LITTLE ROCK — The National Weather Service says much of the state will see heavy rain in the coming days, including some storms Thursday that could turn severe.
John Robinson, senior warning coordination meteorologist with the weather service in North Little Rock, said no severe weather is expected Wednesday, but it could come Thursday as a cold front moves through the region.
"Severe thunderstorm prospects are highly dependent on whether we keep a lot of clouds and rain ahead of the front, cutting down on the amount of warming and instability," Robinson said in an e-mail. "For now, it looks as though a few severe thunderstorms could occur during the afternoon and evening, mainly east of a line from Magnolia to Hot Springs to Mountain Home."
Heavy rains are expected Wednesday and Thursday.
Robinson said northwest and west-central Arkansas will see up to an inch of rain, while the rest of the state could see 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches. A flash flood watch covers some southwest and south-central parts of the state.
More rain is expected this weekend as a cold front moves in Saturday into Sunday. Robinson said that system looks to deposit up to 1 1/2 inches of rain in western Arkansas and 1 1/2 to 3 inches of rain in other parts of the state.
Robinson said forecasters will keep a "close eye" on systems early next week.
"If moisture does arrive, temperatures will be cold enough for some wintry precipitation in the state," he wrote.