Tornado watch issued for central, southern Arkansas

By ArkansasOnline

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 4 p.m. Saturday for central and southern parts of the state.

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Twenty-four counties are under the tornado watch: Garland, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, Saline, Yell, Arkansas, Bradley, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Jefferson, Lincoln, Calhoun, Clark, Dallas, Hot Spring, Ouachita, Pike, Logan, Scott, Montgomery and Polk counties.

The Weather Service is forcasting the development of strong tornadoes, high wind and hail from Arkansas across the gulf states through Saturday night.

Warm, moist and unstable air has spread north from the Gulf of Mexico. Strong winds at the surface and aloft will cause some storms to rotate Saturday.

The greatest threat for strong tornadoes will occur Saturday afternoon over central and eastern Arkansas into Mississippi and Tennessee.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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