Thunderstorm Wind — Baxter, Arkansas

2017-06-23 · near Ellis, Baxter, Arkansas

Event narrative

ONE FATAL, and this is a delayed report. A man was in Lake Norfork when thunderstorm winds overturned his kayak. Emergency personnel tried to revive him...but he eventually died.

Wider weather episode

Showers and thunderstorms brought damaging winds and flooding.

The rain intensified and was widespread south and east of Little Rock (Pulaski County) during the wee hours of the 23rd. This is when Cindy crossed the region. The radar estimated 6 to 7 inches of liquid just north of Monticello (Drew County) and not far from DeWitt (Arkansas County). At least five inches dumped at Wynne (Cross County). Not only were some roads impassible due to high water at these places, water got into homes. At the latter location, images showed fields converted into lakes.

Sadly, all the wind resulted in two fatalities. Just east of Salesville (Baxter County), a man was on Lake Norfork when the wind picked up (preceding a severe storm) and overturned his kayak. He was taken to a hospital and eventually died. A couple of miles south of Hardin (Jefferson County), a tree was toppled onto a vehicle and killed a motorist.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.2400, -92.2500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 707674. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.