Spring brings threat of severe weather in Northwest Arkansas

Spring officially started Saturday, and while that brings the promise of warmer days, it also brings a higher risk of severe and potentially deadly weather.

The South got a taste of that last week as strong storms and tornadoes whipped through several states, hitting Mississippi and Alabama particularly hard. The storms downed trees and power lines and damaged or destroyed homes. The National Weather Service issued more than 50 tornado warnings in Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma on Wednesday.

The storms reminded all who live here to be prepared for the worst Mother Nature can deliver.

Bart Haake, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said severe weather season ranges from mid-March to early June, with the most severe weather generally happening from late April to mid-May.

The most likely weather threat in Northwest Arkansas is thunderstorms that produce hail and straight-line winds, Haake said.

Residents also must be aware of the threat of flash floods, lightning and tornadoes, said Michael Waddle, Benton County's director of emergency management.

It was less than two years ago tornadoes impacted Northwest Arkansas.

An EF1 tornado touched down Oct. 21, 2019, in Adair County, Okla., cutting a 9.5-mile path ending 2.5 miles southeast of Siloam Springs. A second tornado, an EF2, started in the Siloam Springs area and tracked for more than 31 miles across Benton County, ending in Rogers, according to the National Weather Service in Tulsa. Straight-line winds of 80 to 85 mph also hit the area.

The storms toppled trees and power lines and damaged 236 residential structures and 27 nonresidential buildings in Rogers, according to city estimates. Two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries when the storm blew over the semi-truck they were driving on Arkansas 59.

The storm also caused extensive damage in rural areas of Benton County and killed a man in Rogers when a tree fell on his home.

About 1,000 electric customers in Rogers were left without power, and uninsured losses for the city were estimated to be $1.5 million.

On June 11, 1970, a tornado ripped through Springdale, destroying nearly 100 homes, an apartment complex and a shopping center there. The same twister touched down in Lincoln and Elm Springs, leaving one dead and more than 40 injured, according to the Northwest Arkansas Times edition published the following day.

AccuWeather, a private weather company based in State College, Pa., reported on its website last month that tornado activity is forecast to be slightly above normal this year with somewhere between 1,350 and 1,500 tornadoes expected across the United States. Annually, the number of tornadoes nationally averages between 1,250 and 1,400 per year, according to AccuWeather.

Last year was a below-average year with 1,075 reports of tornadoes, according to preliminary figures, Accuweather's website stated.

Have a plan

John Luther, the director of Washington County's emergency management department, said people should take cover in a safe room in their home in the event of a tornado.

"We encourage that the room be the most interior and lowest one with the fewest windows," he said.

People with basements have the ideal space to use as safe rooms, Luther said. Some communities also have shelters where people can go for protection, he said.

He encouraged families to have a plan and that each family member be aware of the plan. Luther said it's important to have a safety kit with a flashlight, first aid materials, food, water and medications. Luther also encouraged people to have chargers for their cellphones.

"It's not good to use your cellphone as a flashlight because it taxes the battery," he said.

People with storm shelters can register them on Benton County's website, and emergency crews will know to get residents out of the shelters if they are trapped because of storms, Waddle said.

Waddle recommended people learn first aid and CPR. He also recommended people subscribe to a telephone notification service that will alert them of approaching weather threats.

Benton County's notification system -- BCAlert -- can be found at www.bcalert.com. Some cities also have their own notification service, so people should subscribe to the one they prefer, he said.

Washington County's system -- Code Red -- can be found at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/AD4C9CDE2865.

Flooding

Floods caused widespread damage and several deaths across Northwest Arkansas in 2017. Five people, including a 10-year-old Springdale girl, died in flooding in Arkansas that year.

Motorists especially need to be aware of the threat of flooding. James Butts and his wife recently witnessed just how dangerous it can be to try to cross flooded roadways.

The couple were out walking March 13 when they saw a pickup attempting to cross a flooded Elk Springs Road in Noel, Mo. Butts said he had seen a flash flood warning hours before.

He attempted to stop the driver, but it was too late. The pickup had gone too far into the water and started floating, he said. Butts said he and his wife ran down to the bank to help and yelled for the driver and passenger to get out of the pickup. The two managed to escape and started floating away, but managed to grab a tree.

"It was a torrent," said Beth Hawley, Butts' wife. "It's hard to describe the river when it's raging like that."

Butts said he called 911 and got tow ropes and was able to throw it to the pair, but he knew there was no way they could pull them to safety. They called 911 two more times.

The Missouri Highway Patrol arrived by boat and pulled the two to safety, Butts said.

Waddle said people think they can simply drive through water.

"It may be 6 inches of water, but it can still wash away a person," he said.

Waddle said it's important to talk about the danger of crossing flooded roadways, but people need to be aware the road surface could be washed away by the water. People may not be able to see that, or see debris in the water, which adds to the danger, he said.

"Flash flooding can occur with little or no warning," Waddle said. "If water is coming into your vehicle, try to wait for help on top of your vehicle. Don't attempt to swim across because you may be swept away by the water," he said.

Luther, Washington County's emergency management director, said he knows of many cases where people driving on flooded roadways drown.

"It's a no-brainer," Luther said. "Don't drive on flooded streets and roads. Just don't do it."

The 30-year average for rainfall is 3.95 inches in March, 4.57 inches in April, 6 inches in May and 4.98 inches in June, Haake said. He said he doesn't anticipate any major differences this year in the monthly averages.