Widespread showers and thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a strong cold front as a powerful upper level storm system plowed into the southern plains during the afternoon hours of October 29th. Strong shear was in place across the region such that several tornadic thunderstorms developed...producing widespread wind damage across portions of northeast Texas, southwest Arkansas as well as northern Louisiana. These storms trained across the same general area such that flooding was widespread. Flooding was severe across northwest Louisiana where flooding was reported in many homes and businesses. Area bayous, creeks, rivers and lakes were already at high levels from the excessive heavy rainfall that fell earlier in the month. Thus, some lakes and bayous approached and succeeded their all time record stage levels.

Tornado in COLUMBIA, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 17:33:00 to 29-OCT-09 17:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Another EF1 tornado touched down on the northeast side of Magnolia, Arkansas.  The tornado touched down near CR. 61 just east of CR. 431 or about one and one half mile east of Hwy. 79.  Some roof damage was observed to one home and a tree fell on one vehicle.  After the initial touchdown, sporadic tree damage associated with this tornado was observed just east of CR. 61 all the way up to just north of CR. 75.  Winds were estimated at 80-90 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in COLUMBIA, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 15:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAGNOLIA
Magnitude: 54.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees and powerlines were downed across the city with roads closed.

Tornado in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 14:07:00 to 29-OCT-09 14:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: LISBON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF1 tornado touched down southwest of Smackover, Arkansas downing several large trees and snapping others.  A roof was also peeled back from a home southwest of town.  The path width was 75 yards wide with a path length near 6 miles.  The tornado continued into Ouachita County.

Tornado in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 12:55:00 to 29-OCT-09 12:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLEASANT GROVE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF0 tornado touched down east northeast of Junction City, Arkansas.  This tornado downed 3 large trees along with large limbs along it's path.  Path width was 50 yards wide with a path length near 3.5 miles long.

Flash Flood in MILLER, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 22:00:00 to 30-OCT-09 03:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAVANNA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

County Road 3 northeast of the Ravanna, Arkansas community was flooded and closed.

Flash Flood in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 22:36:00 to 30-OCT-09 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: EL DORADO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Waist deep water was reported at 19th Street and Tanglewood Street.

Flash Flood in COLUMBIA, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 22:47:00 to 30-OCT-09 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW HOPE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hwy. 79 south into Magnolia, Arkansas was closed due to excessive heavy rainfall leading to high water on the highway.

Flash Flood in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 23:00:00 to 30-OCT-09 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SMACKOVER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Arkansas State Police reported that most roads were closed in Smackover, Arkansas for high water.  Hwy. 167 north of El Dorado, Arkansas was knee deep in many locations.

Flash Flood in COLUMBIA, ARKANSAS
From 30-OCT-09 02:55:00 to 30-OCT-09 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: WELCOME
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous roads have been washed out countywide.  Other roads remain flooded and closed throughout the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 14:10:00 to 29-OCT-09 14:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: (ELD)EL DORADO GOODW
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorms winds damaged several chicken houses west of El Dorado, Arkansas.

Flash Flood in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 20:55:00 to 30-OCT-09 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEWELL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High water was reported across State Hwy. 335 west of El Dorado, Arkansas.

Flash Flood in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 22:26:00 to 30-OCT-09 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAIRO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Highway 82 between Cairo and El Dorado, Arkansas has water covering the highway with cars stalled in the high water.

Flash Flood in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 22:32:00 to 30-OCT-09 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW HOPE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Many roadways across the county were closed and impassable from excessive heavy rainfall.  These include Hwy. 167, Hwy. 7, Hwy. 82, Hwy. 172 and Hwy. 160 around El Dorado as well as State Line Road near Junction City.  Numerous cars were stalled out in knee deep water throughout the city of El Dorado as well.

Tornado in COLUMBIA, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 19:10:00 to 29-OCT-09 19:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: EMERSON
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF0 tornado touched down near the town of Emerson, Arkansas near the intersection of Hwy. 79 and CR. 26.  After the initial touchdown, the tornado crossed Hwy. 79 and moved north northeast.  Sporadic tree damage associated with this tornado was observed just east of Hwy. 79 up to just north of Hwy. 98.  Winds were estimated at 75 to 85 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 13:59:00 to 29-OCT-09 13:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARYSVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees and powerlines were downed at the intersection of Hwy. 57 and Hwy. 82.

Thunderstorm Wind in COLUMBIA, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 13:30:00 to 29-OCT-09 13:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAGNOLIA
Magnitude: 53.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were downed across the county with roads closed.

Tornado in COLUMBIA, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 16:34:00 to 29-OCT-09 16:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAGNOLIA MUNI ARPT
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF1 tornado touched down in Magnolia, Arkansas.  The tornado uprooted several trees and some minor damage was noted to homes at the intersection of South Washington and Hampton Drive.  One business in downtown Magnolia had its sign blown out.  Winds were estimated at 80-90 mph.

Flash Flood in COLUMBIA, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 14:00:00 to 30-OCT-09 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRIGHT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous roads were closed in town and across the county from excessive heavy rainfall.  Just some of the roads closed throughout the county included County Roads 7, 31, 38, 47, 60, 72, 204, 246 and 400.  At the high of the storm, four dozen county and state roads had high water across them.  Many of these roads were washed out as well and will need to be replaced along with adjacent culverts.  Columbia County was declared a Federal Disaster Area because of the extreme flood and storm damage that ensued during the month of October.

Flash Flood in LAFAYETTE, ARKANSAS
From 30-OCT-09 00:15:00 to 30-OCT-09 03:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: STATE LINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Highway 53 near Lake Erling was closed due to high water.  Because of the excessive flooding and storm damage that occurred during the month of October across Lafayette County, the county qualified for federal relief as the county was deemed a Federal Disaster Area.

Tornado in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 14:13:00 to 29-OCT-09 14:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: SMACKOVER
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF1 tornado touched down 3 miles west southwest of Smackover, Arkansas and downed large trees while snapping several others.  The path width was 75 yards wide with a path length of 1.5 miles.  At least 4 homes received damage from downed trees.

Flash Flood in UNION, ARKANSAS
From 30-OCT-09 02:55:00 to 30-OCT-09 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW HOPE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 175.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

At least 30 roads are flooded and closed throughout the county.  DOTD does not have enough signs to close the roads that are currently flooded across the county.  Union County, Arkansas was deemed a Federal Disaster Area because of the flash flooding, river flooding, and storm damage that the county ensued during the month of October.

Tornado in COLUMBIA, ARKANSAS
From 29-OCT-09 16:39:00 to 29-OCT-09 16:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Another EF1 tornado touched down on the northeast side of Magnolia, Arkansas.  The tornado touched down on CR 47 about one quarter of a mile east of Hwy. 79.  Some significant to major damage was observed to several mobile homes and powerlines and poles were snapped.  A residential shop was also damaged by fallen trees. Winds were estimated at 95-105 mph.