The Storm Prediction Center has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for west central & southwest Arkansas until 8pm Friday evening. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means ingredients are present for some strong to severe thunderstorms. Hail & wind remain the primary impacts this evening, with a very low end tornado threat.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch was extended north & east around 5pm to include: Benton, Bryant, Morrilton, Russellville, Haskell, Atkins, Danville, Clarksville & Fort Smith. Until 8pm. #arwx #ARStromTeam

Showers and storms will be strongest Friday evening with a general timeframe of 4pm to 10pm. A few storms could linger into midnight for east Arkansas, but strength of storms should lessen. Light rain lasts overnight into early Saturday morning. Storms are not anticipated Saturday morning.

The SPC has highlighted a Level 2 risk (on a scale from 1 to 5) for most of southwest Arkansas, no longer including the River Valley. A Level 1 risk includes the River Valley and much of eastern Arkansas.
Damaging wind and quarter size hail are the main risks involved with Friday’s storms.

Considering these storms should be fairly quick to move in and move out, the risk for flash flooding is relatively low. But it’s important to note how much rain we’ve seen last week. If any storms linger in the same spot, isolated pockets of flash flooding will be possible. Otherwise, most areas will end up with less than an inch of rain through Saturday morning. A few could see ½” to 1″ of rain.

Most locations will pick up less than an inch of rain through Saturday morning.

A few showers could linger across central Arkansas early Saturday morning near sunrise. Cooler & drier conditions settle in for the weekend. Highs will be in the 70s Saturday with a breezy northerly wind. Lows slip into the 50s by Sunday morning.