Heavy Rain — Jefferson, Arkansas

2009-09-15 · near Hardin, Jefferson, Arkansas

Event narrative

A tree fell on a car that was traveling on Arkansas Highway 104. The car overturned into a water-filled ditch, killing the driver and injuring a passenger. Winds at the time of the accident were light. However, in the 24 hours prior to the accident, approximately 3 inches of rain had fallen, and according to the State Police report, rain was still falling at the time of the accident. It is believed that the heavy rains weakened the tree's roots and added extra weight to the foliage on the tree, causing it to fall.

Wider weather episode

A storm system wobbled from eastern Texas into southwest Arkansas in mid-September. Precipitation became widespread just to the north and east of the system late on the 15th in west central, central and northeast sections of the state. There was tropical moisture in place, making showers and thunderstorms more efficient rain-makers. Heavy rain continued swirling around the system across Arkansas on the 16th through the 18th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.2947, -92.1413)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 196963. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.