2008 OMW Spring Ozark Outdoor Recreation Report
For the Twin Lakes Area of the North-Central Arkansas & South-Central Missouri Ozark Mountains
Updated weekly early March until May 1 when early summer begins

Current Report - Friday, April 18, 2008
Cool temperatures have delayed tree leaf-out. We are at least a week behind normal with many trees still showing little green. However, these cool temps have also preserved redbud color. As a result we still have bright reddish/pink redbuds next to white dogwood blossoms.

The weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday is a good one. Day temps will be in the mid 60's to mid 70's with mostly sunny skies and no rain.

The high water on the White River has not slowed trout fishing at all. Many people continue to catch browns and rainbows. Fishing on the lakes is still a little slow as the fish are up in the brush and feeding heavily.

Wildflowers are still popping up with more and more color showing each day. However, we are behind on flower blooms due to the cool weather. Butterflies are adding color to wildflower colonies as they are now out in large numbers.

Friday, April 11, 2008
At last! Beautiful sunny days in the forecast for this weekend and most of next week. The sunshine could not have arrived at a better time. Redbuds are in peak color right now, and will be for 5 or 6 more days. The dogwood bloom is just beginning with white showing in the forest understories all over the area. Trees are still in early leaf stages because the weather has been cool.

This year we will enjoy seeing both redbuds and dogwoods in bloom at the same time. Both redbuds and dogwoods are following the class act put on by this spring's wild fruit trees. Past bloom now, both wild cherry and wild plums were exceptional white displays this year, and the redbuds and dogwoods are following suit.

Wildflowers are popping up everywhere. Large colonies of rose vervain are showing color on exposed hillsides and cedar glades. Creeks are running clear and beautiful.

This weekend and this coming week will be an excellent time to visit this area. While lake and river levels are at an all time high, many resorts remain open, and people are fishing and otherwise enjoying outdoor recreation. Before you head out, check with the lodging facility you plan to stay at. Ask about water levels and road conditions. A few roads throughout the Ozarks have suffered water damage and may be closed. Most roads are open. Same for resorts - most are open, a few on the rivers may be closed due to water damage.

Friday, April 4, 2008
Once again we delayed this report pending a weather forecast. This weekend promises to be warm and sunny. Starting Tuesday and the rest of next week, rain is in the forecast.

In the Mountain Home / Bull Shoals area redbud trees are either already in full bloom or close to it. Dogwood buds are just appearing which means the dogwood bloom is about 7 to 10 days away. Tree buds have appeared on all the hardwoods so we're right on schedule for full leaf-out by April 15 or so.

Trout fishing on the White and North Fork rivers is excellent. Lake fishing is good but the fish can be hard to find with the recent high water. Yet fishermen who know where to go are reporting excellent catches. Talk to your lodging host about fishing conditions where you are staying.

Wildflower blooms continue at a rapid rate. This time of year is when you'll start to see a lot of color in covered areas, such as under hardwood stands and along moist rock outcrops. This week saw mostly the small cooler weather flora in bloom.

Migrating hawks are appearing, as are more song birds. Wild turkey are still in strut. Whitetail deer are moving around quite a bit as they enjoy all the new fresh greens.

Weather depending, the next two weeks will be peak spring conditions.

Friday,March 28, 2008
The weather forecast for the next several days calls for rain, heavy at times. However, all the rain has promoted beautiful blossoms on wild cherry and wild plum trees. Blooms on these wild fruit trees are the heaviest we have seen in 15 years. The blossoms are white, and in some locations they are so thick they look like dogwoods. But the dogwood bloom is still about two weeks away.

Redbuds are now blooming. If you enjoy redbuds the next two weeks are when you should visit our area. We suspect that this year we'll see redbuds and dogwoods in bloom at the same time, which is rather rare for this area. However, the best redbud blooms occur early, before the dogwood peak.

Over all spring 2008 promises to be one of the prettiest on record. With plenty of moisture in the ground flora from wildflowers to hardwoods will green up fast and full. Song birds are active and migratory birds will continue to appear over the next month.

While this area did get a heavy rain, and while creeks and rivers did flood, it is business as usual here. Fishing on the White river remains excellent. Bull Shoals lake has cleared, and Norfork is almost clear, and will be in a day or two. All the media attention about White river flooding at record levels was about 100 miles south of us. We're fine with the exception of a very few spots. Call your favorite lodging facility to confirm all is well.

Saturday, March 22, 2008
We've waited until today to update because we wanted to see what happened with the area flood levels. Depending on the direction you travel from, you may run into closed roads. Several highways and roads in Missouri are closed. Record rain caused near-record flood levels this past week here in the Mountain Home area. Both Norfork and Bull Shoals Lakes have high waters. Fishing will be better in a week or two on the lakes. Fishing on the upper White River has not been affected.

If your trip plans do not include river fishing we recommend waiting a week or two before coming to the area. Give the lakes a week or two to settle. Redbud trees are not yet blooming, but should start showing color within a week or so.  Wild plum, wild cherry, and domestic species of pear and cherry trees are now in full bloom.

Turkeys have started their annual mating season. You'll see strutting toms out in fields with groups of hens. Bats are now out, which of course means insects are in full flight now. Butterflies will appear within a week or so. Moths are out at night. Spring peepers and southern leopard frogs are singing. Early wildflowers like bluets are in bloom. Tree buds are swollen now so we'll see spring green on the hillsides within two weeks.

Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 2nd Report for Spring 2008
The weather has been quite warm. Too warm actually.  Wildflowers continue to bloom though this time of year they are mostly the short, tiny-blossomed species. We've heard southern leopard frogs singing in the lake, the earliest we've ever heard them.

Indeed all of nature appears to be on an accelerated spring. Trees buds are appearing and we suspect that we'll see wild plum and cherry bloom several days early this year.

If you are thinking of visiting the Ozarks this weekend we recommend watching the weather for this area very closely. Use the link above as it is a direct capture of the local aviation weather forecast. This is the same weather report used by area pilots. Severe thunderstorms are the forecast for Friday and Saturday.

Once the storms are over we expect to see spring explode into that early bronze-green color the Ozark hills are famous for.

Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 1st Report for Spring 2008
Welcome back, thanks for stopping in! We are definitely in early spring.

The first flowers are appearing despite 5 inches of snow two days ago. We've heard the first spring peepers. Bluebirds and other songbirds are singing and establishing nesting territories. Moths are fluttering about. No doubt about it, spring has begun.

Fish in our lakes and streams have become active, and fishing will do nothing but get better over the next 2 months.

Spring 2008 promises to be a colorful one because recent rains saturated the ground with moisture. Last fall was also wet. Thus plenty of moisture is available for healthy flora growth. A few more days of sunshine flowers and green flora will pop.

We are about three weeks from the beginning of the redbud bloom, and a good month from the dogwood bloom. Most years the trees are fully leafed by April 15. We'll keep you posted!

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