UPDATE: Tornado hits Mountainburg, Northwest Arkansas tornado watch cancelled

9:19 p.m. The National Weather Service has cancelled the tornado watch for seven counties in Northwest Arkansas

8:15 p.m.

MOUNTAINBURG — A tornado struck Mountainburg, Arkansas, around 4 p.m. Friday as a line of severe thunderstorms rumbled across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas.

There were at least three entrapments as the tornado moved through the town of 624 residents about 20 miles northeast of Fort Smith, said Crawford County Emergency Management Director Brad Thomas. At least four people were taken to hospitals, he said, but he didn't know their conditions.

Video from the scene showed uprooted trees, overturned cars, damaged buildings and downed power lines.

Forecasters had expected high winds, large hail and perhaps strong tornadoes across Arkansas on Friday. The Storm Prediction Center said all of the state faced a "moderate risk" of severe weather.

The bad weather was part of a system that brought blizzard conditions to the Northern Plains and high winds that raised the wildfire risk in the Southern Plains.

Forecasters warned that some storms could be intense in Arkansas and adjoining parts of Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

--Associated Press

5:28 p.m.

The National Weather Service reports that a tornado hit Mountainburg earlier today.

The Crawford County Department of Emergency Management activated their search and rescue groups due to reports of people trapped in their home in the area, according to reports on social media.

The Department also said the Mountainburg primary school is being used as a shelter.

Another storm system moving through Fort Smith could hit the Mountainburg search area within the hour, according to the National Weather Service's twitter account.

Earlier: A tornado watch has been issued for most of Arkansas until 10 p.m. tonight, according to the National Weather Service in Tulsa.

Benton, Carrol, Washington and Madison counties are included in the watch.

A tornado watch is issued when tornadoes are possible. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by a weather radar.

Hazardous weather warnings associated with the watch include possible tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, winds up to 70 miles per hour and hail the size of baseballs. The chances increase after 2 p.m. and the severe threat will shift east by 10 or 11 p.m., the service reported.

In the event of a tornado, the National Weather Service encourages citizens to listen to local news about tornado watches and warnings; if you're at home, go to a basement or interior room away from windows; if you're at work or school, follow drills and go to a designated shelter; if you're outside, seek shelter in a sturdy building; if you're in a vehicle, drive to the closest shelter or abandon your vehicle and find a low-lying area, like a ditch or ravine.

Strong and gusty winds are expected through the weekend and freezing temperatures are expected across Northwest Arkansas Sunday and Monday, according to the Weather Service.

NW News on 04/14/2018