Flash Flood — Sebastian, Arkansas

2025-05-19 · near Ft Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas

Event narrative

Portions of multiple roads were flooded across northern Sebastian County.

Wider weather episode

Severe thunderstorms developed over central Oklahoma along and ahead of a dry line during the afternoon of the 19th, as an upper level disturbance approached the Southern Plains. These thunderstorms moved northeast off the dry line and across portions of northwestern Arkansas during the evening hours. The atmosphere east of the dry line across northwestern Arkansas became very unstable during the afternoon and evening, and this instability combined with strong deep-layer and low-level wind shear, resulted in the development of a severe squall line. Multiple tornadoes and large hail up to quarter size occurred with these thunderstorms across portions of northwestern Arkansas. Locally heavy rainfall also produced some flash flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.3800, -94.4200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1263248. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.