LITTLE ROCK — Friday's burst of severe storms was the latest in a series of weather systems to run through Arkansas since the beginning of the year.
"I think we're getting a little too experienced at this," Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines said while surveying damage in Hensley on Friday afternoon.
Previous storms of note this year:
Jan. 8: A system that generated 54 tornadoes nationwide brought six twisters to Arkansas. One person died in Pope County.
Feb. 5: A series of tornadoes tore through Arkansas, killing 13 people and causing widespread damage and numerous injuries in at least 12 counties. One tornado traveled a record 123 miles. Four people died in Pope County, two in Conway County, three in Izard County, two in Van Buren County, one in Baxter County and one in Stone County.
March 3-4: Up to a foot of snow blanketed north and central Arkansas. Melting snow late in the day, combined with earlier heavy rain, raised water levels in four Arkansas rivers above flood stage.
March 6-7: Another unusually heavy snow fell, touching nearly every county.
March 17-19: Heavy rains - up to a foot in some areas - ledto massive river flooding that lasted for weeks, especially in northeastern and eastern parts of the state. Many Arkansans said the resulting flood rivaled that of 1982. The floods killed five people, submerged towns, and damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and other structures.
April 3-4: Storms spawned 12 tornadoes that struck mainly Saline, Pulaski, Lonoke and White counties. The storms also brought rain that aggravated flooding. The wreckage included mobile homes in Benton and planes at North Little Rock Municipal Airport.
April 8-10: Storms spawned heavy rains and three tornadoes in Polk, Sharp, Grant and Saline counties.
Information for this article was provided by the National Weather Service.
Front Section, Pages 6 on 05/03/2008