Little Rock, AR – A wide swath of the southern United States is under a tornado watch until 7 p.m. Saturday, with dangerous storms threatening five states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, the alert—issued at 9:55 a.m. CDT—covers southern and eastern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, northern Mississippi, western Tennessee, and northeast Texas. Forecasters warn that conditions are favorable for tornadoes, with the potential for a few strong tornadoes later today.
The storm system is expected to intensify throughout the afternoon, bringing damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph and hail as large as 2 inches in diameter. Supercell development is likely, especially in areas along and 65 miles north or south of a line stretching from near Longview, Texas, to northeast of Jackson, Tennessee.
Residents across the affected region are urged to stay alert and monitor NOAA weather radios, local alerts, or trusted weather apps. Preparedness actions include identifying safe shelter locations and avoiding travel in high-risk areas during peak storm hours.
The watch remains active through 7 p.m. CDT Saturday, though conditions could evolve rapidly. Additional warnings may follow if storms intensify.
