LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The National Weather Service said tornadoes, powerful winds and large hail are possible in Arkansas on Wednesday and Thursday.
Forecasters said northwest Arkansas is at a slight risk for severe weather on Wednesday, while the entire state is at a moderate risk Thursday for bad weather. On Wednesday afternoon, showers and thunderstorms are expected across the state with more storms possible in the evening and overnight hours. The main danger Wednesday will be large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes, according to the weather service.
“I’m not confident that we’ll have a large number of tornadoes,” said John Robinson, warning coordination meteorologist for the weather service in North Little Rock. “There won’t be as many tornadoes as there will be severe thunderstorms in the state.”
More widespread severe weather is expected Thursday, especially in the afternoon and evening hours. Forecasters said flash flooding is also a possibility in some areas that could see up to 3 inches of rain over the two-day period. The severe weather will likely exit Arkansas starting late Thursday or early Friday and will completely leave by the weekend, according to Robinson.
Two weather radio transmitters are out-of-service, with one located in Little Rock and the other in Russell. The state has 25 transmitters to alert Arkansans about severe weather threats heading to their area. Robinson said the weather service always encourages Arkansans to have another channel to learn about weather warnings in case their preferred method fails.
“This is going to be our biggest severe weather threat in months, so we hope people will brush up on their safety precautions on what they would do if a tornado came their way or a severe thunderstorm,” Robinson said.
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