The 1/2 inch of rain recorded Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Arkadelphia’s Dexter B. Florence Memorial Field wasn’t nearly enough to lift a countywide burn ban.
Clark County Judge Troy Tucker was quick to respond to a text message inquiry prompted by a reader’s tip that an elderly neighbor was burning refuse during the rainfall.
“No,” replied Tucker, who calls the shots when it comes to placing and lifting burn bans. Clark County has been under a burn ban for nearly 12 weeks, having gone into effect in mid-August.
Outdoor burning is strictly prohibited, including the use of fire pits. While the ban is in effect, burning outside is a misdemeanor offense with a mandatory court date.
Tuesday’s rainfall was, however, enough to lower the wildfire danger statewide from high to moderate levels, although most counties in South Arkansas remain under a burn ban. As of Wednesday afternoon, only Nevada, Grant and Bradley counties were allowing outdoor burning.
Most of the southern half of the state, including a large portion of Clark County, remains under exceptional drought, the highest intensity recorded by the U.S. Drought Monitor. At last report, Clark County and the south-central region needed some 18 inches of rain to overcome the drought.
Conditions don’t appear to be improving anytime soon.
A dry next seven days is forecast across Arkansas with afternoon high temperatures in the 60s to 70s across most of the state over the next seven days, according to the National Weather Service in Little Rock. Low temperatures will be chilly with a few locations across Arkansas anticipated to fall into frost potential with temperatures around 33 to 36 degrees. Cloud cover will be scattered across the state with many locations becoming mostly clear with a few passing clouds. The most noticed is the lack of rain chances forecast over the next seven days.
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