Severe (D2) drought conditions continued across east-central Arkansas, along and south of Interstate 40, during November as below-normal rainfall and warmer-than-normal temperatures persisted. Lake and river levels continued to be at low levels as a result of the drought.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 MEG wrote it up.
Severe (D2) drought conditions continued across east-central Arkansas, along and south of Interstate 40, during November as below-normal rainfall and warmer-than-normal temperatures persisted. Lake and river levels continued to be at low levels as a result of the drought. Low levels on the Mississippi River were impacting barge and river traffic along with hydropower production at Osceola, Arkansas. Pastures were negatively impacted resulting in supplemental feeding and watering of livestock.
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 Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 31, 10:31 PM CST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1131 PM CDT Tue Oct 31 2023
...New AVIATION...
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 200 PM CDT Tue Oct 31 2023
Dry conditions are expected across the Midsouth through at least
Sunday. Near record cold temperatures are expected tonight, but a
warming trend will begin Thursday. High temperatures by Friday
should be in the middle 60s with 70s over the weekend. Our next
chance of rain will be early next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
(This evening through next Monday)
Issued at 200 PM CDT Tue Oct 31 2023
Sub freezing temperatures tonight will bring our growing season to
an end. Expect near record lows in the middle to upper 20s, our
coldest temperatures since mid-March. A brisk north wind will
result in sunrise wind chills between 15 and 22 degrees. Surface
high pressure will become centered near Memphis on Wednesday then
shift along the East Coast Thursday. Return flow on the west side
of the high will result in a speedy warmup during the later part
of the work week. Expect high temperatures back in the middle 60s
by Friday and low 70s over the weekend. No rain is expected
through at least Sunday.
Over the weekend, zonal flow across the middle Mississippi River
Valley will be replaced by a weak, broad trough in response to a
ridge building over the Great Basin. Guidance is not in good
agreement, but we should see the chance of rain return to the
Midsouth late Monday or Tuesday.
30/Sirmon
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1130 PM CDT Tue Oct 31 2023
VFR. Light north winds overnight into Wednesday morning will
begin to shift to the SE as a surface pressure ridge moves across
the area during the afternoon.
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Freeze Warning until 9 AM CDT Wednesday for ARZ009-018-026>028-
035-036-048-049-058.
MO...Freeze Warning until 9 AM CDT Wednesday for MOZ113-115.
MS...Freeze Warning until 9 AM CDT Wednesday for MSZ001>017-020>024.
TN...Freeze Warning until 9 AM CDT Wednesday for TNZ001>004-019>022-
048>055-088>092.
&&
PUBLIC FORECAST...JDS
AVIATION...SJMThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through November.
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through November.
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through November.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, November 2023
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: 1146780, 1146781, 1146782.