River flooding was observed along the Cache, Black, and Fourche LaFave Rivers.
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.
River flooding was observed along the Cache, Black, and Fourche LaFave Rivers.
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 20, 5:24 AM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 624 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025 ...New AVIATION... .DISCUSSION... Issued at 208 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025 CURRENTLY: As of 2 AM CDT, multiple lines of rain and thunderstorm activity continue to move from west to east across Arkansas. The strongest of which is a bowing line that is entering Arkansas from Oklahoma which will track eastward across the state across a region that remains conditionally unstable and will impact a large portion of the state continuing into the early morning hours with intermittent severe weather opportunities including damaging wind gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoes remain possible within much of the parameter space across central and southern Arkansas. TODAY (TUESDAY): At H500, a closed low will be present over the Mid-West region of the CONUS and eject through the base of the trof. Strong southwesterly flow will remain present over the majority of Arkansas. At the sfc, a cold front will be pushing from west to east across the state during the day. It is along and ahead of this cold front as it enters into central Arkansas during the afternoon timeframe in which re-development of strong to severe thunderstorms are anticipated to initiate and push eastward into eastern Arkansas and the Mississippi River into Tennessee and Mississippi late this evening. The Storm Prediction Center has implemented an Enhanced Risk (level 3 out of 5) for severe weather across most of the eastern flank of Arkansas for possible large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a few tornadoes associated with any re-development of storms that does materialize across the eastern one-third of the state. WEDNESDAY: At H500, zonal flow will be present over Arkansas and no significant upper lvl features will be distinguished over the region. At the sfc, a high pressure center will move in behind the FROPA and provide us a day of dry and overall fair weather across the Natural State. A dry cold front will move into northern Arkansas later into the day on Wednesday, but will not make much progress into the state as it is progged to become a stationary boundary into Thursday. Expect Wednesday to be the highest confidence day regarding statewide dry and fair weather in the wake of the airmass behind the FROPA. THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY: An unsettled pattern will take hold once again at both the upper lvls and at the sfc. At H500, an elongated ridge will slide eastward over the state by the weekend. For this period of time, northwesterly flow with embedded shortwave impulses will be present over the state. At the sfc, the period will begin with a stationary front positioned across northern Arkansas. Into the remainder of the period, a warm front will lift across Arkansas over the weekend and become a stationary front by later Sunday into Monday. Expect over this period of time, unsettled weather at times with rain and isolated thunderstorms. Confidence at the current time for any severe weather to materialize between Thursday and Monday is low at this time and signals continue to demonstrate this via prior forecast packages. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 624 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025 The majority of forecast sites will begin in MVFR category for lowered CIGS, the exception will be northern terminals which should improve this morning. The central and southern terminals will have CIGS that will improve later this morning before noon to VFR. The southeastern terminals of KPBF and KLLQ may take a little more time into the early afternoon before CIGS improve to VFR, additionally these sites will experience vicinity rain and thunderstorms at the beginning of the forecast period and again early this afternoon which may degrade both CIGS and VSBY at times to IFR flight category. Later this evening into tonight all sites will improve to VFR for the remainder of the forecast period through early Wednesday morning. Surface winds may gust in excess of 25 knots at times from later this morning through early evening. Expect higher surface wind gusts in excess of 40 knots in thunderstorms. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 85 58 83 59 / 40 0 0 20 Camden AR 88 57 88 60 / 20 0 0 0 Harrison AR 79 54 80 55 / 20 0 0 20 Hot Springs AR 87 57 87 60 / 20 0 0 0 Little Rock AR 86 60 86 62 / 30 0 0 10 Monticello AR 88 61 89 63 / 40 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 86 57 87 59 / 20 0 0 0 Mountain Home AR 82 54 79 55 / 30 0 0 20 Newport AR 86 59 84 60 / 50 0 0 20 Pine Bluff AR 88 59 87 62 / 30 0 0 0 Russellville AR 84 56 86 60 / 20 0 0 10 Searcy AR 86 57 84 59 / 30 0 0 10 Stuttgart AR 86 61 85 63 / 40 0 0 10 && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...74 LONG TERM....74 AVIATION...74
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Little Rock AR 248 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025 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- 237-238-240-241-313-340-341-202200- 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- 248 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A few lines of storms continue to move from west to east across Arkansas early this morning. A few strong to severe storms within these lines of activity can be expected. The main threats will be damaging wind gusts, large hail, and a spin-up tornado or two cannot be ruled out across portions of central and southern Arkansas through late morning. An Enhanced Risk (level 3 out of 5) for severe weather has been implemented for most of the eastern flank of Arkansas where strong to severe storms are expected to re-develop this afternoon. A Slight Risk (level 2 out of 5) for severe weather does exist across central Arkansas where storms may initially develop, but will encounter a better parameter space as the storms surge eastward. The main hazards with activity that does develop will be large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Rain and thunderstorms return to the forecast on Thursday and become more widespread in coverage from Friday through Monday. Confidence with this setup remains low for the organization of any severe weather which is a trend that has continued from past forecast packages. Flash flooding may become a concern on Saturday as a Slight Risk (level 2 out of 4) for excessive rainfall has been introduced. Trends will continue to be monitored closely with Memorial Day Weekend approaching. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation is not anticipated to be needed. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk. 74
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
332 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
ARZ031-032-039-042>044-054-200900-
Hot Spring AR-Pulaski AR-Perry AR-Saline AR-Faulkner AR-Conway AR-
Garland AR-
332 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of eastern Perry,
southeastern Conway, Faulkner, southeastern Garland, Saline,
northeastern Hot Spring and Pulaski Counties through 400 AM CDT
...
At 332 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Perryville to Williams Junction to near
Lonsdale to 6 miles west of Malvern. Movement was northeast at 55
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Park Hill... Otter Creek...
Traskwood... Palarm...
Mayflower... Oak Grove in Perry County...
Quapaw Quarter... Hillcrest Neighborhood...
Haskell... Vilonia...
Olmstead... Bryant...
Perryville... Macon...
The Heights... Baseline...
Congo... Enders...
Sylvan Hills... Grape...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 AM CDT for
central and southwestern Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3449 9235 3449 9240 3448 9241 3445 9252
3446 9259 3443 9261 3434 9301 3503 9287
3536 9222 3500 9213
TIME...MOT...LOC 0832Z 244DEG 49KT 3499 9279 3487 9276 3462 9286 3440
9292
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
62Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
336 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
ARZ033-045-046-200900-
White AR-Lonoke AR-Prairie AR-
336 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Prairie, northern Lonoke and southwestern White Counties through 400
AM CDT
...
At 336 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Parnell, or near Cabot, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Vinity Corner... Old Austin...
Furlow... Parnell...
Hayley... Antioch in White County...
Barrettsville... Griffithville...
Cabot... Jasmine...
Kensett... Garner...
Higginson... Austin in Lonoke County...
Sylvania... Thurman...
Des Arc... Walker...
McRae... Butlerville...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 AM CDT for
central Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3485 9145 3480 9205 3489 9208 3501 9207
3501 9211 3504 9212 3529 9160
TIME...MOT...LOC 0836Z 255DEG 38KT 3494 9199
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
62Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
356 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
ARZ053>056-062-063-200930-
Hot Spring AR-Grant AR-Cleveland AR-Clark AR-Dallas AR-Jefferson AR-
356 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Cleveland,
southeastern Clark, southern Grant, Dallas, southwestern Jefferson
and southeastern Hot Spring Counties through 430 AM CDT
...
At 356 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Carthage, or 16 miles southwest of Sheridan, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Lono... Tulip...
Sparkman... Lamont...
Carthage... Jenkins Ferry State Park...
Watson Chapel... Staves...
Sulphur Springs... Dalark...
Hardin... Millerville...
Kedron... Cross Roads in Grant County...
Princeton... Ain...
Slabtown... Manning...
Farindale... Faith...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm 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 800 AM CDT for
central, southeastern and southwestern Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3390 9304 3426 9272 3432 9206 3392 9198
TIME...MOT...LOC 0856Z 261DEG 41KT 3409 9255
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
62Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
443 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
ARZ055-056-062>064-201015-
Grant AR-Cleveland AR-Lincoln AR-Dallas AR-Jefferson AR-
443 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Cleveland,
southeastern Grant, northeastern Dallas, Jefferson and northwestern
Lincoln Counties through 515 AM CDT
...
At 442 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northeast of Carthage, or 12 miles south of Sheridan, moving
northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Tarry... Pastoria...
Lamont... Cottondale...
Sherrill... Tamo...
Whitefield... Moscow...
Linwood... Glenlake...
Watson Chapel... Staves...
Sulphur Springs... Pine Bluff Arsenal...
Madding... Hardin...
Dexter... Rob Roy...
Millerville... Kedron...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 AM CDT for
central, southeastern and southwestern Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3400 9253 3417 9256 3448 9181 3406 9172
TIME...MOT...LOC 0942Z 245DEG 35KT 3413 9243
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
62Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
515 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
ARZ062-063-066-067-201045-
Cleveland AR-Calhoun AR-Dallas AR-Ouachita AR-
515 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central
Cleveland, northeastern Calhoun, southeastern Dallas and northeastern
Ouachita Counties through 545 AM CDT
...
At 514 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Bearden, or 15 miles north of Camden, moving east
at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Chambersville... Harlow...
Thornton... Fordyce...
Hopeville... Ivan...
Ouachita... Holly Springs...
Bearden... Millville...
Amy... Ramsey...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 AM CDT for
southeastern and southwestern Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3369 9284 3384 9288 3401 9242 3374 9234
TIME...MOT...LOC 1014Z 251DEG 36KT 3378 9276
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
BarhamPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
533 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0412 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WSW Gibson 34.89N 92.24W
05/20/2025 Pulaski AR NWS Employee
Tree limbs blown down.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Minor river flooding was observed at Patterson along the Cache River.
Minor river flooding was observed at Houston along the Fourche LaFave River.
Minor river flooding was observed at Black Rock along the Black River.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, May 2025
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: 1276568, 1276572, 1276570.