Tulsa, Okla. – Strong thunderstorms will sweep across eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas from late Saturday through Sunday afternoon, bringing threats of damaging winds and hail to communities from McAlester to Fayetteville.
According to the National Weather Service in Tulsa, a stalled cold front will fuel multiple rounds of severe weather, with the main storm risk expected late Saturday afternoon through Saturday night. Sunday’s threat will continue into the early afternoon before the front moves out of the region. Winds could gust up to 70 mph, and hail may reach up to half-dollar size. A limited tornado risk also exists on both days.
Cities including Tulsa, Muskogee, Fort Smith, and Poteau fall under a “slight” risk level, while Fayetteville is under a “marginal” to “slight” zone. Interstate 40 and Highway 69 corridors could see reduced visibility and hazardous travel due to high winds and hail.
Residents are urged to secure loose outdoor items, charge electronic devices in case of outages, and monitor NOAA weather radio or local alerts. Storms may be fast-moving, increasing the danger of downed trees and localized damage.
Severe thunderstorm warnings may be issued with little notice. The threat is expected to end by Sunday evening, but updates from NWS Tulsa remain likely.
