Flood — Little River, Arkansas

2015-05-25 to 2015-05-31 · near Lanesport, Little River, Arkansas

Event narrative

Excessive heavy rainfall during the month of May resulted in very high water on the Red River bordering Little River, Hempstead, Lafayette and Miller Counties in Southwest Arkansas as well as Bowie County in Northeast Texas. Rainfall amounts during the month of May across the Upper and Middle Red River basins of Southern Oklahoma and Northern Texas totaled over 20 inches of rain. This excessive heavy rainfall resulted in Red River levels that eclipsed the flood of May of 1990 at Pecan Point and was just shy of the Red River flood of May of 1908 at Pecan Point. Downstream of Pecan Point at Index, Arkansas, the Red River rose above the 25 foot flood stage on May 28th and remained above that flood stage through the end of the month. The Red River at Index, Arkansas went above the 30 foot major flood stage on May 29th and remained above that stage through the end of the month. The Red River at Index, Arkansas did not crest until the month of June, 2015 so final crest information will be contained in the June, 2015 Storm Data report. Thousands of acres of pasture and and farm land were flooded and livestock had to be evacuated. Bank erosion was extreme on the Little River, Hempstead, Lafayette and Miller County sides of the Red River as well as the Bowie County side of the river. Considerable backwater flooding of Walnut Bayou in Little River County was reported with farming and pasture land affected. The United States Highway 259 bridge, Hwy 8 bridge and the Hwy. 71 bridge going over the Red River were closed. On May 27th, three individuals headed out in a boat on the Little River side of the Red River. The boat capsized and the individuals were reported missing the next day. Two of the three individuals were rescued after they were heard screaming for help but one of the individuals drowned in the swift current.

Wider weather episode

Excessive heavy rainfall during the month of May resulted in very high river levels on the Red River.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.5622, -94.4879)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 574329. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.