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NOUS44 KLZK 020043
PNSLZK
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...PART 5
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
640 PM CST Sun Jan 1 2017
...A Review of 2016 Weather And Climate Data for the State of Arkansas...
Summary
=============================================================================
By average temperature, 2016 was the warmest year in Arkansas since
2012. Preliminarily, it was about the 5th warmest year on record.
Though rainfall was slightly above average, it was the driest year
in two years.
The highest temperature during the year was 105, which was recorded at Little
Rock Adams Field on July 22nd.
The coldest temperature was 1 above zero, which was recorded at Fayetteville
Experiment Station and Kingston 2 S on the 19th.
Rainfall was the most plentiful in the spring and summer. September was the
driest month, and March and August were the wettest months. When the moisture
shut off in September, drought conditions developed. Toward the end of the year,
this eased somewhat.
Snow fell in January, February, and December, and it was measurable in all
three months. The most significant winter storms were on January 21st-22nd, and
February 23rd-24th. The January storm produced the highest impacts, and these
were mostly over central Arkansas. Heavy, convective snowfall in central Arkansas,
particularly in the Little Rock metropolitan area, produced totals of six to
eight inches. The heaviest snow fell in the North Little Rock and Sherwood area.
The winter storm on February 23rd-24th produced a somewhat-rare occurrence in
Arkansas...elevation-dependent snowfall. Most areas above 1,000 feet saw
measurable snowfall. The deepest snow fell on Mount Magazine, and on Rich Mountain
in Polk County.
25 tornadoes touched down in the state during the year, which was below the
30-year average. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, though five people were
injured.
Below are averages and extremes observed during the year. Remember...most of
the data below is preliminary until certified correct by the National Center for
Environmental Information in Asheville, North Carolina.
State of Arkansas - 2016 Temperature, Rainfall, and Snowfall Extremes
Reading Location(s) Date(s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest Temperature | 105 | Little Rock Adams Field | Jul. 22nd
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lowest High Temperature | 15 | Kingston 2 S | Dec. 19th
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest Low Temperature | 84 | Greers Ferry Dam | Aug. 30th
| | | Aug. 29th
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lowest Temperature | 1 | Fayetteville Exp. Station | Dec. 19th
| | Kingston 2 S | Dec. 19th
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest Yearly Rainfall | 74.68 | Crossett 2.5 NNE |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lowest Yearly Rainfall | 18.53 | Kingston 5 NW |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest Yearly Snowfall | 8.0 inches | North Little Rock 2.6 NNE |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest Average Snow Depth | 5.4 inches | Little Rock 6.4 SW |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest Daily Rainfall | 10.08 inches | Portland | Mar. 10th
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest Daily Snowfall | 8.0 inches | North Little Rock 2.6 NNE | Jan. 22nd
| | Sherwood 0.8 NNW | Jan. 22nd
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greatest Snow Depth | 8 inches | North Little Rock 2.6 NNE | Jan. 22nd
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest Monthly Rainfall | 22.71 inches | Portland | March
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest Monthly Snowfall | 8.0 inches | North Little Rock 2.6 NNE | January
| | Sherwood 0.8 NNW |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Least Monthly Rainfall | 0.00 inches | Rison | September
| | Sheridan | September
| | Pleasant Grove 1.9 WNW | September
| | Kingston | September
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State of Arkansas - 2016 Average Temperatures
Month Average Temp. DFN Coolest Since Warmest Since Remarks
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 39.5 +0.2 2013 58th Coolest
February 46.9 +3.8 2012 24th Warmest
March 55.5 +4.2 2012 18th Warmest
April 62.6 +2.1 2012 32nd Warmest
May 67.1 -1.6 2002 30th Coolest
June 79.0 +2.5 2011 15th Warmest
July 82.0 +1.7 2015 20th Warmest
August 80.0 +0.6 2012 49th Warmest
September* 75.8 +2.9 2005 16th Warmest
October* 67.0 +5.2 1963 4th Warmest
November* 55.6 +5.7 1999 5th Warmest
December* 41.8 +0.3 2013 62nd Coolest
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year* 62.7 +2.3 2012 5th Warmest
State of Arkansas - 2016 Average Precipitation
Month Average Rainfall DFN Wettest Since Driest Since Remarks
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 2.07 inches -1.97 2014 24th Driest
February 2.49 inches -1.23 2007 31st Driest
March 9.86 inches +5.09 1973 3rd Wettest
April 5.99 inches +0.95 2011 31st Wettest
May 4.64 inches -0.51 2012 55th Driest
June 3.14 inches -0.94 2012 39th Driest
July 4.89 inches +1.18 2015 28th Wettest
August 7.59 inches +4.21 1915 3rd Wettest
September* 1.80 inches -1.79 2015 20th Driest
October* 1.65 inches -1.81 2010 24th Driest
November* 3.25 inches -1.04 2014 46th Driest
December* 3.39 inches -0.98 2014 41st Driest
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year* 50.76 inches +1.16 2014 46th Wettest
Data marked by an asterisk has not undergone final quality control, so the final
data and rankings can or will be slightly different.
2016 Tornadoes
No. Dates Rating Path Counties Affected
1 Mar. 13th EF1 4.8 miles Scott
2 Mar. 13th EF1 1.7 miles Montgomery
3 Mar. 13th EF0 1.7 miles Perry, Pulaski
4 Mar. 13th EF0 1.8 miles Jefferson
5 Mar. 13th EF0 1.3 miles Arkansas
6 Mar. 13th EF0 1.2 miles Arkansas
7 Mar. 13th EF0 2.9 miles Phillips
8 Mar. 13th EF0 3.8 miles Phillips
9 Mar. 13th EF1 2.0 miles Cross
10 Mar. 13th EF1 9.2 miles Chicot, Desha
11 Mar. 23rd EF2 11.0 miles Crawford, Washington (from Adair OK)
12 Mar. 30th EF1 1.5 miles Chicot
13 Mar. 30th EF1 3.7 miles Chicot
14 Apr. 11th EF0 1.2 miles Columbia
15 Apr. 27th EF1 9.1 miles Benton
16 Apr. 27th EF1 2.0 miles Benton
17 Apr. 27th EF1 2.4 miles Crawford
18 Apr. 27th EF1 3.2 miles Franklin
19 Apr. 27th EF1 6.2 miles Madison
20 Apr. 27th EF0 5.9 miles Franklin
21 Apr. 30th EF1 1.2 miles Columbia
22 Apr. 30th EF1 0.5 miles Lafayette
23 Apr. 30th EF1 0.4 miles Columbia
24 May 9th EF1 2.7 miles Saline
25 Dec. 17th EF1 0.5 miles Grant
State of Arkansas - 2016 Significant Weather Events and Extremes
.January...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 77 at Texarkana, Monticello, Silver Hill RAWS 31st
Booneville RAWS 30th
Lowest 4 at Kingston 2 S 10th
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 3.50 inches at Wooster 3 SW 9th
Highest Monthly 6.77 inches at Prescott
=================================================================
Snowfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 8.0 inches at North Little Rock 2.6 NNE 8th
Sherwood 0.8 NNW
Greatest Depth 8 inches at North Little Rock 2.6 NNE 22nd
Highest Monthly 8.0 inches at North Little Rock 2.6 NNE
Sherwood 0.8 NNW
Highest Avg. Depth 0.8 inches at Pocahontas
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Jan. 17th - Light measurable snow fell in northern and portions of
central Arkansas. Marshall saw the highest accumulation, with two
inches.
Jan. 19th - Through the 20th, light wintry precipitation fell over
northern Arkansas. Less than half an inch of snow and sleet fell,
with freezing rain accruals under a quarter of an inch.
Jan. 21st-22nd - Snow fell over the eastern half of the state. The
highest totals were in the Little Rock metropolitan area, with six
to eight inch amounts common.
.February...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 80 at Eudora 3rd
Lowest 12 at Gravette 4th
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 4.10 inches at DeWitt 0.2 N 15th
Highest Monthly 6.21 inches at Hampton 3.7 S
=================================================================
Snowfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 5.8 inches at Witts Spring 24th
Greatest Depth 6 inches at Witts Spring 24th
Highest Monthly 5.8 inches at Witts Spring
Highest Avg. Depth 0.3 inches at Witts Spring, Dennard 10 WSW
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Feb. 18th - Dry conditions led to several wildfires over far western
Arkansas.
Feb. 23rd - Heavy snow fell in the higher elevations of the Ozark and
Ouachita Mountains. Totals were as high as eight to nine inches on
Rich Mountain and Mount Magazine. Most areas above 1000 feet received
measurable snowfall.
.March...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 89 at Silver Hill RAWS 15th
Lowest 21 at Gilbert 21st
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 10.08 inches at Portland 10th
Highest Monthly 22.71 inches at Portland
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Mar. 8th-12th - A strong, slow-moving storm system dumped heavy rain in
much of the central and southeastern portions of the state. The heaviest
rain fell on the 9th and 10th, with 24-hour rainfall totals from seven to
ten inches. Numerous roads were under water in several counties. Several
state highways were shut down and impassable. At least 20 homes were
damaged by flooding in McGehee.
Mar. 13th - Severe thunderstorms produced large hail and tornadoes in
central and southern Arkansas. Baseball-sized hail fell at Mount Ida,
with ping pong to tennis ball sized hail at Malvern, Jessieville, Conway,
Bauxite and Sherwood. Ten tornadoes touched down. The most significant
damage occurred at Lake Ouachita, near Mountain Harbor Resort.
Mar. 23rd - A tornado moved into Arkansas from Oklahoma, tearing a path
across Crawford and Washington Counties, and injuring four.
.April...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 89 at Eudora, Crossett 2 SSE, Dumas 29th
Lowest 24 at Kingston 2 S 3rd
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 9.59 inches at Glenwood 30th
Highest Monthly 16.00 inches at Bradley 7.8 W
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Apr. 10th - A dust storm hit northeast Arkansas, with winds gusting to
40 MPH at times, and visibility reduced to less than half a mile. At Walnut
Ridge, several vehicles collided, with one person killed and at least a
dozen injured.
Apr. 11th - A weak tornado touched down near Magnolia. Severe thunderstorms
downed numerous trees and power lines at Texarkana.
Apr. 20th-21st - Three to five inches of rain fell in southwest and western
Arkansas.
Apr. 26th - Several weak tornadoes touched down in northwest Arkansas.
Apr. 29th-30th - Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms affected primarily central
and southern Arkansas. Golfball-sized hail fell at Fort Smith. Trees fell on
houses in Ouachita county near Camden. Several weak tornadoes touche down in
south Arkansas in Columbia and Lafayette counties. On the evening of the 30th,
isolated severe storms produced large hail over portions of northern and western
Arkansas. Hail the size of half dollars fell at Atkins in Pope County.
.May...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 94 at Crossett 2 SSE 30th
Lowest 31 at Kingston 2 S 3rd
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 6.52 inches at Jonesboro 2 NE 25th
Highest Monthly 12.06 inches at Abbott
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
May 9th - A weak tornado touched down near Avilla in Saline County. At Salem
in Fulton County, damaging winds tossed small plains at the airport in town.
May 24th-25th - Heavy rain fell in northeast Arkansas. 6.52 inches of rain
fell at Jonesboro, setting an all-time daily rainfall record for the city.
May 29th - Isolated severe storms produced hail in portions of central Arkansas.
At Hot Springs Village, penny to quarter sized hail fell for more than 15
minutes.
.June...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 100 at Arkadelphia Airport 26th
Searcy 18th, 17th
Conway 17th
Lowest 46 at Kingston 2 S 9th
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 6.96 inches at Hampton 0.3 W 14th
Highest Monthly 14.07 inches at Hope 12.2 S
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Jun. 3rd - Heavy rain fell in portions of northern and central Arkansas.
Several roads were flooded in Stone, Izard, and Perry counties.
Jun. 14th - Heavy rain fell in southern Arkansas, with four to six inches
in portions of Union and Bradley County within a few hours. Street flooding
occurred in Hampton.
Jun. 15th - Severe thunderstorms produced golfball to baseball sized
hail in areas between Batesville and Pleasant Plains.
Jun. 27th - Severe thunderstorms developed south and west of Little Rock.
A 67 MPH wind gust was recorded at the Hot Springs Airport.
.July...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 105 at Little Rock 22nd
Lowest 57 at Marshall 1st
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 6.39 inches at Fordyce 6.6 NNW 28th
Highest Monthly 11.50 inches at Dennard 10 WSW
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Jul. 14th - A complex of storms moved through western, central and southern
Arkansas during the afternoon and evening, leaving wind damage from Fort
Smith, Little Rock, and Monticello southward. Winds gusted as high as 68
MPH at Little Rock, 64 MPH at Pine Bluff, and 59 MPH Russellville. Numerous
trees and power lines were blown down.
Jul. 22nd - Heat index values were between 110 and 115 degrees during the
afternoon in portions of central and eastern Arkansas, including the Little
Rock metro area, Searcy, Newport, and Stuttgart.
Jul. 23rd - Strong to severe storms produced wind damage at Jacksonville, and
in Lonoke and Faulkner County.
.August...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 103 at Fort Smith 5th
Lowest 46 at Kingston 2 S 23rd
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 9.85 inches at Walnut Ridge Airport 15th
Highest Monthly 15.36 inches at Black Rock
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Aug. 5th - During the evening hours, nearly four inches of rain fell at
Mountain Home, and over three of it was in an hour. Numerous roads were
closed due to high water, and high water got into some homes and businesses.
Aug. 12th-15th - Heavy rain fell in much of northern and western Arkansas.
Some flooding was reported in Randolph and Lawrence County. Rises occurred
on the Cache, Black, and lower White Rivers a few days later. On the 15th,
over nine inches of rain fell at Walnut Ridge Airport.
Aug. 19th-20th - Heavy rain fell in portions of northern and western Arkansas.
Nearly four inches of rain fell at Mount Ida in a 6-hour period on the 20th.
Some street flooding occurred.
.September...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 98 at Eudora 26th, 16th
Crossett 2 SSE 16th
Lowest 41 at Kingston 2 S 30th
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 3.78 inches at Decatur 2.6 ESE 17th
Highest Monthly 7.00 inches at Little Flock 2.0 NNE
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Sep. 1st-30th - Dry and hot weather prevailed for much of the month, with
rainfall in most areas less than half of average. No rain fell at Kingston,
Rison, and Sheridan.
Sep. 16th - Two to three inches of rain fell in much of northern Arkansas.
Severe thunderstorms caused roof damage at Rogers. There was wind damage at
Salem in Fulton County as well.
Sep. 24th-26th - Highs were in the 90s in most areas, with the hottest
temperatures over eastern Arkansas. Readings topped out at 98 at Eudora,
and 97 at West Memphis, Keiser, Blytheville and Stuttgart Airport.
.October...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 94 at Blytheville Airport 7th
Crossett 2 SSE 6th
Lowest 34 at Pocahontas 11th
Crossett 2 SSE 10th
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 6.56 inches at McNeil 1.4 E 14th
Highest Monthly 6.92 inches at Busch 0.4 E
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Oct. 12th - Isolated severe thunderstorms affected northern Arkansas. Large
hail fell near Piercetown in Newton County. Golfball sized hail fell at
Shirley. At Leslie, a roof was blown off of a building, and trees were downed.
.November...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 90 at Booneville RAWS 16th
Crossett 2 SSE, Eudora, Blue Mountain Dam 1st
Lowest 20 at Fayetteville Drake Field 20th
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 3.30 inches at Waldron 23rd
Highest Monthly 6.89 inches at Mount Ida 4 S
=================================================================
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Nov. 13th - Most locations recorded the first freeze of the season. The
exception was the southeast.
Nov. 22nd - Over two inches of rain fell in portions of the Ozark and
Ouachita Mountains.
Nov. 28th - One to two inches of rain fell in all but the northwest.
.December...
Extremes
--------
Temperatures
=================================================================
Highest 80 at Crossett 2 SSE, Eudora 18th
Lowest 1 at Fayetteville Experiment Station, Kingston 2 S 19th
=================================================================
Rainfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 2.27 inches at Lafe 1.8 W 18th
Highest Monthly 4.58 inches at Eudora
=================================================================
Snowfall
=================================================================
Highest Daily 0.6 inches at Holiday Island 1.3 SSW 18th
Greatest Depth 1 inches at Hindsville 10 NNE 18th
Highest Monthly 0.6 inches at Holiday Island 1.3 SSW
Highest Avg. Depth
Significant Weather Events
--------------------------
Dec. 17th-18th - A strong Arctic front moved through the state. Ahead of the
front, temperatures peaked mostly in the mid to upper 70s. Isolated strong
thunderstorms developed along and ahead of the front. On the evening of the
17th, a weak tornado touched down in Grant County, tearing the roof off of
a home. The front dropped temperatures on the order of 40-50 degrees in less
than 24 hours. Several locations in central and southeast Arkansas experienced
a nearly 60 degree drop. At Little Rock, the temperature dropped 56 degrees in
18 hours, from a high of 77 on the 17th, to a low of 21 on the morning of the
18th.
$$
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