperatures
through the day may mean higher sleet/snow totals, rather than
freezing rain, which will lessen ice accum and its impacts. By late
Thurs morning/early afternoon, mostly liquid rain and above freezing
temperatures are forecast. The warmer temps and liquid rain will go
a long way to melt any accumulated ice.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Thursday Night through next Tuesday)
Issued at 255 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

The long-term forecast begins Thursday night with a complete
changeover of all remaining precipitation (mainly across central and
southern AR or from I-40 southward) to be rain. Temperatures will
begin to rebound from hovering near freezing from earlier in the
week to topping out on Friday afternoon in the low 40's statewide
which will assist in melting any precipitation that has frozen onto
surfaces and remains as well as keeping any additional ice accretion
from occurring. Rain will be ending Friday morning as the sfc low
moves off to the east of the CWA and a sfc area of high pressure
builds into Texas. Throughout the weekend, dry weather will persist
as a slight upper lvl ridge builds in across the Natural State ahead
of the next upper lvl closed low which will be positioned over
Arizona/New Mexico on Tuesday associated with the arrival of a cold
front that will bring us our next opportunity for rain.

As far as temperatures are considered over the long-term forecast
period, this trend of slightly warmer high and low temperatures will
continue through next Monday where high temperatures will be in the
mid 50's to low 60's statewide. Our next opportunity at
precipitation will be next Tuesday into Tuesday night.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1118 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

MVFR/IFR conds are expected through the TAF cycle with periods of
precip moving SW to NE across the state. Over Nrn sites, precip is
expected to be in the form of PL/SN mix, while over Cntrl sites
mainly -FZRA, and over Srn terminals a mix of -FZRA/-RA. Could be
brief lull in precip activity in the morning near daybreak to near
16z/18z before precip returns. Winds will be out of the N at or
below 15 knots through the period.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Batesville AR     27  23  33  29 /  80  20  10  60
Camden AR         33  30  34  32 /  80  60  60  90
Harrison AR       23  18  33  29 /  70   0  10  40
Hot Springs AR    30  28  33  31 /  90  40  60  90
Little Rock   AR  30  27  32  30 /  80  40  40  90
Monticello AR     32  28  33  32 /  80  60  60  90
Mount Ida AR      30  27  34  32 /  90  30  50  90
Mountain Home AR  26  19  34  29 /  70   0   0  40
Newport AR        27  22  30  29 /  80  40  10  60
Pine Bluff AR     30  27  32  31 /  80  60  50  90
Russellville AR   30  25  34  31 /  80  10  20  70
Searcy AR         28  25  32  30 /  80  40  20  70
Stuttgart AR      29  26  32  30 /  80  60  40  80

&&

.LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Ice Storm Warning until noon CST Thursday for ARZ025-031>034-039-
042>047-052>057-062>069-137-140-141-237-238-240-241-340-341.

&&

SHORT TERM...71
LONG TERM....234
AVIATION...70
Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 3:00 PM CST, 9 hours before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
300 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

ARZ004>008-014>017-024-025-031>034-039-042>047-052>057-062>069-
103-112-113-121>123-130-137-138-140-141-203-212-213-221>223-230-
237-238-240-241-313-340-341-011100-
Marion-Baxter-Fulton-Sharp-Randolph-Stone-Izard-Independence-
Lawrence-Cleburne-Jackson-Conway-Faulkner-White-Woodruff-Perry-
Garland-Saline-Pulaski-Lonoke-Prairie-Monroe-Pike-Clark-
Hot Spring-Grant-Jefferson-Arkansas-Dallas-Cleveland-Lincoln-
Desha-Ouachita-Calhoun-Bradley-Drew-Boone County Except Southwest-
Newton County Higher Elevations-Searcy County Lower Elevations-
Southern Johnson County-Southern Pope County-
Southeast Van Buren County-Western and Northern Logan County-
Northern Scott County-Northwest Yell County-
Polk County Lower Elevations-
Central and Eastern Montgomery County-
Boone County Higher Elevations-Newton County Lower Elevations-
Northwest Searcy County Higher Elevations-
Johnson County Higher Elevations-Pope County Higher Elevations-
Van Buren County Higher Elevations-
Southern and Eastern Logan County-
Central and Southern Scott County-Yell Excluding Northwest-
Northern Polk County Higher Elevations-
Northern Montgomery County Higher Elevations-
Eastern, Central, and Southern Searcy County Higher Elevations-
Southeast Polk County Higher Elevations-
Southwest Montgomery County Higher Elevations-
300 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Wintry precipitation is occurring across much of the state this
afternoon, with freezing rain reported across much of central and
southern AR. Ice accumulating between one-quarter and one-half
inch are expected for much of west, central, south-central, east,
and northeast AR. An ice storm warning is in effect for these
areas through Thursday afternoon. Lesser ice accumulations, along
with snow/sleet accumulations, are forecast elsewhere in the
state.

Hazardous road conditions are expected for much of the day,
especially by this afternoon and evening. Please stay off roads
if possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

An additional round of wintry precipitation is possible Wednesday
night into Thursday as another disturbance moves in from the west.
Many areas could start out as freezing rain and/or sleet. However,
as the freezing temperatures move northward Thursday, many areas
could begin to change over to a cold rain.

Because this is a complex winter weather situation, the forecast may
change. Please continue to monitor the latest forecast concerning
sleet and ice accumulations as well as potential impacts.

.Spotter Information Statement...

Spotter activation will not be needed.

&&

Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk.

71/234

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 31, 6:59 PM CST, 5 hours 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
659 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     FREEZING RAIN    HOT SPRINGS AIRPORT     34.48N 93.10W
01/31/2023  M0.07 INCH       GARLAND            AR   ASOS

&&

TRS
Local storm report, Jan 31, 7:01 PM CST, 4 hours 59 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
701 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     SLEET            MARSHALL                35.91N 92.64W
01/31/2023  M0.6 INCH        SEARCY             AR   PUBLIC

&&

72
Local storm report, Jan 31, 7:02 PM CST, 4 hours 58 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
702 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     FREEZING RAIN    PINEBLUFF REGIONAL AIRP 34.17N 91.94W
01/31/2023  M0.11 INCH       JEFFERSON          AR   ASOS

&&

TRS
Local storm report, Jan 31, 7:03 PM CST, 4 hours 57 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
703 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     FREEZING RAIN    MONTICELLO MUNICIPAL AI 33.64N 91.75W
01/31/2023  M0.18 INCH       DREW               AR   ASOS

&&

TRS
Local storm report, Jan 31, 9:47 PM CST, 2 hours 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
947 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0946 PM     SLEET            2 NNE MOUNTAIN HOME     36.36N 92.37W
01/31/2023  E1.8 INCH        BAXTER             AR   PUBLIC

&&

72
Local storm report, Jan 31, 11:19 PM CST, 41 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1119 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0900 PM     FREEZING RAIN    4 NNE PINE RIDGE        34.63N 93.88W
01/31/2023  E0.50 INCH       MONTGOMERY         AR   CO-OP OBSERVER

            NEARBY CO-OP OBSERVER REPORTS HEAVY ICING IN
            THE HIGHER TERRAIN CAUSING PINE TREES TO
            BREAK.

&&

TEJ

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Calhoun

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Calhoun County, 6.43 mi SSW of Artesian to 5.7 mi S of Artesian
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
33.310, -92.499

Heavy rain brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Thatcher Lock and Dam in January that continued into February.

Flood, Ouachita

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 24, 5:15 AM CST
Where
Ouachita County, 1.85 mi NNW of Camden to 0.9 mi ENE of Collendale
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
33.604, -92.843

Heavy rain brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden in January that continued into February.

Flood, Woodruff

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Woodruff County, 0.82 mi WSW of Riverside to 0.3 mi W of Cavell
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
35.277, -91.244

Heavy rain brought flooding to the Cache River at Patterson in January that continued into February.

Flood, Woodruff

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 6, 7:52 PM CST
Where
Woodruff County, 2.99 mi WNW of Augusta to 1.92 mi W of Ruffwood
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
35.292, -91.421

Heavy rain brought flooding to the White River at Augusta in January that continued into February.

Flood, Monroe

When
February 1, 10:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Monroe County, 3.89 mi NNE of Clarendon Muni Arpt to 1.45 mi NE of Roe
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
34.703, -91.375

Heavy rain brought flooding to the White River at Clarendon which continued through February.

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arkansas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, February 2023

Sources

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: 1081440, 1081441, 1081442, 1081443, 1081444.