Little Rock, Arkansas – A new round of severe weather is expected to develop across much of Arkansas on Friday, bringing the threat of strong thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and possible tornadoes.
Forecasters say storms are most likely to develop Friday evening and continue into the late-night hours, impacting communities across the western and northern parts of the state. Cities including Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Russellville, and Hot Springs could see the greatest potential for severe storms as the system moves through the region.
Drivers traveling along major highways such as Interstate 40, Interstate 49, and Interstate 30 should remain alert for rapidly changing conditions. Heavy rainfall, lightning, and strong wind gusts could briefly reduce visibility and create hazardous travel conditions Friday night.
Meteorologists warn that some storms may become intense, producing damaging wind gusts exceeding 70 mph along with hail larger than two inches in diameter. In addition, a few storms may rotate, creating the potential for isolated tornadoes, particularly across western and northwestern Arkansas.
The storm system is expected to move from west to east across the state during the evening hours before gradually weakening later at night. Communities along the I-40 corridor from Fort Smith through Russellville and toward Little Rock may experience storms during the late evening timeframe.
Residents across Arkansas are encouraged to review severe weather safety plans before storms arrive. Having multiple ways to receive weather warnings is critical, especially overnight when storms may be harder to notice.
Forecasters say the active weather pattern may continue into early next week, with another round of strong storms possible by Tuesday. Additional updates will become clearer as meteorologists refine the forecast in the coming days.
