Tropical Depression — Garland, Arkansas

2012-08-30 to 2012-08-31 · Garland, Arkansas

Wider weather episode

Although Isaac was a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, it had weakened to a tropical depression by the time it reached Arkansas. Isaac passed through western Arkansas on the evening of the 30th and during the day on the 31st. Positions from the National Hurricane Center and the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center: August 30th at 10 PM (CDT) 95 miles south-southwest of Little Rock, August 31st at 4 AM 95 miles west of Little Rock, August 31st at 10 AM 25 miles northeast of Fort Smith, and August 31st at 4 PM 40 miles east of Joplin, Missouri. Although Isaac had exited Arkansas by the end of the month, some effects, including bands of thunderstorms spiraling in toward its center, continued through September 1st into the wee hours of the 2nd. Isaac brought sustained winds of 23 to 33 mph and wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph in many parts of the state. The highest sustained wind in the Little Rock County Warning Area was 33 mph at Little Rock Air Force Base, and the strongest gust was 46 mph at the Pine Bluff airport. The strong winds over a prolonged period caused large numbers of trees to fall. Some of these trees had been weakened by the ongoing drought. Falling limbs and trees took down power lines, leaving more than 20,000 electric customers in the dark. Isaac also brought widespread rain. Three injuries were reported. Two people were injured in Little Rock when a tree fell on a car parked in a driveway; one person was injured in White Hall (Jefferson Co.) when a tree fell on a car. Where bands of showers and thunderstorms lingered over a particular area or where rain moved over the same area repeatedly, flash flooding occurred. Some of the larger storm totals included 11.29 inches at White Hall (Jefferson Co.), 10.70 inches at Griffithville (White Co.), 10.65 inches at the Pine Bluff Water Plant (Jefferson Co.), 8.90 inches at the Pine Bluff airport, 8.88 inches at Judsonia (White Co.), 8.40 inches at Steprock (White Co.), and 8.11 inches at Fordyce (Dallas Co.). The lowest barometric pressure reported in the Little Rock County Warning area was 29.51 inches at Camden. The combination of wind and rain caused damage in the rice crop, due to lodging of the rice. Cotton, corn, and soybeans appeared to have only minor damage. The rain improved prospects for the hay crop, and pastures providing forage for livestock improved.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 398642. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.