Flash Flood — Benton, Arkansas

2011-05-23 to 2011-05-24 · near Gallitin, Benton, Arkansas

Event narrative

Three to five inches of rain fell across much of Benton County, resulting in numerous flooded roads. A vehicle was driven into at least four feet of flood water flowing across Shinn Spring Road and was washed downstream. On the 25th, the vehicle was recovered by divers in 10 feet of water in Butler Creek just upstream of its confluence with the Illinois River and about one mile downstream of where the vehicle entered the creek. The bodies of one woman and two children were found in the backseat of the car. Another woman who was in the vehicle was never recovered.

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms developed during the early morning hours across northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas in response to an approaching upper level disturbance and increasing low level jet. These storms moved southeast into northwestern Arkansas during the late morning and early afternoon producing some flash flooding. Another round of severe thunderstorms moved into northwestern Arkansas during the evening hours producing damaging wind, large hail, and additional flash flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.2000, -94.4300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 317433. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.