Monthly Storm Reports and Storm Data
Storm Reports
Are you interested in what happened during a recent event? Check out the report below.
 
Severe Storms/Heavy Rain on August 5-6, 2012
 
A ridge of high pressure ("H") was over the Texas panhandle, with clockwise flow around the high creating northwest winds aloft over Arkansas on 08/01/2012. High pressure remained to the west on the 5th. That left the door open for a cold front from the north.
In the picture: A ridge of high pressure ("H") was over the Texas panhandle, with clockwise flow around the high creating northwest winds aloft over Arkansas on 08/01/2012.

 

The front penetrated into triple digit temperatures across southwest Arkansas, with readings maxing out at 105 degrees at Hot Springs (Garland County) and 104 degrees at DeQueen (Sevier County). The satellite showed thunderstorms spreading from west central into southwest Arkansas during the afternoon and early evening of 08/05/2012.
In the picture: The satellite showed thunderstorms spreading from west central into southwest Arkansas during the afternoon and early evening of 08/05/2012. A line of storms producing damaging winds was on the southern edge of the growing area of clouds, with steady rain to follow.

 

Temperatures this hot tend to increase the chances for microbursts (thunderstorm downbursts) if storms happen to develop. That's exactly what happened.

 

The WSR-88D (Doppler Weather Radar) showed a storm core at 20,000 feet rapidly disappearing between 244 pm and 252 pm CDT on 08/05/2012.
At Hot Springs (Garland County), a thunderstorm collapsed and temperatures dropped quickly into the upper 70s and lower 80s. At the airport (to the west of town), wind gusts reached 43 mph shortly before 300 pm CDT. Closer to the storm core over the downtown area, gusts were likely between 60 and 80 mph.
In the picture: The WSR-88D (Doppler Weather Radar) showed a storm core at 20,000 feet rapidly disappearing between 244 pm and 252 pm CDT on 08/05/2012. The core was on its way toward the ground, indicating a collapsing storm.

 

Data from the Hot Springs Airport (Garland County) on 08/05/2012
Time Temp/Dewpoint Wind
223 pm CDT 105°/63° SW8
253 pm CDT 88°/66° NE30 G43
302 pm CDT 84°/65° NE28 G43
311 pm CDT 83°/68° S26 G40
316 pm CDT 82°/72° SE14 G35
Note: "G" is gust. Temperatures and dewpoints are in degrees F and winds are MPH. Rain began at 303 pm CDT.

 

An inverted "V" sounding (temperature and dewpoint profile with height) was noted at Hot Springs (Garland County) at 100 pm CDT on 08/05/2012.
In the picture: An inverted "V" sounding (temperature and dewpoint profile with height) was noted at Hot Springs (Garland County) at 100 pm CDT on 08/05/2012. Under the "V", it was hot and dry near the ground, with a surface temperature of 100°F (37.8°C) and a dewpoint of 65°F (18.3°C). Such a sounding made microbursts (downbursts) a major concern. When rain/hail materialized from above, there was a period of evaporation, rapid cooling (a loss of buoyancy) and air accelerating downward.
 

Winds this strong caused some damage to at least 100 structures, including a hotel, a theater, a bank and a car dealership. A radio tower was leveled and trees blocked several roads. Quarter size hail was reported.

Storms formed into a line farther south and raced pushed toward the Louisiana border. Along the way, there were numerous reports of wind damage and power outages. More than 15,000 customers were without power at one point. Trees and/or power lines were downed at Mount Ida (Montgomery County), Grapevine (Grant County), Kingsland (Cleveland County) , Gurdon (Clark County) and Chidester (Ouachita County).

 

 

The storms dumped one to two inches of welcome rain in parts of the southwest. Twenty four hour amounts through 700 am CDT on the 6th included 1.31 inches at Lewisville (Lafayette County), 1.22 inches at Hot Springs National Park (Garland County) and 1.12 inches at Prescott (Nevada County).   Twenty four hour rainfall through 700 am CDT on 08/06/2012.
In the picture: Twenty four hour rainfall through 700 am CDT on 08/06/2012.

 

The pattern on 08/06/2012 featured a front stalling over central Arkansas and isolated severe storms over the southern half of the state. The aforementioned front came to a halt in central Arkansas on the 6th. Surrounding the front, isolated storms bubbled up randomly, and several Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued during the afternoon.
In the picture: The pattern on 08/06/2012 featured a front stalling over central Arkansas and isolated severe storms over the southern half of the state.

 

These were pulse storms, with rapid growth followed by a fast collapse. For the second day in a row, Gurdon (Clark County) was hit. A fallen tree blocked Highway 67 just north of town, and a plate glass window was blown out of a store in town. Trees were also pushed over near Hermitage and at Johnsville (both in Bradley County).

 

Storm Reports
There were reports of severe weather from central into southern Arkansas on August 5th and 6th, 2012. For a look at some reports, click here.
 
Link of Interest
Plot Reports
Preliminary reports of severe weather in the Little Rock County Warning Area on August 5-6, 2012 (in red).
Submit a storm report.
In the picture: Preliminary reports of severe weather in the Little Rock County Warning Area on August 5-6, 2012 (in red).
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