The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down Tuesday afternoon in Northwest Arkansas shortly after forecasters had issued a tornado warning for the area.
The twister briefly touched down confirmed at 4 p.m. about 14 miles northeast of Ozark, meteorologists said.
Effected areas include Ozark, Yale and Dixon Ridge. Residents are urged to avoid flying debris by finding shelter in a basement or interior room.
A warning for parts of Franklin and Madison counties was in effect until 4:15 p.m. Radar indicted a tornado and penny-sized hail are possible, according to the weather service.
A warning for northwestern Johnson County and southwestern Newton County was canceled about 4:20 p.m.
Forecasters said a tornado watch remains in effect for portions of Northwest Arkansas, including Fayetteville and Fort Smith, until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
— Jaime Dunaway
12:50 p.m.
Northwest Arkansas in under a tornado watch, according to a report from the National Weather Service.
"A line of strong to severe showers and storms will affect eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas through early to mid afternoon," the report states.
If any tornadoes do develop, there may not be much advanced warning according to the report.
Some thunderstorms could enter the around around 3 p.m. the reports says, bringing rain, straight line winds to 60 mph or short lived tornadoes
The counties included in the report are Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian and Washington Counties.
The watch will continue until 8 p.m.