Flood in Prairie County, Arkansas

Heavy rain caused the White River at Des Arc to go above major flood level. This was the highest the river had been since April, 1973. The river was at minor flood level at the beginning of the month and continued to rise throughout most of the month due to the heavy rains. Substantial portions of the towns of Des Arc and DeValls Bluff were flooded, as were portions of U.S. Highway 70 near DeValls Bluff. Arkansas Highways 11, 38, and 33 were flooded in and near Des Arc. Riverfront Park on the east bank of the White River flooded. Some 80 homes, campers and cabins were flooded along Bayou Des Arc and at Spring Lake east of Des Arc. There were also about 20 to 30 homes flooded in and near DeValls Bluff. Low areas in the Spring Lake and Horn Lake areas on to the east, and Leisure Acres north of Des Arc were underwater. Many residences on Webb Road were flooded. First Street in Des Arc was flooded. Agricultural losses to winter wheat were also noted. The flooding continued into April.

Very heavy rain began developing late on the 17th in northern and western Arkansas, and continued on the 18th and early on the 19th 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.