Significant severe weather threat to unfold Wednesday

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – 6:20 PM, WEDNESDAY UPDATE: A strong cold front continues to push east across Arkansas bringing an end to severe weather for all but far east counties. Although the threat of severe weather has passed for the most part, a few areas may still be experiencing areas of high water after torrential rainfall earlier today. Exercise caution while driving though this evening.

Some tornadoes may be intense and a couple of the tornadoes may be significant with winds of 111 mph or higher (EF-2).

Widespread damaging wind with some gusts as high as 75 mph are possible, too. Plus, large hail is anticipated with some hail reaching the size of tennis balls.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Multiple rounds of storms will be possible Wednesday. A few will be possible in the morning, some of which could be severe. But more numerous storms are likely into the afternoon, many of which will be severe. The threat subsides by late-evening.

AREAS AT RISK: The greatest potential for widespread severe weather exists in the Arkansas Delta where the Storm Prediction Center has outlined a Level 4 out of 5 risk. Still, a Level 2 and 3 risk exists for the rest of Arkansas. So we all must remain weather aware on Wednesday.

This is the greatest risk we’ve seen all week and will mark the end of this multi-day severe weather event. Storms that fire up Wednesday afternoon in the orange and red zones will be more likely to produce strong tornadoes. Meanwhile, those in Western Arkansas may be more likely to see damaging straight-line wind.

IMPACTS: Unfortunately, today’s storms will bring a greater tornado risk than recent events. Today’s tornadoes may be strong, perhaps long-lived. Damaging wind in excess of 70 mph will also be a significant risk, along with golf ball sized hail or greater.

Today’s storms will come in two different forms:

*Some may be supercells. These are most likely to produce large hail and strong tornadoes. These could be out on their own, mostly in Central and Eastern Arkansas during the afternoon and early evening.

*Most will be with a squall line. These will move across the state behind the supercells, mostly producing damaging straight-line wind and large hail. Still, isolated weak tornadoes may be found within this squall line.

Everyone should be weather aware today. We should heed all tornado warnings that might be issued.