Recent rain eases drought in majority of Arkansas

Sebastian, Crawford counties among worst cases

A series of rain-producing systems soaking the state last week has eased drought conditions in parched Northwest Arkansas, but despite more rain in the forecast, climatologists are wary of saying the state’s drought could soon be over.

Forty-five percent of the state is now considered drought-free by the U.S. Drought Monitor, an agency at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that tracks weekly drought conditions across the country. Last week, only 14 percent of Arkansas was deemed free from drought.

Crawford, Franklin and Sebastian counties remain the worst area in the state this week, earning a classification of “severe drought,” meaning the area is 3 to 4 inches below average rainfall over a 30-day period.

Most of Northwest Arkansas was rated as being in a “moderate drought” this week, meaning rainfall in the area is two to three inches below average over a 30-day period.

The southeastern half of the state — except for the extreme southwest corner and a sliver in southern Arkansas — are free from drought, said Eric Luebehusen, a meteorologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, who wrote this week’s drought report.

“Arkansas has seen some improvements,” Luebehusen said. “But when you look at it at a longer term, there remains some groundwater issues.”

He said last week’s rain helped soak topsoil, but soil

12 to 18 inches below the surface remains dry.

“You need some more moisture before the summer planting,” he said.

Rain in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee also helped ease a growing drought there, Luebehusen added.

Scott County extension agent Scott Rhoades said farm ponds were beginning to fill after drying out recently.

“Things are starting to green up,” he said, referring to pasturelands.

He said dry conditions that began in the fall hindered the growth of grass needed for cattle.

“Normally, this is the time of year to grow grass,” he said. “It could be a bad situation if we still don’t get more rain in the next few weeks.”

Long-range forecasts issued by the Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in College Park, Md., indicate Arkansas’ summer could be warmer and drier than usual. The center reported that there is a 60 percent to 70 percent chance much of the southern United States will see above-normal temperatures and less rainfall than normal through October.

Although some areas of the state saw well over an inch or two of rain last week, Luebehusen remains concerned about a long-term drought for Arkansas.

“When you look at the bigger picture, there is more to see,” he said. “Over the last six months, [Northwest Arkansas] received less than 50 percent of normal rainfall. This latest rainfall is short-term. Hopefully, you’ll see a pattern of rain-producing systems move through frequently.

“If you’re in a drought anytime of the year, it’s not normal,” he said. “This is not normal, especially for March.

“The 30-day forecast [for Arkansas] shows rain is likely to continue, but will it be enough? It’ll be disappointing if it doesn’t.”

Despite Luebehusen’s less-than-optimistic outlook, some areas are seeing an abundance of water now.

Buffalo River Outfitters, a canoe rental business in St. Joe, won’t put canoes on the Buffalo National River because it’s too high, employee Ben O’Neill said.

“If you really want to go out, we’ll put you out in a raft,” he said.

The river was at 10.7 feet Thursday evening and expected to crest at 11.2 feet early this morning. Weekend rain raised the river to 18.7 feet Monday.

It’s safest to canoe the river when falls below 6 feet, O’Neill said.

Forecasters are calling for more rain Saturday evening, Sunday and Monday, said meteorologist Joe Goudsward of the National Weather Service in North Little Rock.

He said a second system should enter the state Tuesday, bringing the potential for thunderstorms in southwest Arkansas.