Spotty showers and wind gusts caused structural damage, power failures and flooding in parts of the state Sunday evening, and meteorologists predicted more rounds of thunderstorms today and throughout the week.
Jeff Hood, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said central Arkansas would receive 1 to 2 inches of rain during scattered showers Sunday into today, and he predicted that western Arkansas would see the heaviest rainfall, 2 to 4 inches. Most of the expected rain will fall before noon today, he said.
Storms moving east into Arkansas could bring heavy winds and lightning this week, Hood said, and a potential for flash flooding throughout the state is "the major concern."
"There is a major risk for flooding and flash flooding," Hood said. "The major concern over the next 48 hours is flash flooding and major, widespread river flooding."
As of Sunday night, most of the state had accumulated at least an inch of rain, Hood said, and high winds gusted up to 75 mph in places. Flooding had already occurred in parts of the state by Sunday evening.
Krista Guthrie, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, said U.S. 71 and Arkansas 96 near Mansfield were closed Sunday afternoon because of water covering the roads. Authorities made two rescues on Arkansas 96 when people became trapped in the high water.
Some residents in Mansfield were forced to evacuate their homes, she said. It was unknown late Sunday how many homes were evacuated.
In Polk County, wind gusts caused minor damage to 10 homes, and 200 people were without power Sunday evening, Guthrie said. Trees were down in Scott and Polk counties, as well as Ouachita County.
High-voltage power lines went down in Hoxie, blocking Midway Road. There were no injuries, Guthrie said, and Entergy crews were to arrive there late Sunday night.
"There are lots and lots of warnings out there," she said. "And what we have reported to us isn't necessarily all of it."
The combination of high winds, lightning and trees weakened by recent rains caused power failures throughout the state.
Entergy crews worked Sunday afternoon to restore power to nearly 19,854 customers, according to Sally Graham, an Entergy Arkansas spokesman. Nearly 8,200 people were without power in Pulaski County alone.
Just before 10 p.m., approximately 8,400 customers were without power, Graham said. Entergy estimated that most service would be restored by 8 a.m. this morning, but that time was subject to change.
Southwestern Electric Power Company had 126 customers without power in Hempstead County and 899 in Sevier County on Sunday evening.
Sunday afternoon, Fort Smith posted to social media that a portion of Grand Avenue near the Arkansas River would close when river levels reached 28.5 feet, which they predicted would happen Sunday evening.
Guthrie said some residents in Fort Smith had voluntarily evacuated because of risk for flooding. The city provided people with sandbags, she said.
By about 6 p.m. Sunday, Fort Smith had received 2.53 inches of rain during the day, said National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Sellers. Northwest counties had received slightly more than 3 inches.
Sellers said moist, tropical air is in place over the state, and disturbances in the upper atmosphere are causing instability and "lots of moisture." There are chances for showers and thunderstorms for most of Arkansas every day through Saturday.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for 58 counties Sunday afternoon, but it only covered 14 counties in eastern Arkansas by Sunday evening.
Hood reiterated that as additional rounds of thunderstorms hit the state in the next few days, the main issue will be flooding. He warned that outdoor events for Memorial Day could be "significantly impacted."
"They need to be prepared. That's the thing we're trying to get the message across for people who are camping or who have outdoor plans or activities," Hood said. "There will be numerous rounds of shower and thunderstorm activity. We're going to be dealing with it for a few days."
Metro on 05/25/2015