The heat/humidity energized the environment on the 29th, and this happened as a cold front slowly approached from Missouri. Ahead of the front, strong to severe thunderstorms popped up in northern Arkansas in the afternoon. There was an estimated 60 mph wind gust just northeast of Damascus (Van Buren County) and a 70 mph gust at Alicia (Lawrence County). Trees were blown down at the latter location, and also at Lynn (Lawrence County). As storms dropped to the south toward Little Rock (Pulaski County), a building on a school campus was struck by lightning in Pulaski Heights (Pulaski County). This started a fire that damaged the roof.
Later in the evening, the focus shifted to the west. A storm near Boothe (Scott County) cranked out golf ball size hail at the intersection of Highways 23 and 71. Trees were pushed onto Highway 28 just east of Hon (Scott County) and Mena (Polk County).
Two to more than four inches of rain fell in west central Arkansas. Since this part of the state had already been pounded with deluge after deluge in August, the soil was saturated and could not hold much liquid. A flash flood event unfolded in a hurry, and it was serious. Water was over Highway 23 at Elm Park (Scott County). Several roads were under water and impassible at Mena (Polk County). At the airport just southeast of town, 2.74 inches of rain fell in an hour. People on all-terrain vehicles were stranded by high water at Wolfpen Gap Campground just west of Big Fork (Polk County). Sections of Highways 270 and 27 were flooded near Mount Ida (Montgomery County).
Early on the 31st, the sky opened again in the west. Many roads were inundated with water at Waldron (Scott County). Flooding was also experienced on Highway 298 near Story (Montgomery County), and along several thoroughfares in Hot Springs (Garland County).

Thunderstorm Wind in LAWRENCE, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 13:53:00 to 29-AUG-20 13:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: DRIFTWOOD
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Some trees were down.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAWRENCE, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 14:05:00 to 29-AUG-20 14:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALICIA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Several trees and power lines were blown down. The wind was reported to have gusted up to 70 mph.

Lightning in PULASKI, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 14:57:00 to 29-AUG-20 14:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: FORT ROOTS
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Lightning struck the roof of a building on a school campus in Little Rock. The fire that resulted caused additional damage to the roof structure.

Hail in SCOTT, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 17:14:00 to 29-AUG-20 17:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOOTHE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Golf ball sized hail was reported at the intersection of Highways 23 and 71.

Flash Flood in SCOTT, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 18:30:00 to 29-AUG-20 21:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELM PARK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Scott County Sheriff office reported high water over Highway 23.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 19:21:00 to 29-AUG-20 19:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: HON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Scott County Sheriff's office reported trees down on Hwy. 28 blocking the road.

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 19:50:00 to 29-AUG-20 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: MENA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were downed by thunderstorm winds in and around Mena.

Flash Flood in MONTGOMERY, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 20:45:00 to 29-AUG-20 23:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: MT IDA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer in Mount Ida reported multiple roads were flooded including Highway 270 and Highway 27 north at Woods Creek.

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 19:52:00 to 29-AUG-20 19:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: MENA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

A tree fell on power lines in Mena and started a fire on Petros Avenue near the Mena High School.

Flash Flood in POLK, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 21:00:00 to 29-AUG-20 23:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: MENA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several roads were under water and impassable in and around Mena. The local airport reported 2.74 inches of rain measured between 8 pm CST and 9 pm CST.

Flash Flood in POLK, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 21:25:00 to 30-AUG-20 00:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOARD CAMP
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

A web report was received via social media about ATV riders stranded by high water at Wolfpen Gap Campground.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, ARKANSAS
From 31-AUG-20 07:51:00 to 31-AUG-20 07:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: Y CITY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was down at Hwy. 270 and 71 at Y City and on  Hwy. 28 West near Cauthron.

Flash Flood in SCOTT, ARKANSAS
From 31-AUG-20 07:51:00 to 31-AUG-20 10:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: WALDRON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Many roads were underwater in Waldron and in the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 12:40:00 to 29-AUG-20 12:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: DAMASCUS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The wind speed was estimated by the COOP observer.

Flash Flood in MONTGOMERY, ARKANSAS
From 31-AUG-20 08:27:00 to 31-AUG-20 11:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: STORY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water was over the road on Hwy. 298 at Story and several locations on Hwy. 270.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAWRENCE, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 13:40:00 to 29-AUG-20 13:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: LYNN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Multiple trees were downed in the Lynn area.

Flash Flood in GARLAND, ARKANSAS
From 31-AUG-20 08:30:00 to 31-AUG-20 11:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOT SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several streets in Hot Springs were flooded including Central Ave., Grand Ave., Malvern Ave., and near the airport.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAWRENCE, ARKANSAS
From 29-AUG-20 13:40:00 to 29-AUG-20 13:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: LYNN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were blown down along Highway 25.