LATEST:
The tornado watch for Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Madison and Washington counties has been extended until 2 p.m.
Through 1 p.m., a line of strong to severe thunderstorms near or along the Arkansas border with Oklahoma, will continue to push to the east into western Arkansas, according to a report from the National Weather Service. The storms continue to be capable of producing torrential rainfall and strong gusty winds to 60 mph, the service added. Rainfall rates of around an inch per hour may occur from the strongest storms.
EARLIER:
Northwest Arkansas is under a series of weather alerts from a line of storms moving through the state.
There is a flash flood watch until 7 p.m., a tornado watch until 12 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning 10:45 a.m. and a flood advisory until 2 p.m.
Weather forecasters said a line of storms moving into Arkansas on Tuesday will bring a chance for strong thunderstorms along with heavy rains and the possibility for damaging winds and tornadoes.
The National Weather Service said a system brewing in Oklahoma is expected to cross into Arkansas during the late morning and last overnight. Officials warn that parts of the state are at increased risk of severe weather with powerful winds at the top of its concerns.
Weather officials placed much of northern and central Arkansas at an “enhanced” risk of severe weather, including the Little Rock metro area. The risk extends to the northern border and includes Fayetteville and ends just outside of Jonesboro.
“The main threat with storms today will be damaging winds,” forecasters wrote in a morning briefing. “The other main concern would be isolated tornadoes that could develop quickly along the leading edge of the line of thunderstorms.”
Forecasters counted at least six tornadoes that swirled over Arkansas during a surge of storms this past weekend.
The agency expects drier and warmer weather later in the week.