Tropical Storm — Van Buren, Arkansas

2008-09-13 to 2008-09-14 · Van Buren, Arkansas

Event narrative

A marina on Greers Ferry Lake reported four docks were damaged, six boats were sunk, and about two dozen other boats were damaged. A yellow poplar tree fell in the Clinton Cemetery. Many trees were down across the county.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Ike moved into Arkansas on the evening of the 13th. By mid evening of the 13th, Ike was located in western Arkansas. Ike weakened to a tropical depression during the wee hours of the 14th, when it was located about 105 miles west-northwest of Little Rock. Ike exited northern Arkansas before sunrise on the 14th. In the Little Rock County Warning Area, wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph were common, and some gusts in the northern part of the state exceeded 50 mph. The strongest gusts measured were 67 mph at the Izard County Fairgrounds in Melbourne and 61 mph at the Newport airport. The strongest sustained wind measured was 46 mph at the Newport airport. Power was knocked out to more than 200,000 electric customers. Wind damage was estimated at just over $30 million. There was one injury due to the winds. The greatest storm total rainfall was 4.60 inches at Big Fork. The lowest barometric pressure was 29.10 inches at Mountain Home. There were seven weak tornadoes, with damage estimated at just over $450,000.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 136005. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.