NWS Little Rock, AR - Flooding Rain/Isolated Tornadoes (October 31 - November 5, 2024)

After a long dry spell and little to no rain in October, major relief was coming. A cold front approached from the Plains as the month came to a close, and showers/rumbles of thunder spread across Arkansas on the 31st. Rainfall from a half inch to an inch-and-a-half was common, and local totals were over two inches. Harrison (Boone County) received 2.56 inches of rain, which was about as much (2.55 inches) as what fell in the three months (91 days) leading up to this event. While this was good news, there was a weak tornado (rated EF1) spawned from Prairie Grove to Walnut Grove (both in Washington County) around 1225 am CDT on the 31st. The tornado roughed up multiple homes, and caused some significant roof damage. Almost six hours later, at least forty boats and four boat docks were blown around and/or overturned on Greers Ferry Lake west of Higden (Cleburne County).

The aforementioned front stalled to the south of the state as November began, but quickly moved back to the north. Warmth/abundant moisture accompanied the front, and the atmosphere became primed for more stormy weather. On the 3rd/early on the 4th, a deluge occurred in northern and western Arkansas. Two to four inches of precipitation was measured. Amounts exceeded six inches in a narrow stripe from Fort Smith (Sebastian County) to Jasper (Newton County) and Mountain Home (Baxter County), and also between Mena (Polk County) and Mount Ida (Montgomery County). Water flowed across Highway 7 south of Jasper (Newton County) and Highway 395 just south of Salem (Fulton County). Flooding was also reported at Flippin (Marion County), and a trailer park had to be evacuated. Roads were under water near Viola (Fulton County).

While we had high water concerns, there were destructive tornadoes to the west. During the predawn hours of the 3rd, three tornadoes (all rated EF3) cut swaths through south central into central Oklahoma. Two of these tornadoes were on the south/east side of Oklahoma City, OK. Structures were heavily damaged or destroyed, and at least eleven people were injured.

Later that morning (around 845 am CST), video supplied by the media showed a possible tornado (lasting only seconds) on the north side of Waldron (Scott County).

Tornadoes became a reality for us on the 4th. A new cold front was draped from the upper Midwest to the Texas panhandle early in the day, and was headed this way. Before dawn, it appears there may have been a tornado (radar detected) in a heavily forested area in terrain west of Salus (Johnson County). Around 235 pm CST, another tornado was likely spawned (confirmed by radar) in a wooded area southwest of Rover (Yell County).

Between 300 pm and 500 pm CST, three tornadoes were counted in Benton County. The strongest of these (rated EF2) tracked through Little Flock (Benton County), and tore up homes, a business, and some outbuildings.

After dark on the 4th/early on the 5th, we were in for another heavy rain episode. Portions of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains and in the Arkansas River Valley west of Russellville (Pope County) were walloped by cloudbursts (just as they were the day before). In the forty eight hour period ending at 600 am CST on the 5th, rain gauges were overflowing with ten to more than fifteen inches of liquid in places such as Bull Shoals (Marion County), Harrison (Boone County), Jordan (Baxter County), Oden (Montgomery County), Ozark (Franklin County), and Parthenon (Newton County).

Looking at the numbers (which were staggering), there had never been so much rain at Harrison (Boone County) in a day (7.83 inches on the 4th), two days (10.28 inches on the 3rd/4th), three days (12.37 inches on the 3rd through the 5th), and in November (12.38 inches through the first five days).

Tributaries responded with marked rises. Streamflow was well below average during the drought, but that changed with minor to moderate flooding along the Black, Buffalo, Eleven Point, Petit Jean, Spring, and White Rivers.

The Mulberry River went from a trickle to turning roads into lakes, threatening to overtop bridges, and surrounding several properties with dangerous currents. The river engulfed Highway 23 near Cass (Franklin County), and the road was barricaded. Elsewhere, a bridge was washed out near the Watalula (Franklin County) community. Four residences were cut off from the rest of the world. High water rescues were necessary at Huntsville, Kingston, and Witter (all in Madison County). Roads became impassible in Harrison (Boone County), and water rushed into buildings.