Flash Flood — Saline, Arkansas

2009-12-23 to 2009-12-24 · near Owensville, Saline, Arkansas

Event narrative

Widespread heavy rain on the evening of the 23rd led to the development of flash flooding. Numerous county roads were blocked due to flooding. One subdivision in Haskell was flooded.

Wider weather episode

A strong but slow-moving low pressure system began its approach to Arkansas on the 23rd. Ahead of this low, unseasonably large amounts of moisture were drawn northward from the Gulf of Mexico. The approach of the low set off heavy rain and thunderstorms on the 23rd and 24th. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches were common for the two-day period. In a broad swath from southwest Arkansas through the central part of the state into northeast Arkansas, many places picked up 7 to 10 inches of rain. Flash flooding resulted initially, followed by areal flooding and river flooding. After the low passed by, colder air spilled into Arkansas. Light snow fell across parts of northern and western Arkansas from late on the 24th into the early morning hours of Christmas Day. Most snowfall amounts were in the 1/2 to 1 inch range, with spotty totals up to 2 inches. Though the amounts were rather small, hazardous driving conditions resulted.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.8247, -93.0690)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 202251. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.