Heavy Rain — Pike, Arkansas

2019-07-16 · near Murfreesboro, Pike, Arkansas

Event narrative

The COOP observer reported 13.50 inches for total rainfall.

Wider weather episode

While it appeared we dodged a bullet, Barry had one last card to play. As the system exited to the north, some forecast models indicated a potential of over ten inches of rain southwest of Little Rock (Pulaski County) during the wee hours of the 16th. Given an underwhelming event thus far, this much rain seemed a little far fetched. But because data did not back down, and kept showing impressive totals, it was difficult to ignore. Forecasters went with the model solutions.

In the end, the data was correct. The radar lit up in the southwest late on the 15th, and continued well into the next morning. Rainfall rates exceeded three inches per hour at times. Six inches to more than a foot of liquid was estimated by radar in sections of Clark, Hempstead, Howard, Nevada, and Pike Counties. Flash Flood Emergencies were issued by the National Weather Service in these areas.

Near Murfreesboro (Pike County), 13.50 inches of rain was reported. Since the 14th, the site had 14.58 inches, which was temporarily a state record for precipitation tied to a tropical system (since 1950).

Then there was word of an astounding 16.59 inches at Dierks (Howard County) in three days, which became the new tropical high mark. Of this, 16.17 inches dumped from 100 pm CDT on the 15th to 100 pm CDT on the 16th. Up until this point, the most rain that fell in a day across Arkansas was 14.06 inches near Big Fork (Polk County) on December 3, 1982. With so much rain in such a short amount of time, a nightmare high water scenario unfolded.

Water flooded roads, homes, and businesses in a narrow swath from just east of De Queen (Sevier County) to Dierks and Nashville (Howard County), Murfreesboro (Pike County), Prescott (Nevada County), and Arkadelphia (Clark County). Dozens of rescues were performed (from flooded homes, trees, and vehicles driven into water). Miraculously, there were no fatalities.

At Arkadelphia (Clark County), water was knee deep at one point at the humane society, and animals swam for their lives. Residents were asked to take animals home until the facility could get back on its feet. South of town, Interstate 30 was shut down near Gurdon (Clark County) and toward Prescott (Nevada County). Between these cities, traffic was backed up for ten miles at one point. There was considerable water damage at the police department and county jail in Nashville (Howard County). At the latter location, inmates had to be relocated.

The Antoine and Little Missouri Rivers shot up at least twenty feet. At Boughton (Nevada County), the Little Missouri River crested between 24 and 25 feet on the 17th. The river had not been this high since 1982. Water from these tributaries emptied into the Ouachita River, causing it to swell at Camden (Ouachita County) and Thatcher Lock and Dam (Union County).

If not for Barry, July would have been relatively dry in much of the region. Instead, it was wet in most of the south/east. Monthly rainfall was one to more than three inches above average at El Dorado (Union County), Jonesboro (Craighead County), Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), and West Memphis (Crittenden County). Precipitation was subpar by over an inch in the northwest at Fayetteville (Washington County).

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.0800, -93.7000)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 841320. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.