Little Rock, Arkansas – Severe thunderstorm warnings stretched from northeast Texas to Illinois and into parts of Missouri and Florida late Sunday, bringing a fast-moving hail and wind threat to a wide swath of the South and Midwest as storms raced east at 40 to 55 mph.
According to the National Weather Service, the most intense storms Sunday afternoon were producing hail up to 1.75 inches in diameter and wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph. Warnings were posted in east Texas, where storms near Tyler, Longview, Marshall and Henderson carried a considerable damage threat with golf ball-size hail, while central Arkansas storms pushed through Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway and Jacksonville with quarter-size hail and 60 mph winds.
Farther north, warnings covered parts of central Illinois, including Menard, Logan and Sangamon counties, where storms near Pleasant Plains, Athens and Williamsville threatened nickel-size hail and wind damage along Interstate 55. In Missouri, severe storms targeted the St. Louis metro, along with parts of southeast Missouri, with isolated cells capable of 70 mph winds and hail.
Residents should move indoors immediately, stay away from windows, and avoid travel where storms are crossing major highways. Additional warnings could be issued through the evening as the storm line continues shifting east.
