LITTLE ROCK — Strong winds from a fast moving thunderstorm system downed trees in Hot Spring County and damaged a home near Bismarck on Monday afternoon, authorities said.
At least two people were slightly injured, said Hot Spring County sheriff’s office dispatcher Day Hinley. Medical personnel tended to the injured, Hinley said, but no one was taken to hospitals.
The National Weather Service in North Little Rock also reported a potential tornado in Nevada County, but there were no reports of damage.
Winds also toppled trees in south and western Arkansas when a cold front from the southern Plains collided with warm air over the state. Temperatures dropped from the mid-60s to upper 30s in south Arkansas by Monday evening, said National Weather Service meteorologist Marty Trexler.
The system moved across the state at about 40 to 50 mph and created winds of up to 70 mph, Trexler said.
One-inch diameter hail fell in Saline County, he said.
Entergy Arkansas reported that the storms knocked power out to nearly 4,000 customers Monday evening scattered across a wide area, with nearly 2,000 business and residences without service in Columbia and Conway counties. Another650 were without power in Hot Spring County, and 300 didn’t have electricity in Jefferson County.
Forecasters said temperatures will continue to drop, and there is a chance of light snow and freezing rain for much of northern Arkansas on Wednesday.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 02/19/2013