A persistently, active weather pattern, consisting of a deep trough over the western U. S. and ridging along the Gulf Coast and southeastern U. S., set the stage for numerous rounds of rainfall across the Southern Plains from May 18th through the end of the month. The atmospheric moisture remained unseasonably high during this period, resulting in very efficient rainfall-producing showers and thunderstorms. Antecedent conditions from the rainfall earlier this month and at the end of April meant that soil moisture was already high, and any additional rainfall would quickly become runoff. Antecedent river and lake levels across eastern Oklahoma were also above normal ahead of this active storm period. Six to sixteen inches of rain fell between May 18th and May 30th along and northwest of a line from near Okmulgee, OK to near Bentonville, AR, and three to five inches of rain fell southeast of this line. Widespread ten to sixteen inch amounts fell across portions of southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. During this period, six USACE Tulsa District flood control reservoirs set new pools of record in northeastern Oklahoma: Kaw, Keystone, Skiatook, Birch, Oologah, and Hudson Lakes. The result was an extended period of major to record river flooding across northeastern Oklahoma. These near-record to record flows moved through the entire Arkansas River valley, resulting in major to record flood levels of the Arkansas River near Van Buren and Ozark, as well as Lee Creek near Van Buren.

Flood in CRAWFORD, ARKANSAS
From 23-MAY-19 22:30:00 to 31-MAY-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: STATTLER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Lee Creek near Van Buren rose above its flood stage of 401 feet at 11:30 pm CDT on May 23rd. The river crested at 416.40 feet at 7:00 pm CDT on the 28th, resulting in major flooding. Homes were flooded by several feet of water. Roads and campgrounds near the river were closed. Monetary damage from this flood is unknown. The river remained in flood through the end of May, and then crested again at 416.90 feet at 8:15 am CDT on June 1st, which resulted in major flooding, and becomes the second highest crest on record. The river crested a third time at 404.60 feet at 7:30 am CDT on June 7th, which resulted in moderate flooding, and then finally fell below flood stage at 5:00 pm CDT on June 7th.

Flood in FRANKLIN, ARKANSAS
From 22-MAY-19 20:00:00 to 31-MAY-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: TONEY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Arkansas River near Ozark Lock and Dam rose above its flood stage of 357 feet at 9:00 pm CDT on May 22nd. The river crested at 374.99 feet at 12:00 pm CDT on the 30th, resulting in major flooding, and the second highest crest on record. Numerous roads were closed, numerous gas fields were flooded, and thousands of acres of agricultural land was inundated by flood water. Monetary damage from this flood is unknown. The river remained in flood through the end of May, and then crested again at 374.95 feet at 10:00 am CDT on June 2nd, which resulted in major flooding. The river finally fell below flood stage at 4:00 pm CDT on June 13th.

Flood in SEBASTIAN, ARKANSAS
From 22-MAY-19 04:30:00 to 31-MAY-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAK PARK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Near catastrophic flooding occurred along the Arkansas River with residential subdivisions and businesses flooded in Fort Smith. Numerous roads were closed. A man drove around a barricade near Fort Chaffee on the 28th, was washed off the road into the flooded river, and drowned. Monetary damage from this flood is unknown.

Flood in CRAWFORD, ARKANSAS
From 22-MAY-19 04:30:00 to 31-MAY-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: CATCHER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Arkansas River near Van Buren rose above its flood stage of 22 feet at 5:30 am CDT on May 22nd. The river crested at 40.26 feet at 6:45 pm CDT on the 28th, resulting in record flooding. Near catastrophic flooding occurred with residential subdivisions and businesses flooded in Van Buren. Numerous roads were closed. Monetary damage from this flood is unknown. The river remained in flood through the end of May, and then crested again at 40.79 feet at 12:15 am CDT on June 1st, which resulted in record flooding. The river crested a third time at 26.39 feet at 3:15 pm CDT on June 8th, which resulted in moderate flooding, and then finally fell below flood stage at 1:45 am CDT on June 13th.