A small complex of showers and thunderstorms drifted south into McCurtain County Oklahoma and the northern sections of Southwest Arkansas during the early morning hours of June 12th, near a weak cold front and attendant upper level disturbance. This front, coupled with the weak disturbance aloft and weak low level forcing along the lead gust front, maintained these storms as they entered the…
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The episode as NWS SHV wrote it up.
A small complex of showers and thunderstorms drifted south into McCurtain County Oklahoma and the northern sections of Southwest Arkansas during the early morning hours of June 12th, near a weak cold front and attendant upper level disturbance. This front, coupled with the weak disturbance aloft and weak low level forcing along the lead gust front, maintained these storms as they entered the northern sections of the region, and produced strong, gusty winds near 50 mph across Sevier and Howard Counties in Southwest Arkansas. These winds resulted in a few isolated downed trees near De Queen, Lockesburg, and Dierks around daybreak on the 12th, before diminishing later that morning.
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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 12, 5:45 AM CST, 30 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Shreveport LA 645 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 103 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026 - Hot and humid conditions will persist today through this weekend, although some respite to the heat will be possible today mainly over portions of extreme Northeast Texas, Southwest Arkansas, and Southeast Oklahoma as scattered showers and storms will be possible. - The approach of a weak cool front Sunday/Sunday night will result in an increase in showers and thunderstorms over much of the region, which could linger into at least Monday night. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 103 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026 Convection that developed late this afternoon over Nrn/Cntrl/SW OK into NW TX and the TX South Plains along a weak cold front has surprisingly diminished greatly within the last few hours, aside for isolated convection S of SPS, with a more organized but compact cluster between MKO and FYV in Ern OK/NW AR. The 00Z HREF initialized much too bullish with the convection early this evening and thus is not reliable for the short term forecast, with the HRRR not much help either as it remains a little too bullish as well, although the 04Z run does initialize on the ongoing convection over far Ern OK/NW AR better than the 00Z NAM/GFS. But that doesn't give much confidence with the short term forecast in terms of convection placement/coverage as the weak sfc bndry may continue to drift a bit farther SE overnight, but should remain N of the region through the day today, unless the aforementioned convection over Ern OK/NW AR is able to reinforce the front S. Given the low confidence, have tapered back pops to mid and high chance this morning mainly along/NW of I-30, with the potential that the convection well to our N is able to build farther SSE into Wrn AR through/after daybreak. A weak shear axis over Nrn AR near the ongoing convection associated with upper troughing swinging through the Great Lakes Region this morning remains progged to drift SE through this afternoon, with potential mesoscale bndrys and strong heating/instability contributing to the potential for isolated to scattered convection as it may build from N to S, possibly reaching the I-20 corridor of E TX/N LA by afternoon. Did undercut the more aggressive NBM pops which initialized much too high with the lack of convection now, with any convection able to build S today expected to diminish around sunset. Max temps today should be comparable to what was observed Thursday especially along/S of I-20, with heat indices again marginal around 105 degrees across portions of E TX/N LA and thus have held off on a Heat Advisory for these areas. Flat ridging aloft extending from Srn Old MX across TX and the Gulf Coast remains progged to begin expanding back N a touch late tonight/Saturday, thus eroding any remaining resemblance of the shear axis in place, while promoting more widespread subsidence over the region. As a result, a return to more widespread hot, humid, and dry conditions is expected, with max temps again climbing into the mid 90s across most areas, with resultant heat indices ranging from 100-105 degrees. Shortwave energy aloft beginning to traverse OK/AR Sunday will help to slowly erode the Nrn extent of the ridge in place, which will also help reinforce a weak cool front S into the region. The jury remains out as to how quickly the front will shift S, assuming it is not convectively reinforced S like the ECMWF, although deepening theta-e advection over E TX/N LA Sunday afternoon may help to invigorate the seabreeze as weak ripples aloft begin to enter the region in VC of the approaching front. Thus, convection should gradually increase through the day, persisting along the weak front Sunday night/Monday before drier air behind the amplifying longwave trough begins to entrain SE into the region Monday night/Tuesday, diminishing the convection from NW to SE. Tropical moisture common across Nrn Old MX this weekend/early this next week remains progged to advect E into the region along the base of the longwave trough, which may help to enhance rainfall efficiency, with QPF's of 1-3+ inches possible over much of our drought impacted area. A welcome reprieve to the heat is also expected through the first half of the new work week, before near to above normal temps return for the remainder of the extended. Additional storm chances remain uncertain though given the considerable spread in model ensemble solutions. 15 && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 639 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026 Mostly MVFR cigs prevail across the region with a few VFR and one LIFR site. Cigs should lift and scatter a bit through the morning. A line of showers and thunderstorms is currently moving in from the northwest and is expected to bring impacts to KTXK and possibly KTYR and KGGG before weakening. VCSH could be possible at other locations as the line continues to move, but current guidance is uncertain here. Winds will mostly be southwesterly except for a period this evening with some variable wind directions before returning to be southwesterly overnight. /57/ && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Issued at 103 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026 Spotter activation may be needed this morning across Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas for the potential of isolated strong storms containing heavy rainfall. /15/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 94 76 95 78 / 20 10 0 0 MLU 96 76 96 78 / 20 10 0 0 DEQ 89 75 92 75 / 50 10 10 50 TXK 94 77 96 78 / 40 10 10 20 ELD 92 75 94 77 / 30 10 10 10 TYR 94 77 95 78 / 20 10 0 0 GGG 94 76 95 78 / 20 10 0 0 LFK 94 75 94 76 / 10 10 10 0 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. LA...None. OK...None. TX...None. && DISCUSSION...15 AVIATION...57
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
410 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026
OKZ077-120945-
McCurtain OK-
410 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN MCCURTAIN COUNTY UNTIL
445 AM CDT...
At 410 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 41
miles north of Broken Bow, or 46 miles northwest of De Queen, moving
south at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Sherwood, Mount Herman, Bethel, Smithville, Hochatown, Battiest,
Watson, Pickens, Plunketville and Ringold.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3418 9447 3419 9515 3424 9515 3424 9505
3451 9505 3451 9446
TIME...MOT...LOC 0910Z 356DEG 21KT 3461 9477
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
05Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
452 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026
OKZ077-121030-
McCurtain OK-
452 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHERN MCCURTAIN
COUNTY UNTIL 530 AM CDT...
At 452 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from 20 miles north of Gillham to 34 miles
northwest of Broken Bow, or extending from 21 miles northwest of
Umpire to 50 miles northwest of De Queen, moving south at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea 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...
Sherwood, Mount Herman, Bethel, Battiest, Smithville, Hochatown,
Watson, Pickens, Plunketville and Ringold.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3420 9447 3418 9515 3424 9515 3424 9505
3451 9505 3451 9446
TIME...MOT...LOC 0951Z 352DEG 23KT 3445 9435 3443 9472 3442 9509
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
05Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
536 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026
ARZ050-OKZ077-121130-
McCurtain OK-Sevier AR-
536 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN SEVIER AND
NORTHERN MCCURTAIN COUNTIES UNTIL 630 AM CDT...
At 536 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from 18 miles northwest of Gillham to 26
miles northwest of Broken Bow, or extending from 24 miles northwest
of De Queen to 45 miles north of Clarksville, moving south at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea 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...
Wright City, Hochatown, Sherwood, Mount Herman, Bethel, Glover,
Watson, Plunketville, Slim, Ringold and Rufe.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3435 9505 3438 9490 3446 9446 3419 9447
3419 9433 3412 9430 3405 9479 3401 9516
3416 9516 3416 9515 3424 9515 3424 9505
TIME...MOT...LOC 1036Z 348DEG 15KT 3435 9453 3429 9488 3426 9510
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
05Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
612 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026
ARZ050-059-OKZ077-TXZ096-121215-
McCurtain OK-Red River TX-Little River AR-Sevier AR-
612 AM CDT Fri Jun 12 2026
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN RED
RIVER...NORTHWESTERN LITTLE RIVER...NORTHWESTERN SEVIER AND CENTRAL
MCCURTAIN COUNTIES UNTIL 715 AM CDT...
At 612 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from 7 miles west of Gillham to 14 miles
north of Manchester, or extending from 11 miles northwest of De Queen
to 30 miles north of Clarksville, moving south at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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...
De Queen, Horatio, Idabel, Broken Bow, Manchester, Wright City,
Valliant, Millerton, Haworth, Garvin, Holly Creek, Oak Hill,
Golden, Glover, Eagletown, Goodwater, Hochatown, Farmers Hill and
Shinewell.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3413 9516 3427 9447 3419 9447 3419 9433
3393 9422 3382 9479 3373 9531 3388 9531
3388 9528 3390 9529 3391 9527 3389 9527
3389 9526 3393 9525 3396 9523 3394 9516
TIME...MOT...LOC 1111Z 354DEG 11KT 3418 9444 3411 9482 3402 9521
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
05The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 139 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:13 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down and blocked Highway 70 about two miles west of De Queen. The nearby ASOS at the De Queen Helms Sevier County Airport measured a peak wind gust of 52 mph.
A tree was blown down and blocked Highway 24 one mile west of Lockesburg. Wind gusts were estimated to be near 50 mph.
A tree was blown down and blocked Highway 278 two miles southeast of Dierks. Wind gusts were estimated to be near 50 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, June 2026
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: 1346816, 1346817, 1346818.