Flash Flood — Pope, Arkansas

2008-03-18 · near London, Pope, Arkansas

Event narrative

Minor flooding was reported along side streets in Russellville. Two individuals were rescued from their home in Scottsville before the house floated down the Illinois Bayou. A portion of West Parkway Drive in Russellville was closed due to flooding. North Elizabeth Road, Peaceful Valley Road and Humphrey Road in Dover were closed. Lee Mountain Road was washed out one mile north of Rushing Road. Parts of Arkansas Highway 7 in the Ozark National Forest were affected by washouts and landslides.

Wider weather episode

Very heavy rain began developing late on the 17th in northern and western Arkansas, and continued on the 18th as a powerful storm system approached from Texas. The system dredged copious moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, and sent it toward Arkansas with a deep southerly wind flow. Well above normal precipitable water was noted, which enhanced rainfall efficiency across the region.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.3370, -93.2581)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 86224. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.