NWS Little Rock, AR - Drought in Arkansas

Across the country, moderate to extreme drought (D1 to D3) conditions were expanding across the southern United States. Parts of Arkansas were dry as well, especially in the south.

A persistent area of high pressure was responsible for the worsening drought conditions. In early October, the high flattened and the flow aloft brought storm systems/fronts. This resulted in areas of heavy rain and blasts of cooler air.

In the forty eight hour period ending at 700 am CDT on the 7th, more than a half foot of rain dumped in far northwest Arkansas. One to more than three inches of precipitation was measured from West Memphis (Crittenden County) to Little Rock (Pulaski County) to just north of El Dorado (Union County). On the 4th, there was a deluge in a small area of the southwest. Arkadelphia (Clark County) got four to five inches of liquid, with just over an inch at Hot Springs (Garland County).

Through the 9th, rainfall was more than two inches above average for the month at Fayetteville (Washington County) and Harrison (Boone County). Unfortunately, while there were some downpours in the far southwest where drought conditions existed, precipitation was more than an inch below average at Texarkana (Miller County).

It was even worse prior to October when high pressure was dominant. In August, less than an inch of rain fell at El Dorado (Union County), with under two inches at Texarkana (Miller County). Much more of the region experienced dryness in September. Precipitation was an inch to more than two inches below average at many locations. From July 22nd through the end of September, only 0.41 inch of rain settled the dust at El Dorado (Union County).

Heat was a large contributor to the drought. Average temperatures were 6 to 10 degrees above normal in September. At Little Rock (Pulaski County), it was the second warmest September on record. From the 1st through the 19th, it was at or above 90 degrees every day. That had not occurred locally in recorded history.

At Harrison (Boone County) and Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), it was the third and fifth warmest September respectively. It was actually warmer in September than August at West Memphis (Crittenden County).

Statewide, it was the second warmest September since 1895, and only a tenth of a degree from the record set in 1925. It was a Top 30 dry September, but far more wet (by an inch and a half) than the record driest year of 2004. Breaking the state into sections, there was record warmth in Climate Division 7 (southwest counties) and Top 3 dryness in Climate Division 8 (south central counties). This is where drought conditions developed.

For the year (2019), there was more than the usual precipitation through October 9th. Rainfall was above normal by more than a foot at Fort Smith (Sebastian County), Fayetteville (Washington County), Jonesboro (Craighead County), Little Rock (Pulaski County), Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), and West Memphis (Crittenden County).

Excessive rain and river flooding were major factors leading to a lack of planting by farmers in Arkansas this year. The Black, Cache, Ouachita, and lower White Rivers were high to overflowing at times through the spring. Then the Arkansas River reached unprecedented levels in late May and early June. 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 1.3 million unplanted (or prevented) acres. This was 5th highest in the nation. Within a couple of days, 44 counties were declared primary natural disaster areas, and 24 neighboring counties were designated as contiguous disaster areas.

It was a Top 10 wet year in 2018. The statewide average rainfall was just over 64 inches, which is more than 14 inches above average. Precipitation was at least 20 inches in the plus category at Little Rock (Pulaski County) and Pine Bluff (Jefferson County).

Looking ahead, late summer/early fall is climatologically the driest time of year in Arkansas, and it has lived up to expectations so far. During the remainder of October, high pressure should remain less dominant, and this will allow more cold fronts to visit. The fronts will trigger scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms, with additional drought relief likely. As fall progresses into early winter, the pattern should become more active (as cold and warm air masses collide), with widespread precipitation perhaps ending the drought.

From 2014 through 2018, there were several droughts. The south and west fared the worst. Even so, rainfall during this time frame were generally above to well above average.

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.