NWS Little Rock, AR - Drought in Arkansas

Across the country, moderate to exceptional drought (D1 to D4) conditions continued from the western into the central United States (not including parts of Arkansas). There was also a moderate drought (D1) in portions of the northeast.

In Arkansas, December started off dry, but that came to a screeching halt by the 30th/31st. A big rain event resulted in more than three inch amounts across the southern half of the state. Seventy two hour rainfall amounts through 600 am CST on January 1st included 4.86 inches at Monticello (Drew County), 4.10 inches at El Dorado (Union County). 3.97 inches at Mount Ida (Montgomery County). 3.79 inches at De Queen (Sevier County), 3.73 inches at Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) and Texarkana (Miller County), 3.26 inches at Hot Springs (Garland County), and 3.05 inches at Little Rock (Pulaski County).

For the month, rainfall was still below average (by less than an inch) across the northern and central counties, and above average (by more than two inches in some cases) in the south. Given the deluge, existing drought conditions in the southwest subsided

How did the drought get started? It was a very dry November. Parts of southern Arkansas received less than an inch of liquid. Rainfall was two to more than three inches below normal across much of the area.

Umbrellas were also not needed in the southwest in October. There was more than a three inch rainfall deficit at Texarkana (Miller County). While this was concerning, it was the wettest part of the state as the month began, and there were no clear signs of drought. For example, while soil moisture/ground water levels dropped, it was not alarming. 

For the year (2020), amounts were six to more than twelve inches above normal at many locations. Surpluses of rain were highest (by over twenty inches in some cases) in west central Arkansas. Totals were closer to normal (by an inch or two) in portions of the north/northeast, and also the far northwest.

Too much rain to begin the year and river flooding led to a lack of planting by farmers. The Black, Cache, Ouachita, and lower White Rivers were high to overflowing at times through the spring. Fields were either under water or too wet for use through much of the beginning of the growing season. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report on August 12th, and it was mentioned that the state had 1.1 million unplanted (or prevented) acres. This was 3rd highest in the nation behind North Dakota (2.6 million acres) and South Dakota (1.2 million acres).

Looking ahead, while summer (June through August) was largely wet, it dried out somewhat during the fall. This overall dryness is expected to carry into the coming weeks.

We are in the midst of a weak to moderate La Niña, meaning that the water is cooling along the equator in the Pacific Ocean. When this happens, there is a tendency for less than usual precipitation across the southern United States during the winter. Should this happen, drought may expand and worsen locally.

In recent years, when the rain stopped coming and very dry conditions developed, it was a short term worry. Drought breakers such as a deluge from mid-November to mid-December, 2011 took care of the problem.

Hurricane Isaac brought much needed rain to drought stricken areas of the south and east in late August, 2012. Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) had 8.39 inches in the forty eight hour period ending at 700 am CDT on September 1st.

In September, 2013, areas from Little Rock (Pulaski County) southward got two to four inches of rain, with locally over six inches on the 19th/20th. Some of these amounts exceeded what would normally be expected during the entire month. This busted a short term extreme (D3) drought that peaked just a few days prior to the rain.

The southern half of Arkansas dealt with a moderate to extreme drought (D2 to D4) in October, 2015. Very dry air and heat in the middle of the month made conditions worse. On the 15th, Little Rock experienced the hottest October day on record when the thermometer showed 98 degrees. Fast forward to the wettest November in recorded state history, and the drought was erased.