Thunderstorm Wind — Pike, Arkansas

2020-05-15 · near Highland, Pike, Arkansas

Event narrative

A tree was downed on Nathan Road outside Murfreesboro.

Wider weather episode

On the 15th, the focus was mainly to the west of Arkansas. Showers and thunderstorms became widespread across the southern Plains surrounding a storm system wobbling this way from the southwest. Some of the fireworks managed to work into western sections of the state during the afternoon and evening.

Rain was very heavy in places, with many streets covered by water in and around Waldron (Scott County). Strong to damaging thunderstorm winds toppled trees a few miles northwest of Murfreesboro (Pike County). There was quarter size hail at Bismarck (Hot Spring County).

In the northwest, it rained at Harrison (Boone County). As rain departed to the southeast between 300 pm and 500 pm CST, the pressure dropped quickly. Temperatures warmed up and the air dried out. This was a sure sign that a small area of low pressure was forming in the wake of the exiting precipitation (a wake low). Winds kicked up and gusted as high as 50 mph.

On the 16th, conditions were expected to go downhill locally. Widespread precipitation was in the forecast, especially in central and western Arkansas.

Given plenty of water to wring out of the clouds, flash flooding was a concern. Between 500 pm and 1000 pm CST, high water problems were realized as a deluge unfolded.

Water flowed across roads in Conway and Greenbrier (both in Faulkner County) and surrounding areas. Barricades had to be used in some cases. It was the same story at Shirley (Van Buren County) and south of Mount Ida (Montgomery County), and creeks were out of their banks. Five miles west and southwest of Arkadelphia (Clark County), Highways 8 and 26 were impassible due to flooding. Highway 71 at Y City (Scott County) was closed for the same reason.

There were quick rises on the Buffalo, Eleven Point, Fourche La Fave, Little Missouri, Petit Jean, Saline, and Spring Rivers, with minor flooding occurring in spots. The Ouachita River also came up fast, and this was due to the rain and releases at Remmel Dam. There was enough water to keep the Black, Cache, and lower White Rivers elevated, which was the norm for much of the year up to this point.

Storms in southeast Arkansas were very isolated, but popped up in a hurry where they managed to develop. Weak rotation in the clouds was stretched as clouds mushroomed. Rotation tightened after being extended leading to a brief landspout just north of Sherrill (Jefferson County) not long after 530 pm CST. This was unlike most springtime tornadoes that are usually associated with mesocyclones (strong persistent circulations that extend thousands of feet into the atmosphere).

The turning motion around the incoming system increased chances of isolated tornadoes southwest of Little Rock (Pulaski County). Numerous Tornado Warnings were issued in the far southwest, and there was damage in places.

Other spotty wind damage was reported. Metal roofing was removed from boat docks and at least a dozen trees were uprooted at a resort just northwest of Crystal Springs (Garland County). Trees and power lines were downed at Leola (Grant County).

The system gradually weakened once it arrived with a cold front on the 17th. Precipitation became more scattered and was not as heavy.

Three to more than five inches of rain dumped at quite a few locations in the western half of the state in the seventy two hour period ending at 600 pm CST on the 17th. This included Alexander (Pulaski/Saline Counties), Benton (Saline County), Booneville (Logan County), Conway (Faulkner County), Damascus (Van Buren County), DeGray Lake State Park (Clark/Hot Spring Counties), Delight (Pike County), Fairbanks (Van Buren County), Fordyce (Dallas County), Harrison (Boone County), Hot Springs (Garland County), Marshall (Searcy County), Mena (Polk County), Menifee (Conway County), Mountain Home (Baxter County), Mount Ida (Montgomery County), Murfreesboro (Pike County), and Waldron (Scott County).

For the month (through the 17th), there was more than the usual precipitation in central/western Arkansas, and it was drier than normal in the east. Surpluses of liquid were over an inch at Harrison (Boone County).

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.0800, -93.7500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 885255. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.