As much as 2 inches of additional rain is expected on already drenched Chicot and Ashley counties this weekend, and volatile storms are forecast for Sunday, National Weather Service meteorologists said Friday.
The weather system, which has produced more than 16 inches of rain in some areas since Tuesday, "slowed down" further Friday as it moved east out of Arkansas. More rain is expected in much of the state today as moisture wraps around the back of the system.
"We got a break today," meteorologist Brian Smith of North Little Rock said Friday. "But we're not done with the rain just yet."
As of Friday evening, Gov. Asa Hutchinson had declared 13 Arkansas counties disaster areas. He added Desha and Cleveland counties to the list of 11 he declared Thursday.
On the heels of today's rainfall is a second system.
That system is an upper-level warm front that's expected to cross into the state from the Rockies this evening, bringing with it more rain and the possibility of high winds, hail and tornadoes, Smith said.
"It's spring in Arkansas," he said.
The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said there is a "slight" risk for tornadic activity Sunday in central and southern Arkansas.
With the additional rain, Smith said, "it wouldn't take much to exacerbate the ongoing problem in southeast Arkansas."
Portland in Ashley County has received 16.63 inches of rain since Tuesday. Eudora in Chicot County has received 14.9 inches, and Crossett in Ashley County recorded 14.5 inches.
"Chicot County simply got hammered," said National Weather Service meteorologist Marty Pope of Jackson, Miss. "The [storm's] boundary moved east and then stopped right over northeast Louisiana and southeast Arkansas."
Residents in 40-50 homes were evacuated, and 80 percent to 90 percent of Chicot County roads were impassable Friday, said County Judge Mack Ball. As officials wait for the floodwaters to recede, all they can do is help those displaced by the flooding find places to stay, Ball said.
Evacuation centers have opened in Dermott in Chicot County and McGehee in Desha County.
In Arkansas County, north of Desha County, County Judge Eddie Best was counting his blessings Friday, despite 30-35 county roads closed because of flooding and a wait of several days for water to recede before his crews could make the roads passable again.
"We're inconvenienced, but we're blessed," he said as he heard reports of flood damage and evacuations in other parts of southern Arkansas.
Residents in Stuttgart had prepared to evacuate Friday, but the rain let up and the flooding level began to drop. Best said he didn't foresee the need for any evacuations over the weekend.
Farther southwest, County Judge Robert McAdoo said 20-29 roads were closed across Ouachita County. The Ouachita River had yet to crest Friday in Camden. The river is expected to crest at 35.9 feet Monday, nearly 10 feet above the flood stage of 26 feet.
In Union County, County Judge Mike Loftin said several roads were still underwater Friday.
"We've been fortunate," Loftin said. "It could have been a lot worse."
Other towns that received more than a foot of rain this week included McGehee with 13.3 inches, Rohwer with 13.1 inches and Kelso with 12.7 inches, the weather service said. All are in Desha County.
The system that entered Arkansas on Tuesday formed in California last week and moved eastward, dropping south below the jet stream -- a strong current of air that moves weather systems. The low pressure system dropped into Mexico, gathered moisture from the Gulf and then headed toward Texas and Louisiana, producing record flooding.
In northern Louisiana, heavy rain forced thousands from their homes and closed scores of roads, including a section of Interstate 20 near Bossier City. Three people in that state died. Two others in Texas and Oklahoma drowned in flooding, AP reported.
Evacuations are anticipated today in parts of southeast Texas, the AP said. County Judge Truman Dougharty said he will issue mandatory evacuation orders today for areas of Newton County, Texas, along the Sabine River.
In Mississippi, rescuers have helped evacuate more than 300 homes since Wednesday. In Memphis, at least six people were evacuated from homes near the Loosahatchie River in Tennessee.
"We need a good break to stay ahead of the water," said Pope, with the weather service at Jackson, Miss., which oversees conditions in that state and southeastern Arkansas. "At least we had a day to dry out, but it's not a good scenario. There's nowhere for water to go. It just sits there.
"Any more water will just cause more problems."
State Desk on 03/12/2016