Although the storm prediction center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has lowered Arkansas' chances of severe storms today, forecasters still are urging residents to be prepared in case of volatile weather.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Arkansas was considered to have a slight risk of thunderstorms, high winds and isolated tornadoes today. On Monday, the center had said the state was at an enhanced risk for such weather.
The potential for severe weather remains in the forecast across the nation's midsection. The area of enhanced severity has moved to northern Missouri, southern Iowa and central Illinois.
"The upper level energy is tracking farther to the north," said National Weather Service meteorologist Sean Clarke.
"There are better ingredients up north, but we could still see thunderstorms and damaging winds. Any time there's a strong line of storms, there are also chances of short-lived tornadoes, too."
The system -- spawned by a cold front from the west colliding with warm, moist Gulf air over Arkansas -- could create winds of 60 mph or stronger, hail and thunderstorms by noon today in central Arkansas, Clarke said. The front will continue eastward and move out of the state by late evening, he said.
If clouds and rain precede the frontal boundary, there's a chance that they will lower temperatures, which will lessen the storms' severity, Clarke said.
"We'll have to see how this evolves," he said. "There is a lot of wind energy behind this right now."
State Desk on 11/11/2015