WHAT HAS CHANGED: The Flood Watch has been expanded to include portions of northern central Arkansas.
A strong storm system will approach the state from the southwest through the day today, and rainfall will become widespread from west to east across the area later this evening through Thursday.
As the system moves through, excessive rainfall is possible from southeast Oklahoma across portions of western and northern Arkansas, resulting in increasing flash flooding potential. Area rivers and basins are also expected to see an increase in streamflow, with some locations possibly reaching flooding levels.
Additionally, a few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across mainly southern Arkansas Thursday afternoon and evening.
The threat for hazardous weather is expected to come to an end by Friday morning as the storm system moves east of the state.
The greatest probabilities for rainfall in excess of 3 inches currently lies across portions of western to central Arkansas, and primarily over the high terrain regions. A large probability exists for much of the northwestern half of the state to receive at least 2 inches of rainfall.