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| Abnormally Dry Conditions |
| At times, below normal precipitation will lead to a lack of ground water and worsening drought conditions in Arkansas. Check out the latest conditions below. |
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Monitoring Drought in Arkansas |
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| Drought Status |
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A moderate to severe drought (D1/D2) was ongoing in the western half of Arkansas to begin November. Next Page Update: December 3, 2024
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| Drought Conditions (Percent Area) |
| Category |
Coverage |
| None |
37.34% |
| D0-D4 |
62.66% |
| D1-D4 |
35.58% |
| D2-D4 |
6.75% |
| D3-D4 |
0% |
| D4 |
0% |
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| In the picture: There were moderate to severe drought (D1/D2) conditions in southern, central, and western Arkansas on 11/12/2024. |
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| In the picture: Drought conditions as of 11/12/2024. |
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Across the country, the worst drought conditions (at least D3) were in the Rockies, Plains, central Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley, Ohio Valley, central Appalachians, and a small part of the Northeast (New Jersey).
Here at home in November (through the 14th), rainfall was well above average (by more than six inches) in northern/western Arkansas, and mostly within an inch or two of average farther south and east.
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| Precipitation in 2024 (Through November 14th) |
| Site |
Amount |
Normal |
+/- |
% of Normal |
| Fayetteville (NW AR) |
8.66 |
1.89 |
+6.77 |
458% |
| Harrison (NC AR) |
13.42 |
1.97 |
+11.45 |
681% |
| Jonesboro (NE AR) |
1.35 |
1.91 |
-0.56 |
71% |
| Fort Smith (WC AR) |
9.81 |
1.95 |
+7.86 |
503% |
| Little Rock (C AR) |
2.85 |
2.14 |
+0.71 |
133% |
| West Memphis (EC AR) |
2.93 |
1.89 |
+1.04 |
155% |
| Texarkana (SW AR) |
3.95 |
1.84 |
+2.11 |
215% |
| El Dorado (SC AR) |
1.08 |
1.67 |
-0.59 |
65% |
| Pine Bluff (SE AR) |
1.59 |
1.70 |
-0.11 |
94% |
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| In the picture: Forty eight hour rainfall through 600 am CST on 11/05/2024. |
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There was a deluge in the north/west during the first week of the month. Ten to fifteen inches of rain dumped in portions of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, and in the Arkansas River Valley west of Russellville (Pope County). At Harrison (Boone County), 12.37 inches of liquid was measured from November 3rd to the 5th, making this the wettest three day period on record locally. This followed a record dry ninety one day stretch from August 1st through October 30th (2.55 inches).
In October, little to nothing fell from the sky until a cold front brought widespread showers from the Plains on the 31st. Before the rain, temperatures were well above average at times (including record breaking readings), and afternoon humidity levels were low (sometimes less than 20 percent). At one time, burn bans were posted in 66 (of 75) counties, and all of these counties had a high to extreme wildfire danger (according to the Arkansas Forestry Division). Agricultural disasters were declared in multiple counties.
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| Precipitation in October, 2024 |
| Site |
Amount |
Normal |
+/- |
% of Normal |
| Fayetteville (NW AR) |
1.37 |
4.48 |
-3.11 |
31% |
| Harrison (NC AR) |
2.56 |
3.81 |
-1.25 |
67% |
| Jonesboro (NE AR) |
0.86 |
3.81 |
-2.95 |
23% |
| Fort Smith (WC AR) |
1.25 |
4.42 |
-3.17 |
28% |
| Little Rock (C AR) |
1.64 |
4.47 |
-2.83 |
37% |
| West Memphis (EC AR) |
0.54 |
4.09 |
-3.55 |
13% |
| Texarkana (SW AR) |
0.99 |
4.51 |
-3.52 |
22% |
| El Dorado (SC AR) |
0.69 |
4.58 |
-3.89 |
15% |
| Pine Bluff (SE AR) |
1.64 |
4.58 |
-2.94 |
36% |
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| 90 Day Rainfall Statistics | Soil Moisture |
| In the pictures: Ninety day rainfall deficits (through 10/24/2024) were over eight inches at multiple sites in central and western Arkansas. Percent of normal precipitation was less than 25 percent. It was the driest such time frame on record (rank shown as "1") at many of these sites. Soil moisture (in millimeters) declined rapidly in this part of the state. The same was true from the Plains into the mid-Mississippi Valley, upper Midwest, and western Great Lakes. |
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From the beginning of August into late October, six to more than eight inch rainfall deficits were common in portions of southern, central, and western Arkansas.
In 2024 (through November 14th), conditions were more wet than dry in most counties. Precipitation was more than four inches above average at El Dorado (Union County), Fort Smith (Sebastian County), Harrison (Boone County), Little Rock (Pulaski County), and Texarkana (Miller County). There were pockets of below average rain, most notably in the far northwest and in west central sections of the state.
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| Precipitation in November, 2024 (Through the 14th) |
| Site |
Amount |
Normal |
+/- |
% of Normal |
| Fayetteville (NW AR) |
41.08 |
42.10 |
-1.02 |
98% |
| Harrison (NC AR) |
43.97 |
39.57 |
+4.40 |
111% |
| Jonesboro (NE AR) |
42.04 |
41.57 |
+0.47 |
101% |
| Fort Smith (WC AR) |
50.30 |
41.96 |
+8.34 |
120% |
| Little Rock (C AR) |
51.34 |
42.76 |
+8.58 |
120% |
| West Memphis (EC AR) |
39.22 |
42.91 |
-3.69 |
91% |
| Texarkana (SW AR) |
47.55 |
42.12 |
+5.43 |
113% |
| El Dorado (SC AR) |
48.97 |
44.35 |
+4.62 |
110% |
| Pine Bluff (SE AR) |
40.92 |
43.24 |
-2.32 |
95% |
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| In the pictures: Drought outlook through January, 2025. |
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Looking ahead, a weak La Niña (cooler than normal water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean) will likely emerge and continue through the winter. As this happens, there should be more dryness than wetness initially, and more appreciable precipitation as the period progresses. This will result in some drought relief or wipe out the drought in places (mainly across the northern half of the state). We will monitor the situation closely.
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| Streamflow and Soil Moisture |
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