NWS Little Rock, AR - Windy/Heavy Rain on March 25-26, 2024

Storm Reports

Are you interested in what happened during a recent event? Check out the report below.

	Windy/Heavy Rain on March 25-26, 2024

In the picture: Forty eight hour rainfall through 700 am CDT on 03/26/2024.

A strong storm system in the central Plains dragged a cold front into Arkansas on March 25th. North and west of the system, there was snow (some heavy) in the forecast from the Texas panhandle to the upper Midwest. Closer to home, while there a potential of severe weather, this was mainly a wind and rain event. More than two inches of precipitation dumped in portions of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, and the Arkansas River Valley west of Little Rock (Pulaski County). Similar amounts were noted in the far southeast. Forty eight hour totals through 700 am CDT on the 26th included 3.05 inches at Fort Smith (Sebastian County), 2.99 inches at Mena (Polk County), 2.80 inches at Witts Spring (Searcy County), 2.79 inches at Mountain Home (Baxter County), 2.68 inches at Portland (Ashley County), and 2.47 inches at Dardanelle (Yell County) and Russellville (Pope County).

The prospect of severe weather in Arkansas is minimal given widespread rain and a lack of CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy/a measure of instability). Meanwhile, storms in Louisiana will track into Mississippi, and this is where severe storms are most likely.#arwx pic.twitter.com/0uaShHf9qd
— NWS Little Rock (@NWSLittleRock) March 25, 2024

In the picture: Instability was lacking given widespread clouds/rain across Arkansas during the afternoon of 03/25/2024. A line of storms developed to the south of the state (Louisiana and Mississippi) in a more unstable environment. This is where severe weather was most likely.

Clouds and rain kept the atmosphere from becoming overly unstable. There were a few reports of wind damage (mainly downed trees) and an isolated tornado in Louisiana and Mississippi. No severe storms were noted in Arkansas.

In the picture: Gusts exceeded 50 mph in portions of northeast Arkansas on 03/25/2024.

The wind howled (from the southeast) on the 25th, with some gusts exceeding 50 mph in northeast Arkansas. Gusts of 56 mph, 53 mph, and 51 mph were recorded at Jonesboro (Craighead County), West Memphis (Crittenden County), and Newport (Jackson County) respectively. Little Rock (Pulaski County) and Searcy (White County) had 46 mph gusts.

Back to March, 2024 Monthly Summary

https://www.weather.gov/lzk/ptn0324.htm