Drought in Union, Arkansas

Severe (D2) drought conditions continued across Union County Arkansas throughout all of December. This was in response to a flash drought that resulted from an exceptionally hot and dry period during late summer, beginning in August with well below normal rainfall and an extended period of upper 90s to triple-digit high temperatures. The total rainfall amounts during this late summer period and through much of the fall season were only near 25% of normal or less. This dryness contributed to lower than normal streamflow observed across area creeks, streams, and rivers through the end of December. However, widespread heavy rainfall of 3-5+ inches that fell during the final week of the month over the county resulted in improvements and eventually elimination of drought to start the first week of January.