Little Rock, AR – A fast-moving cold front sweeping through the central U.S. Thursday is set to spark strong to severe thunderstorms from eastern Arkansas into southeastern Missouri and western Tennessee.
According to the National Weather Service in Little Rock, the greatest threat will occur Thursday afternoon and evening, with storms capable of producing hail up to one inch in diameter and wind gusts nearing 60 mph. Cities such as Jonesboro, West Memphis, and portions of the Missouri Bootheel and West Tennessee fall under a Slight Risk zone, with a Marginal Risk for central Arkansas including Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and Conway.
The NWS reports that the main window for severe activity will last through 10 p.m., with hail and damaging wind the primary concerns. Tornado potential remains very low but not completely ruled out. Residents in affected areas should secure outdoor items and closely monitor local alerts.
Daytime highs are forecast to reach the upper 70s to low 80s ahead of the front, before dropping into the low 40s to low 50s overnight into Friday morning, posing an added risk for those without power during storms.
Motorists and residents are urged to review emergency plans and be prepared for possible localized outages and hail damage.
