SPRINGDALE -- Local emergency management officials hope the coming storm brings much-needed rain to Northwest Arkansas and then leaves before any flooding occurs.
"We've been very dry, we would be glad to get some rain," John Luther, Washington County's emergency management director, said Monday.
National Weather Service
Local and national weather forecasts and other information can be found online at the National Weather Service website at www.weather.gov.
Source: Staff report
His office is monitoring the forecast, he said.
"We're prepared if there is any flooding," Luther said. "If we do have any roads or streets underwater, the main thing we would tell people is to not drive in flood water. If people would just find an alternate route or wait a little while. Typically flash flooding goes down pretty quickly in our area."
Joe Sellers, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Okla., said flooding is possible later this week as a period of rain hits northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. The forecast on Monday was for 3 to 5 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts, through the next five to seven days. River flooding in the Illinois River and Poteau River basins are an immediate concern.
"It's going to be sufficient to cause some river flooding," Sellers said. "This is a large enough event it's going to impact a large area."
Sellers said much of the area has been and remains in a drought. Northwest Arkansas is now in a D-1 area of moderate drought, according to the weather service. Drought conditions worsen to a D-2, or severe drought, south and east of Benton, Carroll and Washington counties. A small area to the east is in a D-3 condition of extreme drought.
Dry conditions have been building for several months, according to the weather service. The fall of 2017 was the driest in Arkansas since record keeping began in 1895. The statewide average precipitation was only 4.17 inches, which is 7.17 inches below normal.
In Fayetteville, records show 6.47 inches of rain between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, 2017, which is 6.91 inches below normal. The drought has continued through the winter months, Fayetteville records show. According to the Weather Service, 3.55 inches of rain fell in Fayetteville from Dec. 17 to Feb. 14. The amount is 2.06 inches below normal for the area.
Marc Trollinger, Benton County fire marshal, said the county has been under a series of 24-hour burn bans for much of the fall and winter. The burn bans are issued depending on weather conditions including wind, humidity, vegetation moisture and forecast weather conditions. County fire chiefs and the Arkansas Forestry Commission are also consulted. Trollinger said the county has already had several small grass fires attributable to the dry conditions.
A good soaking rain could help, he said.
"I'm hopeful we can get the 4 or 5 inches of rain they're talking about," Trollinger said. "We need it. We're getting into the spring fire season."
Trollinger said the county's fire departments and first-responders are also ready in case of flooding. He said the county has swift-water rescue teams from Rogers, Centerton/Highfill and Siloam Springs.
Benton County Judge Barry Moehring said the Road Department is also on standby, with flood-prone areas identified and plans in place.
"It's a little bit of wait-and-see for us," Moehring said. "A lot depends on how much advance notice we get. We can pre-position equipment and pre-position barricades so we're at the point we can send the crews out."
NW News on 02/20/2018