11:15 AM, THURSDAY UPDATE:
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Tornado Watch has been issued for parts of Southwest Arkansas until 6 PM, Thursday. Storms that develop and/or move into Southwest Arkansas Thursday afternoon will likely become severe. A couple of tornadoes are possible along with some wind gusts up to 70 from the thunderstorms that may produce significant damage. With the strongest supercell thunderstorms that may form, large hail will also be a threat. Storms that from will likely move NE around 40 mph.
STAY INFORMED:
Download the Arkansas Storm Team app
To make sure you are staying up-to-date with the forecast, download the Arkansas Storm Team app to get updates anywhere at any time.
To watch the latest video updates from the Arkansas Storm Team, you can check them out here.
The Arkansas Storm Team is a collaboration of two stations to bring you the largest weather team in the state when covering Arkansas weather.
10:00 AM, THURSDAY LIVE UPDATE:
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: Scattered showers and thunderstorms will roll through northern and parts of central Arkansas through mid-morning. Meanwhile, additional rounds of showers and storms may still fire up across the region. These may enhance the flash flood risk across central Arkansas, especially considering there will be stronger storms building into the early afternoon.
These risk zones have changed a bit, thanks to rain-cooled air and a stalled warm front. Already, parts of northwest Arkansas have seen between 5 and 10 inches of rain since midnight. With this, and more rain expected into midday, we’ve increased the risk for flash flooding. This will likely be the primary risk while the damaging wind risk comes at a close second.
As we mentioned, this morning’s rainfall appears to have suppressed the severe threat for some. But for those who dodge a good bit of our morning storms, we should have plenty of fuel for storms later in the day.
Our strongest storms will build through midday and early afternoon, likely through central and Southern Arkansas. A few isolated storms could produce large hail with isolated tornadoes. But most storms will be capable of producing damaging straight-line wind and flash flooding.
Forecast Track
TIMING: Storms will gradually become more widespread through the morning, likely reaching peak intensity through the afternoon. Going into the evening, the great gradually shifts into the Delta. All storms should be gone by late-evening.
HOW TO PREPARE: Be sure you have multiple ways of getting severe weather information in case one fails. If a warning is issued, do you have a plan in place so you can act swiftly? Be sure you can put that plan into action immediately if your area is targeted by severe weather. Stay tuned to the Arkansas Storm Team for updates throughout the day. If you encounter a flooded roadway: Turn around. Don’t drown.
STAY INFORMED:
Download the Arkansas Storm Team app
To make sure you are staying up-to-date with the forecast, download the Arkansas Storm Team app to get updates anywhere at any time.
To watch the latest video updates from the Arkansas Storm Team, you can check them out here.
The Arkansas Storm Team is a collaboration of two stations to bring you the largest weather team in the state when covering Arkansas weather.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: A strong storm system forming in the Southern Plains Wednesday will move into Arkansas Thursday creating thunderstorms. Some of them will be severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind, tornadoes, and large hail.
WHAT: The Storm Prediction Center has most of Arkansas under an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather. The rest of the state has a slight risk (level 2 of 5) for damaging storms. This means the locations in orange have the highest risk to see damaging winds. damaging hail, and tornadoes.
RISKS: With Thursday’s set up the main risk is for damaging straight-line winds. Within some of the stronger storms, we could see damaging winds gust over 60 MPH. The risk is lower for large hail and tornadoes.
The risk for flooding is much higher for locations in northwest Arkansas. There’s a flood watch out for that area.
TIMING: Non-severe thunderstorms will move into northwest Arkansas early Thursday morning. The risk of damaging storms will enter western parts of the state around 10 AM and move from west to east throughout Thursday. These storms will move through the Little Rock Metro within a few hours of noon.
The storms will be out of the state Thursday evening. Sunny and quiet weather will finally return Friday and into the weekend!
