Drought in Columbia, Arkansas

Severe (D2) drought conditions briefly returned across Columbia County Arkansas from early to mid 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 before more appreciable rainfall occurred by early winter. This dryness contributed to lower than normal streamflow observed across area creeks, streams, and rivers through the middle of December.