The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for much of southern Arkansas and a wind advisory for east Arkansas as severe thunderstorms move across the state.
Dennis Cavanaugh, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in North Little Rock, said because the ground is already so moist, it won’t take much rain to cause flash flooding. The area of Arkansas under the watch includes Pine Bluff and Arkadelphia.
Cavanaugh said areas under the wind advisory, which covers the northeast quarter of the state, can expect winds of 20-25 miles per hour and gusts up to 40 miles per hour Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
If Arkansas sees any tornadoes with the storms, Cavanaugh said they’re most likely in southern areas. He said forecasters are tracking a low pressure system and its path. Depending where it heads, the system could bring conditions for tornadoes into Arkansas or leave them to the south of the state.
EARLIER
Nearly all of Arkansas could see severe weather Wednesday, with southern and western areas at the highest risk, according to the National Weather Service
Forecasters said an area of the state including Hot Springs and Pine Bluff are at an enhanced risk for severe weather, while a more central section of the state including Fort Smith and Little Rock are at a slight risk.
Northern areas are at a marginal risk.
Storms are expected to begin moving from the west to Arkansas beginning around 2 or 3 p.m., said meteorologist Dennis Cavanaugh with the National Weather Service in North Little Rock.
Cavanaugh said the main concerns for severe weather with that system are damaging winds and hail.
A separate low pressure system will enter the state later in the day, between 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Cavanaugh said, and that system may also bring severe weather, including a greater chance for tornadoes, mainly in southern and western areas.
Cavanaugh said how great a risk the low pressure system will pose in terms of severe weather and especially tornadoes depends on certain conditions during the day Wednesday, including how high temperatures climb.
He said people should continue monitoring the weather throughout the day, as the forecast could change.
“A lot of that is wait and see,” Cavanaugh said.
Flash flooding is also possible Wednesday. Northwest Arkansas could see the most rain, up to three inches, while most other areas could see up to 1 and a half or 2 inches.