3:15 P.M. UPDATE:
Two tornadoes touched down in the state during storms that began Sunday night, surveyors said, including one in central Arkansas that had winds estimated at 100 mph.
The first tornado, "a low-end EF-1" was reported to have hit Sebastian County about 7 p.m. Sunday. The storm uprooted trees and destroyed a shed at the water plant in Huntington, according to the Tulsa office of the National Weather Service.
The Associated Press reported that the twister's winds were estimated to be 90 mph.
In Faulkner County, multiple structures sustained damaged from an EF-1 tornado that passed through at 12:53 a.m. Monday, according to a National Weather Service survey completed Monday afternoon.
Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
— Rachel Herzog
1:15 P.M. UPDATE:
An EF-1 tornado touched down in Faulkner County early Monday, causing significant damage to multiple structures, the National Weather Service said.
A portion of the roof at Needs Creek Baptist Church just east of Springhill was blown off when the storm passed through at 12:53 a.m., according to a survey completed that afternoon.
At the time, a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect that encompassed much of Faulkner County. No tornado warning was issued.
The tornado had estimated winds of around 100 mph.
Surveyors said the church building off Arkansas 287 “appears to be the area with the most damage.”
Trees and power lines in the area were downed, leaving some residents without electricity earlier Monday.
— Brandon Riddle
11:30 A.M. UPDATE:
A crew is set to survey damage in Faulkner County after an early Monday storm left multiple buildings destroyed and trees downed.
The survey is set for around 1 p.m. in the affected areas, including the Needs Creek area near Springhill, according to the National Weather Service’s North Little Rock office.
Shortly before noon, the number of Entergy customers without power in Arkansas had dropped below 1,000. Earlier in the day, more than 7,500 residents and businesses were in the dark.
About 825 customers were still affected around 11:30 a.m., including more than 330 in Jefferson County.
No injuries have been reported in the overnight storms that swept across Arkansas.
— Brandon Riddle
10:10 A.M. UPDATE:
Thousands of Entergy Arkansas customers remained in the dark shortly after 10 a.m. Monday as crews worked to restore power to areas hit hardest by overnight storms.
More than 3,300 residents and businesses were experiencing power failures statewide, including at least 1,500 in Jefferson County, according to the utility's outage map.
In Pine Bluff, the awning of a gas station at U.S. 65 and 425 was reportedly destroyed.
Damage reports from other areas of Arkansas on Monday morning included sheds destroyed on Arkansas 103 north of Clarksville and in Johnson County.
— Brandon Riddle
EARLIER STORY:
Multiple structures were reported damaged or destroyed in central Arkansas after overnight storms brought torrential rain and strong winds to the area.
Authorities in Faulkner County reported shortly before 1 a.m. that a 2-mile swath of damage left structures destroyed and roofs torn off of buildings near Arkavalley Road.
Trees and power lines were also downed in the area, which is north of Conway.
Around that time, a semi and a “20-foot box truck” were reportedly blown over on Ridge Road in the Needs Creek area near Springhill.
At least a portion of the roof at Needs Creek Baptist Church was also "blown off," according to a storm report.
The Storm Prediction Center said a water plant was reported damaged by powerful winds in the western Arkansas town of Huntington in Sebastian County, according to The Associated Press.
More than 5,000 Entergy Arkansas customers were in the dark around 7:30 a.m. in the state’s central and eastern regions, according to the utility’s outage map.
Of that total, nearly 1,700 customers were without power in Jefferson County.
— Brandon Riddle