NWS Little Rock, AR - May, 2023 Monthly Summary

Temperatures were generally above to well above average (by more than four degrees in some cases). Precipitation was well below average across much of the state, but there were wetter than usual conditions in parts of the southwest.

In the picture: A blocking pattern developed in May, 2023, with a ridge of high pressure ("H") over the middle of the country, and storm systems/appreciable precipitation going around the ridge and away from Arkansas.

Through April, it was a wet year across the region. That came to a screeching halt in May, especially during the last three weeks of the month. A ridge of high pressure over the middle of the country provided days of dry weather, and monthly rainfall deficits exceeded two inches at many locations including Fayetteville (Washington County), Fort Smith (Sebastian County), Jonesboro (Craighead County), Little Rock (Pulaski County), and West Memphis (Crittenden County).

In the picture: As of 05/11/2023, it was the third wettest year on record at Little Rock (Pulaski County). By the end of the month, and given a lack of rain, it was the eighth wettest year (the ranking dropped five places).

At Little Rock (Pulaski County), 1.59 inches of rain fell through the 11th. Shockingly, only 0.13 inch of liquid was measured from the 12th through the 31st. By the end of May, drought became a worry across the northern half of Arkansas. The northern counties were classified as abnormally dry (D0 on the drought intensity scale).

Meanwhile, there was a deluge in the high Plains. Amarillo, TX picked up 7.36 inches of rain, making it the sixth wettest May on record locally. By the end of the month, the Canadian River was at its highest level (close to 10 feet) since 1981. There were multiple instances of flash flooding, stranded vehicles, and evacuations of residents (to avoid high water).

It was an entirely different problem in the northeast. Canadian wildfires (in Quebec and Nova Scotia) were burning out of control, and sending smoke toward Boston, MA, New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA. The air quality worsened heading into early June.

In the picture: A cold front approached Arkansas from the Plains on 05/08/2023. The front triggered severe storms in northern Arkansas before dawn the next morning.

Back at home, there was some active weather early in May. Early on the 9th, a cold front drifted into Arkansas from Missouri, and encountered a warm and energized environment. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms popped up, and deposited large hail in places. Quarter size hail was reported on the southeast side of Jonesboro (Craighead County) and at Tyronza (Poinsett County).

The front stalled across the northern counties, and the focus shifted to a storm system headed this way from Texas on the 10th/11th. As the system approached, moisture levels went through the roof. Storm clouds had more than usual moisture to wring out, making them more efficient rain makers.

Two to more than four inches of rain dumped from southwest into central sections of the state. In the forty eight hour period ending at 700 am CDT on the 12th, Hot Springs National Park (Garland County) received 6.44 inches of precipitation, with 6.30 inches at Moro Bay State Park (Bradley County), 5.95 inches at Murfreesboro (Pike County), 5.24 inches at Jessieville (Garland County), 4.88 inches at Hot Springs (Garland County), 4.53 inches at Crystal Valley (Pulaski County), 4.31 inches at Nashville (Howard County), 4.30 inches at DeGray Lake State Park (Clark/Hot Spring Counties), and 4.12 inches at Fordyce (Dallas County).

In the picture: There were several reports of severe weather, heavy rain, and flash flooding on May 9-12, 2023.

On the 11th, high water flowed into businesses and submerged vehicles along Highway 7 near Hot Springs Village (Garland County). Roads were flooded at El Dorado (Union County) and Hot Springs (Garland County). Highway 114 was under water and closed east of Calmer (Cleveland County). The next day, roads were turned into lakes at Mineral Springs and Nashville (both in Howard County). Portions of Highways 278 and 371 were submerged in northern Hempstead County, as was Highway 9 near Princeton (Dallas County).

There was spotty severe weather on the 10th/11th. On the 10th, a weak tornado (rated EFU, where "U" is unknown because no damage was found) briefly touched down in an open field several miles northeast of Warbritton (Jefferson County). Strong to damaging winds downed trees and/or power lines near Gum Springs (Newton County), Harrison (Boone County), and Paragould (Greene County).

On the 11th, a huge 600-year-old oak tree came down and crushed a house at Conway (Faulkner County). Fortunately, nobody was injured. More trees were downed three miles west of Rison (Cleveland County). A weak tornado (rated EF1) uprooted or snapped numerous trees and removed a roof from a house about five miles south of Hamburg (Ashley County).

Spotty severe weather occurred in western sections of the state during the evening of the 19th. Strong to damaging wind downed trees in places from Fort Smith (Sebastian County) to Hot Springs (Garland County).

In the picture: Temperatures at Little Rock (Pulaski County). Click to enlarge.

In the picture: Precipitation at Little Rock (Pulaski County). Click to enlarge.

In the picture: Precipitation across Arkansas.