Flood in Saline County, Arkansas

Flash flooding, which developed early on the evening of the 23rd, became widespread areal flooding on the 24th and continued through Christmas. At least 12 homes in Shannon Hills had major flood damage. Numerous roads were closed in Benton. The driveway in front of the fire station washed out in Bauxite. Streets flooded in the Forest Cove and Sunset Meadows subdivisions in Bryant. The Saline River at Benton rapidly rose above flood stage just after midnight on the 24th, reaching major flood stage the evening of the 24th. The Saline River remained above flood stage through much of Christmas Day before falling below flood stage the evening of the 25th.

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.