Monthly Storm Reports and Storm Data
Storm Reports
Are you interested in what happened during a recent event? Check out the report below.
 
May, 2012 Storm Report
 
Short Weather Summary
 
It is supposed to rain in the spring. Statistically, May is one of the wettest months of the year, but not in 2012. In fact, it was a record dry May in much of Arkansas. It was also hot. As the ground water supply dwindled, drought conditions worsened quickly.

 

Record Temperatures
 
There were numerous record high temperatures tied or broken in May. Check out the records below.

 

Site Record High (Date of Occurrence)
Batesville 91 (05/06), 90T (05/18), 91T (05/19), 93 (05/26), 93 (05/27), 97 (05/28), 97 (05/29)
Fayetteville 90T (05/26), 91 (05/27), 91 (05/28), 91T (05/29)
Fort Smith 91T (05/06), 95T (05/26), 95T (05/27), 97 (05/28)
Hot Springs 88T (05/01), 92T 05/17), 94T (05/27), 94 (05/28), 97 (05/29)
Jacksonville 88T (05/02), 91 (05/04), 91 (05/05), 91 (05/06), 96T (05/28), 98 (05/29)
Jonesboro 94T (05/06)
Little Rock 97 (05/29)
Monticello 89T (05/01), 91 (05/06), 95 (05/28)
Mount Ida 96 (05/29)
North Little Rock 89T (05/01), 87 (05/02), 90 (05/04), 90 (05/05), 90T (05/06), 92 (05/26), 93 (05/27), 93 (05/28), 96 (05/29)
Russellville 93T (05/05), 95 (05/26), 97 (05/28), 98 (05/29)
Texarkana 91T (05/05), 92 (05/07)
Note: "T" means record was tied.

 

Record Dry Month/Developing Drought
 
Percent of normal rainfall in May, 2012. It was a bad combination of very little rain and summerlike temperatures in May.
In the picture: Percent of normal rainfall in May, 2012.

 

Much of Arkansas received less than two inches of rain. Parts of the west got less than a half inch. Gilbert (Searcy County) had no rain at all, with 0.01 inch at Ozark (Franklin County), 0.09 inch at Morrilton (Conway County), 0.11 inch at Dardanelle (Yell County), 0.13 inch at Clarksville (Johnson County) and 0.20 inch at Conway (Faulkner County). These totals are less than 10 percent of normal.

 

Precipitation in May, 2012
Site Amount Normal +/- % of Normal
Fayetteville (NW AR) 1.05 5.91 -4.86 18%
Harrison (NC AR) 0.59 4.69 -4.10 13%
Jonesboro (NE AR) 1.40 4.61 -3.21 30%
Fort Smith (WC AR) 1.15 5.47 -4.32 21%
Little Rock (C AR) 1.23 4.87 -3.64 25%
West Memphis (EC AR) 5.67 5.24 +0.43 108%
Texarkana (SW AR) 0.51 5.09 -4.58 10%
El Dorado (SC AR) 0.21 5.05 -4.84 4%
Pine Bluff (SE AR) 2.21 5.05 -2.84 44%

 

 

Temperatures soared well into the 90s at times. On the 29th, the mercury reached 100 degrees at Petit Jean State Park (Conway County). It was 97 degrees at Batesville Airport (Independence County), the warmest May temperature on record. It was the second warmest May day at Hot Springs (Garland County), Little Rock (Pulaski County), Mount Ida (Montgomery County) and Russellville (Pope County) with readings in the mid/upper 90s.

 

Record Temperatures on 05/29/2012
Site Temperature/May Rank
Batesville (Independence Co.) 97/1st
Hot Springs (Garland Co.) 97/2nd
Jacksonville (Pulaski Co.) 98/3rd
Little Rock (Pulaski Co.) 97/2nd
Mount Ida (Montgomery Co.) 96/2nd
North Little Rock (Pulaski Co.) 96/3rd
Russellville (Pope Co.) 98/2nd

 

Heat and very dry conditions led to a "flash" (rapidly developing) drought. As the month closed, northern and central sections of the state had a moderate drought, with abnormally dry conditions elsewhere. A moderate drought was noted in much of northern and central Arkansas on 05/29/2012.
In the picture: A moderate drought was noted in much of northern and central Arkansas on 05/29/2012.

 

Twenty four hour rainfall through 1200 pm CDT on 05/07/2012.

There was only one significant event featuring widespread heavy precipitation.
In the picture: Twenty four hour rainfall through 1200 pm CDT on 05/07/2012.

 

Early on the 7th, an MCS (Mesoscale Convective System, or large cluster of showers and thunderstorms) formed over the northeast, and sagged southward along the Mississippi River. Heavy downpours resulted in rainfall amounts from one to three inches. A few spots received more than four inches.

Twenty four hours amounts through 700 am CDT on the 7th included 4.40 inches at Clarendon (Monroe County), 3.64 inches at Blytheville (Mississippi County), 3.20 inches at Grubbs (Jackson County), 2.90 inches at Des Arc (Prairie County) and 2.65 inches at Georgetown (White County).

There was a potential for more appreciable amounts on the 29th through the 31st as a storm system approached from the southern Plains. However, as the system dragged a front through the area, rainfall was spotty. For most folks expecting some drought relief, it was a disappointing event.

 

Links of Interest
May 7, 2012 (severe storms/heavy rain)
May 29-31, 2012 (severe storms/heavy rain)

 

In the Tropics
 

The tropical season got off to a fast start, with Tropical Storm Alberto forming off the South Carolina coast on May 19th (the season did not officially start until June 1st). The system quickly moved out into the open Atlantic Ocean and dissipated by the 22nd.

Tropical Storm Beryl developed a little farther south (toward northern Florida) late on the 25th and moved inland on the 27th. Beryl produced areas of heavy rain in Georgia and the Carolinas before exiting toward the Atlantic Ocean on the 30th.

 

Additional May Details
 
For more details about May, 2012...go to the "Temperatures and Precipitation" section below.

 

Temperatures and Precipitation
Temperatures were above normal in May. Readings at North Little Rock are shown to right. May, 2012 Temperatures in North Little Rock

 

May, 2012 Precipitation in North Little Rock Rainfall was much below normal in most areas, but at or a little above normal in parts of the east. Amounts at North Little Rock are shown to left.

 

To right, a look at precipitation across the state. May, 2012 Precipitation in Arkansas

 

For a look at actual temperatures and precipitation in Arkansas as measured by the cooperative observer network, click here.
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