Flood — Clay, Arkansas

2011-05-01 to 2011-05-06 · near Datto, Clay, Arkansas

Event narrative

Heavy rain brought the Black River near Corning to record levels in late April that continued into the beginning of May. The record crest surpassed the Flood of 1945. Shallow flooding extended for several miles away from the river. Several homes and businesses sustained minor damage from the flooding. Many roads and bridges were closed and/or damaged including Highway 62, Highway 67 and Highway 155. The Clay County Airport was flooded as well.

Wider weather episode

Heavy rains continued to occur across the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley during the beginning part of May. In addition, spring snow melt across the Dakotas and Minnesota continued to create higher than normal river levels on the Mississippi River. The combination of the snow melt and heavy rainfall produced record breaking flooding on the Mississippi River along with the Black, St. Francis, and L'Anguille Rivers in Eastern Arkansas during the month of May. Numerous roads were flooded and closed as a result. Homes and businesses were flooded in the area. Many farmers lost crops or were not able to plant due to flooded fields. Four deaths from the flooding occurred.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.4137, -90.7210)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 318730. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.