Yesterday’s showers and storms did quite a bit of damage in NE Oklahoma (tornadoes) and in parts of Benton county (flooding). Springs showers can definitely be dangerous as they move through. Rainfall totals varied dramatically depending on how much of the showers and storms you actually saw.
These are some of the totals I saw this morning.
Fort Smith .74
Fayetteville 1.64
Rogers Arpt 3.67
Highfill 2.83
Mt. Ida .38
Russellville .50
Harrison .76
Laura Huckabee / Meteorologist
Some impressive rainfall totals were recorded across the area from this morning’s storms! Keep in mind the area averages between 3.50″ to 4.50″ inches of rain for the month of April! Some cities picked that up in a matter of hours. Numerous flash flood warnings were issued to cover the training thunderstorms. Thankfully the water has subsided along roads and streets; however, if you are a waterfall photographer, you will have some great opportunities over the next couple of days.
Now flooding is pretty common this time of the year. Remember back to April, 2011? Here’s a description of some catastrophic flooding that occurred just a few years ago.
Severe weather and extreme flooding affected eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas from April 21-27, 2011 along a frontal boundary, which had stalled across the region. The front pushed further eastward by April 27 and was associated with the historic tornadic outbreak across the Deep South Region. A series of upper-level disturbances interacted with the frontal boundary while it was draped across the area, leading to multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms and associated heavy rainfall. By April 24, the once drought-stricken area had become saturated and widespread flash flooding occurred. Storms that continued on April 25 only exacerbated the flash flooding. In addition, rapid rises along area creeks and rivers caused extensive river flooding, especially in the Illinois River Basin, where record flooding occurred.
Several locations across northwest Arkansas and east central Oklahoma measured over 5″ of rain in one day, including: Haskell, OK 6.77″ (4/24 OK mesonet), Okmulgee, OK 6.76″ (4/24 OK mesonet), Prairie Grove, AR 6.07″ (4/25, COOP), Hectorville, OK 5.74″ (4/24, OK mesonet), Porter, OK 5.51″ (4/24, OK mesonet), Muskogee Davis Field, OK 5.19″ (4/24, ASOS), and Hindsville, AR 10E 5.10″ (4/24, COOP). In addition, many locations in this area received 3+ inches of rainfall for 3 days in a row (rain that fell on April 23-25).
Widespread rainfall totals of 6″ to 12″ affected east central Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas during the 7-day period ending at 7 am CDT April 28, 2011. Portions of Adair County in Oklahoma and Washington and Benton Counties in Arkansas received 12″ to 16″ of rainfall during this same time. Rainfall estimate images are shown below. A citizen in Beaver, AR reported 17.7″ rainfall total through the evening of April 25 to a local TV station. For reference, the 30-year normal (1971-2000) April rainfall for Fayetteville, AR is 4.33″ and the normal annual rainfall is 46.02″. The widespread
Drew Michaels
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It all started about 12:30 this morning when a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Delaware county. From that moment until 7:30 this morning we have been dealing with all kinds of severe weather in NW Arkansas, NE Oklahoma, and the River Valley.
There were actually two different storm reports signifying possible tornadoes. One of them was in Grove, Oklahoma where there have been many damage reports and the second was in Spavinaw, Oklahoma where damage reports continue to come in to officials. One of the storm reports is shown above.
The National Weather Service out of Tulsa will still have to send a crew to assess the damage and make a final determination on whether or not the damage was officially done by a tornado. This is all standard practice – but nevertheless – the damage is some spots is pretty significant.
Aside from the tornadic type weather we are still going to be dealing with flooding around NW Arkansas and NE Oklahoma today. There is an areal flood warning until 11:00 this morning for Adair, Delaware, and Cherokee counties in NE Oklahoma – and Benton, Washington, and Carroll counties in NW Arkansas.
Stay with 40/29 and we will continue to bring you the latest weather developments.
The SPC has issued a Tornado watch that now includes more counties in our viewing area. The counties in green above reflect the new watch issued until 6 am. Scattered showers and storms will continue to move in from the west after midnight. A broken line of storms is expected, and within that broken line there could be areas of rotation.
While the overall threat is for wind and hail, we will watch the inbound storms closely for any signs of rotation!
Drew Michaels
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Storms have erupted along the dry-line/cold front to our west this evening. The movement of these storms is northeast; they should remain to the northwest of our area. Those particular storms are capable of very large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
The showers and storms won’t impact us until after 4 am. There should be a broken line of showers and storms that moves throughout our area between 4 am and 10 am. Isolated strong to severe storms with hail and gusty winds are possible; however, widespread severe weather is not expected.
The storms will intensify by Thursday afternoon across central Arkansas! Those storms could be strong to severe.
Drew Michaels
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Not a lot changing with the forecast this afternoon. Right now the cap remains intact. That means unless surface heating can overcome the warm air aloft, our weather should be quiet this evening. I’ll still include an isolated chance for a shower or storm through Midnight; however, the best chances for storms will arrive between 4am and 10 am Thursday morning.
This will likely be a line of storms capable of producing isolated severe weather. Damaging winds to 60 mph and hail are possible within the line. Overnight storms will reduce the overall tornado threat, but it won’t totally take it away.
Drew Michaels
Follow us on Twitter @4029weather and on our 4029 Weather Updates Facebook Page
A new Tornado Watch has been issued to include Delaware and Cherokee counties until 11 p.m. Most of the severe weather will stay west and north of our area throughout the afternoon and evening. We will continue to watch things closely for you.
Join our live wire chat at 2 pm on www.4029tv.com
Drew Michaels
Follow us on Twitter @4029weather and on our 4029 Weather Updates Facebook Page
A tornado watch has been issued for McDonald county, MO until 10:00 p.m. A warm front will be a focus for showers and storms this afternoon and evening across Missouri; however, it looks like most of the storms will stay north of us.
What we will need to watch this afternoon is the CAP or the warm layer of air aloft. This CAP is expected to keep a lid on showers and storms until late tonight; however, if the CAP weakens, and surface based storms can ignite this afternoon and evening, they will likely become strong to severe. Large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes will be possible with any storms that develop this afternoon and evening. We will wait and see.
The best chance for showers and storms will be overnight into Thursday morning. Here’s the RPM depiction at 11:00 pm. Most of the storms will be well west of us. Greatest chances for storms will be between 4 am and 10 am. Storms that occur overnight will pose a damaging wind and hail threat.
I will be conducting a live wire chat at 2 pm at www.4029tv.com I will have a late afternoon update after 3 pm.
Drew Michaels
Follow us on Twitter @4029weather and on our 4029 Weather Updates Facebook Page
We have been talking about the chances of severe weather moving in on Wednesday and Thursday for several days now. Finally it is Wednesday and you may be wondering when the showers and storms will arrive …
The air is going to be pretty unstable all day but there are a few guidelines you might be able to follow. Initially any showers and storms we see early in the day will be pretty isolated. However, as we move through the late afternoon, evening, and overnight hours, the chances of showers and storms becomes much greater and much more widespread as we move through the evening, overnight, and early Thursday morning hours.
The severe weather threats we will be watching for are large hail, gusty winds, and possibly heavy downpours. Keep it right here for the latest severe weather developments.
Laura Huckabee / Meteorologist
Looks like there’s another chance for strong to severe storms Wednesday night into Thursday. Thankfully the severe weather threat will be isolated with the best chances for storms overnight into Thursday morning. This is not going to be a classic severe weather event for our area. The dynamics aren’t text-book so we are keeping the severe weather chances isolated.
The atmosphere will continue to moisten and heat up throughout Wednesday afternoon. Clouds and sun will allow temperatures on Wednesday to climb well into the 80′s. Southeast winds will increase during the afternoon continuing to usher in low-level moisture.
The CAP is going to be very strong throughout the afternoon. The greatest unknown is whether the CAP will hold or break by Wednesday evening. Moisture, heating, and upper level support can weaken the CAP and allow storms to form. If the CAP breaks strong to severe storms will likely develop between 5 pm and Midnight. It will be a wait and see effort on Wednesday. If storms do develop they could produce large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes.
If the CAP holds the next chance for showers and storms would occur between Midnight and 8 am. Overnight storms could become severe, but the modes for severe weather would be confined to hail and damaging winds. Rainfall totals would total around an inch for the entire area.
Lingering showers are possible for Thursday morning before moving out by the evening.
Drew Michaels
Follow us on Twitter @4029weather and on our 4029 Weather Updates Facebook Page
