Tornado warning issued for Dumas area; chance for severe storms across state

2:50 p.m.

The National Weather service issued a tornado warning for Dumas, Mitchellville and Watson in Desha County until 3:30 p.m.

12:27 p.m.

A tornado watch has also been issued for parts of southeastern Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee until 7 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

Earlier, the agency issued a flash flood warning for Pulaski County, southern Faulkner County, central Garland County, northern Lonoke County, Saline County, and north central Hot Spring County until 12:25 p.m. 

Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have already fallen, and an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain are possible in the warned areas, according to the weather service.

The advisories come as forecasters predict a chance for two periods of strong to severe thunderstorms Wednesday and Friday evening through Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. 

Snow is no longer in the immediate forecast, a Wednesday morning briefing from the weather service states.

A strong cold front will move across the state Saturday into Sunday, bringing dangerously cold air across northern Arkansas on Sunday morning, according to the briefing.

The main severe weather threat on Wednesday is for eastern and southern parts of the state in the afternoon and evening hours, forecasters said. The second round of severe weather is expected to end by noon Saturday. The severe weather risks include hail up to the size of a quarter, wind speeds of up to 60mph. 

There is also a low chance for tornadoes, according to the briefing.

Central and southern Arkansas can expect low temperatures in the low to upper 20s Sunday morning, forecasters predict, while northern Arkansas may see lows in the high teens to low 20s.

This story has been updated. It was originally published at 11:11 a.m.