Heat — Jackson, Arkansas

2012-08-01 to 2012-08-05 · Jackson, Arkansas

Wider weather episode

Most of Arkansas was under extreme or exceptional drought as August began. Unusual heat also continued into the beginning of the month. From the 1st through the 5th, high temperatures were 100 degrees or higher at many reporting stations. The highest temperatures during this time frame were 108 at Cabot and Silver Hill; 107 at Russellville, Conway, Booneville forestry station, and Oden; 106 at Little Rock, DeGray Lake State Park, Dardanelle, Subiaco, Morrilton, Leola, Malvern, Nimrod Dam, and Jessieville. After the first few days of the month, the high pressure aloft that had caused hot weather throughout July shifted to the west. This allowed at least some scattered showers and thunderstorms from time to time, and heat indices gradually dropped below 105 in most areas. On the 3rd, a 16 month-old girl died in a hot car in Newport (Jackson Co.). According to police reports, the father was supposed to drop the baby off at daycare but forgot to do so. Thus, the baby remained in the car all day and was not discovered in the car until late afternoon. The high temperature at Newport that day reached 96 degrees and the heat index reached 106. The father was arrested at the scene and charged with negligent homicide.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 389907. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.