Little Rock

National Weather Service in Little Rock Drought Conditions and Rainfall Outlook, Wildfire Danger, and Burn Bans

Still not looking for any appreciable rainfall across much of Arkansas the next 7 days. This will continue to affect drought and fire weather concerns. However, the latest 8 to 14 day outlook shows promising signs for decent rain chances heading into early November.

The lack of rainfall continues to result in very dry conditions and a heightened risk of wildfires across Arkansas. Also, a number of counties remain under burn bans.

Across the country, the worst drought conditions (at least D3) were in the Rockies, Plains, mid-South (including Arkansas), Ohio Valley, and the central Appalachians.

Here at home in October (through the 14th), other than a few sprinkles in places, it was bone dry across the region. Cold fronts were preceded by well above average temperatures, and passed through with nothing more than a wind shift (and maybe a few clouds) followed by very low afternoon humidity levels (less than 20 percent at times). By the 18th, burn bans were posted in 55 (of 75) counties, and many of these counties had a high wildfire danger (according to the Arkansas Forestry Division). Agricultural disasters were declared in Nevada, Perry, and Yell Counties.

Cooperative Extension Service to host Veterans' Business Summit

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
 

LITTLE ROCK — Military veterans seeking to land contracts with the state or federal government for their businesses are invited to attend the 2024 Veterans' Business Summit on Nov. 7. The event, which is free to attend, will be held at the Cooperative Extension Service state headquarters at 2301 S. University Ave. in Little Rock.

The program will begin at 9 a.m. with an introduction by Melanie Berman, director of the Arkansas APEX Accelerator program for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The APEX Accelerators program, formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, plays a critical role in the Department of Defense’s efforts to identify and help a wide range of businesses enter and participate in the defense supply chain. The program provides the education and training to ensure that all businesses can participate in the federal, state and local government contract process.

Tim Hicks, procurement counselor for the Division of Agriculture, said the event will appeal to many entrepreneurs hoping to expand their sales base.

CALL TO SERVE — Military veterans seeking to land contracts with the state or federal government for their small businesses are invited to attend the 2024 Veterans' Business Summit on Nov. 7. The event, which is free to attend, will be held at the Cooperative Extension Service state headquarters in Little Rock. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

“The summit focuses on veteran-owned businesses, but we invite all businesses to join us,” Hicks said. “This will be a great time to network and collaborate with many resource partners.”

Berman’s welcome will be followed by the presentation of colors by the Cabot High School JROTC. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Kendall Penn, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, will deliver the keynote address.

The event’s featured speaker will be Ruby Crenshaw Lawrence, chief of the Office of Small Business Programs & Industry Engagements for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. She will discuss the government’s stance on Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence, and associated concerns.

Nearly two dozen organizations will be participating in the event, with representatives taking part in discussion panels and available for networking throughout the day. Participating organizations include:

  • 19th Contracting Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base

  • Arkansas Division of Emergency

  • Arkansas Economic Development Commission

  • Arkansas National Guard Purchasing Office

  • Forge Institute

  • Arkansas Small Business Technology Development Center

  • SCORE Business Mentorship

  • The Conductor / Startup Junkie Foundation

  • U.S. Small Business Administration – Arkansas District

  • Arkansas Women's Business Center

  • City of Little Rock

  • Clinton National Airport

  • Communities Unlimited

  • Disabled American Veterans

  • State of Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs

  • State of Arkansas, Office of State Procurement

  • US Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District

  • US Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Veterans Business Outreach Center

The summit will conclude before noon. Online registration is required.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

Arkansas committee approves subpoena power to learn more about airport executive’s death

KUAR | By Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

After Little Rock’s police chief declined to answer questions Monday about the fatal shooting of a Little Rock airport executive in March, an Arkansas legislative committee granted its chair the power to issue subpoenas to help its review of the case.

Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the motion immediately following testimony from Little Rock Police Chief Heath Helton, who said City Attorney Tom Carpenter advised him not to comment on the shooting due to ongoing litigation.

“Certainly the people of Arkansas expect us to ask questions,” Clark said. “And not only do they expect us to ask questions, they expect us to get answers — and you get answers however you can get answers.”

Arkansas committee approves subpoena power to learn more about airport executive’s death

Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate

Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, questions state and local law enforcement agencies about their involvement in the deadly raid of airport executive Bryan Malinowski on March 19. Photographed during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Sept. 30, 2024.

Deal for Lyon College’s vet and dental school campus in Little Rock falls through

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

The sale of the proposed Little Rock-based campus for the about-to-be-formed dental and veterinary schools at Lyon College in Batesville has fallen apart. OneHealth Companies, the school’s partner in the venture, failed to meet the deadline to buy the Heifer International facility, according to numerous published reports.

Lyon College President Melissa Taverner told Talk Business & Politics the school is now searching for another site in Little Rock to house the newly formed Lyon College Institute for Health Sciences. Both schools are slated to start classes in the late summer or early fall of 2025.

The inaugural classes are expected to have about 100 students each. The accreditation process for both is on schedule and now the school needs to find a campus, she said. School officials didn’t comment on the state of the partnership with OneHealth Companies after the campus deal collapsed.

Deal for Lyon College’s vet and dental school campus in Little Rock falls through

$50 million AG grant funding Arkansas Children’s opioid research center

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

A $50 million grant using national opioid settlement funds by Attorney General Tim Griffin will allow Arkansas Children’s Hospital to build the $70 million National Center for Opioid Research & Clinical Effectiveness (NCOR) on the hospital’s campus in Little Rock.

Griffin along with Children’s CEO Marcy Doderer announced the center and the grant at an event in front of the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute Thursday (Nov. 9). The Institute will add an initial investment of more than $20 million. Scientists will work closely with the Institute and Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center.

Construction on the 45,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin in late 2024. Griffin emphasized that NCOR will have its own building and research mission.

$50 million AG grant funding Arkansas Children’s opioid research center

Arkansas Children's

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin presents a check to Arkansas Children's CEO Marcy Doderer at an event Thursday at the hospital's main campus in Little Rock.

New PGA Tour Champions event coming to Little Rock’s Pleasant Valley Country Club

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Simmons Bank leaders, PGA officials and other dignitaries announced Thursday (Aug. 31) that a new professional golf tournament will be played at Little Rock’s Pleasant Valley Country Club starting in October 2024.

A five-year agreement establishing the event – the Simmons Bank Championship – was announced at the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, with Simmons First National Corporation Executive Chairman George Makris, PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders in attendance.

The Simmons Bank Championship will serve as the second round of PGA Tour Champions’ annual Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, with the top 54 players in the Charles Schwab Cup standings competing to earn their spot among the top 36 and gain entry into the final event of the season.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/new-pga-tour-event-coming-to-little-rocks-pleasant-valley-country-club/

Around 2,800 jobs to be cut as Tyson Foods closes chicken plants

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

Tyson Foods announced Monday (Aug. 7) plans to close four chicken processing plants in North Little Rock, Noel and Dexter, Mo., and Corydon, Ind., over the next three quarters. The news followed a significant financial loss in the third fiscal quarter.

While Tyson did not confirm the total number of jobs eliminated with the closures, estimates from local communities total 2,800 plant positions. The majority of those will be in Noel, with an estimated 1,500 jobs and full poultry production complex closing its doors in October. North Little Rock’s further processing plant will lose an estimated 200 jobs in October. The plants in Dexter, Mo., and Corydon, Ind., employ 500 and 600, respectively, according to local community statistics. Those plants are slated to close in early 2024.

Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King said the decision to shutter the plants was “gut-wrenching” but necessary as the older facilities were in need of major capital investments that did not make sense. The North Little Rock plant is 55 years old and was acquired by Tyson Foods in 1969 from Prospect Farms. It is a further-processing plant and not a slaughter facility. The Noel, Mo., complex includes a processing and kill plant, truck shop and service center and is a major employer in McDonald County. The Dexter, Mo., and Corydon, Ind., facilities are also older further-processing plants.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/around-2800-jobs-to-be-cut-as-tyson-foods-closes-chicken-plants/

Arkansas Children’s announces $318M expansion plan

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

Little Rock-based pediatric healthcare organization Arkansas Children’s is planning a $318 million expansion to increase child healthcare in Arkansas.

“Pediatric health needs are more complex than ever before, and we are committed to the highest levels of access and health care quality for the children and families across the state,” Arkansas Children’s President and CEO Marcy Doderer said. “This plan includes recruiting more than 100 new providers and 400 new team members, adding new programs, and building and modernizing facilities.”

According to the news release, the expansion will begin this summer and last nearly a decade. It will include construction projects at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) in Little Rock and Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW) in Springdale.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/05/arkansas-childrens-announces-318m-expansion-plan/

Arkansas Children's Northwest in Springdale.

May 18 event to provide matchmaking opportunities for vendors and minority- and women-owned businesses

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

New customers are critical to any business, and a May 18 matchmaking event will offer opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses to connect with public and private sector vendors.

A MATCH IN THE MAKING — Melanie Berman, director of Arkansas APEX Accelerator for the Division of Agriculture, said the upcoming May 18 Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Matchmaking event will provide important tools and networking opportunities for small businesses. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

The Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Matchmaking Event will take place from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Ron Robinson Theater and the Rock It! Lab, both located in the CALS Library Square in downtown Little Rock. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. Registration is free, and participants must register online at info.arkansasedc.com/matchmaking2023 by May 12.

The event is hosted by the Arkansas APEX Accelerator — formerly known as Arkansas PTAC — in partnership with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Arkansas District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The schedule will include 15-minute matchmaking appointments, where business owners can discuss possible contracts for their goods and services with buying representatives. These representatives are matched with business owners based on information provided during registration.

The keynote speaker is Edward “Ted” James, who was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s regional administrator for Region 6 South Central Region. James oversees the administration of Small Business Administration products and services in ten district offices in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Arkansas APEX Accelerator is also offering a webinar on May 11 from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. with tips for navigating the matchmaking event. Topics will include the role of certifications, vendor registration sites, market research sources and marketing tools specific to the government marketplace. There is no cost to register at bit.ly/pre-matchmaking-workshop.

Opportunities for underserved small businesses

Melanie Berman, Arkansas APEX Accelerator program director for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the event provides critical tools for small and minority-owned businesses.

“Underserved small businesses have faced barriers in accessing capital, credit and other tools necessary for growth,” Berman said. “They are often located in inner cities and rural areas and often include women, people of color, veterans, tribal groups and others. Participating in the annual Minority and Women-Owned Business Matchmaking event will connect business owners with government buyers, small business support organizations such as Arkansas APEX accelerator, and other area businesses.”

Berman will also moderate the Success Stories from Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses panel at the event, where attendees will hear from successful business owners about how they navigate the world of government procurement. She said APEX Accelerator counselors can help business owners prepare to make the most of the matchmaking event.

“Businesses of all levels may attend the event, which may give them a competitive advantage with the government buyer,” Berman said. “However, businesses must manage expectations and properly prepare for their one-on-one meetings. APEX Accelerator counselors are here to help businesses prepare for the matchmaking event.”

APEX Accelerator is part of the Cooperative Extension Service’s Community, Professional and Economic Development Unit. The extension service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

UAMS Opens New Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital

By Linda Satter

LITTLE ROCK —A number of dignitaries and other visitors gathered today to celebrate the opening of the Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

Front view of The Orthopaedic & Spine HospitalEvan Lewis

Located southwest of the main hospital, the four-story building includes more than 158,000 square feet dedicated to orthopaedic surgery, spine care and pain management. It has 24 private rooms for overnight observation and inpatient stays; 12 examination rooms for orthopaedic trauma, orthopaedic oncology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation; 12 operating rooms; eight exam rooms and two procedure suites for use by the pain management team; educational space for orthopaedic surgery residents; and offices for faculty and administrators.

“We are thrilled to be ushering in a new era of providing comprehensive specialized care available under one roof for orthopaedic and spine patients across the state,” said UAMS Health CEO and UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA. “This facility was designed to support the state-of-the-art equipment and world-class care that we are famous for, while providing easy access for patients.”

Mayor says Little Rock tornado cleanup could cost $10 million

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Crews continue to survey and clear the streets of Little Rock just over a month after an EF-3 tornado ripped through parts of the city.

City contractors have worked since mid-April to remove fallen trees and vegetation from some of the hardest-hit areas of west Little Rock. Work began this week to haul away rubble and scrap from damaged buildings.

In a briefing Tuesday at Little Rock City Hall, Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said it could take two to three months for the city to complete the debris removal process. But, he says, the overall recovery could last as long as two years.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-05-03/mayor-says-little-rock-tornado-cleanup-could-cost-10-million

Miller County extension agent organizes donation drive for Little Rock tornado victims

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — For McKenzie Rigdon, the urge to help those affected by the March 31 tornadoes stemmed from personal experience with the harm a tornado can cause.

MILLER COUNTY HELPERS — McKenzie Rigdon, Miller County extension 4-H agent, organized a donation drive for victims of the March 31 tornado that struck parts of southern and central Arkansas. For Rigdon, the effort stemmed from her personal experience with tornado destruction. She said she wanted to bring along 4-H'ers for the donation drop-off to set an example of community service. From left to right: McKenzie Rigdon, MaKenzie Larey, Carlie Keahey, J.D. Martin and Tori Luker, Miller County extension Family and Consumer Sciences agent. (Rebekah Hall | Division of Agriculture photo.) 

Rigdon, Miller County extension 4-H agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said she lived in Atkins, Arkansas, when a tornado struck the area in 2008, causing damage to her family’s home. In 2011, her grandparents’ farm was hit by a tornado near Ozark. When a tornado came through her hometown of Vilonia in 2014, she said she witnessed widespread destruction to her community.

“I lost my job because of the tornado. My best friend was in a house that got hit, so it’s a personal thing for me,” Rigdon said. “I can’t donate my time to help right now, so I felt like I needed to do the next best thing, which was gathering relief items.”

Rigdon said she had the idea to start a donation drive and fill up a 4-H trailer with supplies for victims of the tornado, which would then be delivered to Little Rock. She created a flier and posted it at local businesses and at the Four States Fairgrounds in Texarkana. She also shared it on social media. Rigdon said that through word of mouth, local schools and churches heard about the drive and gathered donations for the effort. Rigdon said Sevier County Extension also provided relief items.

“No donation is too small,” Rigdon said. “With this kind of thing, people need anything and everything you can think of. So, even if it’s a notebook for the kid who lost their backpack or a box of Band-Aids — everything is going to help someone in need.”

Rigdon cataloged all of the 672 items donated to the drive, including canned food, hygiene and baby products, dozens of cases of bottled water and more.

‘I pledge my hands to larger service’

On April 24, Rigdon and Tori Luker, Miller County extension Family and Consumer Sciences agent, along with Miller County 4-H members Carlie Keahey, MaKenzie Larey and J.D. Martin, drove from Texarkana to Little Rock with the 4-H trailer in tow. They donated all the items to the City Center, a ministry of Immanuel Baptist Church, to be distributed to tornado victims. 

After placing the final case of bottled water atop the large pile of items, Rigdon was overcome with emotion. She said she brought 4-H members along for the drop-off because the project ties back to the mission of the organization.

“The four H’s are head, heart, hands and health. The big one that stands out today is ‘hands for larger service,’” Rigdon said, wiping away a few tears. “It teaches these kids about community service and making a difference in your community. And I want them to know that they have an agent who cares and who wants to do the best that they can. I like to lead by example, so I want them to see this example that I’m putting forth. Because it’s big. I hope that I’m a good role model for them.”

Keahey, 17, has been a member of the Miller County 4-H Club for three years, and she said she came along for the donation drop-off because she wanted to give to those in need.

“I very much enjoy helping out the community around me,” Keahey said. “I love helping McKenzie with all her shenanigans she pulls me into. It makes me feel good to help out with stuff like this. Throughout the past three years in 4-H, I’ve grown so much personally, and this helps me grow in my leadership. I love how much I’ve learned through 4-H.”

For more information about 4-H, contact your local county extension agent or visit 4h.uada.edu.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

Severe weather expected in Arkansas Thursday and Friday

  • A cold front will sweep across Arkansas Thursday and Friday.

  • Showers and storms will develop along and ahead of the front, with potential for strong to severe storms to develop.

  • The primary hazards with these storms will be large hail, damaging winds, with heavy rain and localized flash flooding.

  • The timing of the development of storms on Thursday will begin early this afternoon across west/northwest AR, with storms continuing to develop along and ahead of the front as it advances east/southeast through early Friday. Rainfall looks to persist through Friday evening across central, south, and eastern portions of the state.

Lookout Arkansas! Another round of severe storms on the way for late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning

The potential for widespread severe weather across much of the state remains for later this evening and into the overnight hours. All severe weather hazards will be possible, including damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. 

  • Thunderstorms are expected to develop and move across the state from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning.

  • Damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail will be possible as storms move across the state.

  • Initial storm development may occur across western Arkansas. These storms are expected to be isolated and capable of producing large hail and tornadoes as they move to the northeast.

  • By late Tuesday/early Wednesday morning, storms are expected to merge into a line and march east across the state. The main severe weather hazards with the line of storms will be damaging winds and QLCS-type tornadoes.

  • Locally heavy rainfall will be possible, but should not be very widespread. The highest amounts are expected across far southern Arkansas.

Arkansas faces another round of severe weather; Little Rock begins cleanup

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Less than a week after parts of central Arkansas were devastated by a tornado outbreak, more severe weather could be on the way.

An EF-3 tornado last Friday tore through a roughly 30 mile stretch of central Arkansas, causing damage and one death in North Little Rock. Later Friday, four people were killed in the Cross County town of Wynne when a tornado touched down there.

Now, forecasters say heavy rain is possible for much of the state Tuesday evening, as well as high winds, large hail and an increased risk of more tornadoes. Meteorologist Travis Shelton with the National Weather Service says the greatest risk for severe weather will come later Tuesday.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-04-04/arkansas-faces-another-round-of-severe-weather-little-rock-begins-cleanup

Daniel Breen/KUAR News

A sign sits atop fallen tree limbs in front of a home on Tarrytown Road in west Little Rock Sunday morning.

Rare ‘tornado emergency’ issued near Little Rock, Arkansas

By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and digital journalist

A life-threatening situation was unfolding around Little Rock, Arkansas, with a rare tornado emergency being issued for the city and surrounding areas. “A large, extreme dangerous and potentially deadly tornado is on the ground,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Meteorologists at the NWS office in Little Rock took shelter during the emergency and temporarily transfered all operational duties to the office in Memphis, Tennessee, until the threat has ended. A tornado emergency is reserved for the most extreme situations when there is a significant risk of damage and a high likelihood of fatalities.

The first of many severe thunderstorm warnings was issued early Friday, and AccuWeather meteorologists say the threat of dangerous severe storms, including tornadoes, will last into early Saturday.

A large, fast-moving tornado roared through central Arkansas early Friday afternoon near the Little Rock area. Preliminary reports of damage to buildings and disruptions on highways have been reported in the wake of the twister. Power outages are also spiking in Pulaski County, the county in which Little Rock is located. Over 50,000 electric customers were without power, and rising, according to PowerOutage.us. A severe thunderstorm immediately proceeded the tornado-warned storm. Although the second storm did not spin up a tornado, it brought heavy rain, frequent lightning and gusty winds to areas that were hit by the tornado. There is no word on storm-related injuries.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/live-news/live-large-extremely-dangerous-tornado-tears-through-arkansas-amid-severe-weather-outbreak/1506174

The view of a tornado Friday afternoon in Little Rock, Arkansas, as seen from Colonel Glenn area of the city. (Tristan Acker)

A risk of severe weather for Arkansas on Friday

A strong storm system will be in the central United States on Friday. Ahead of the system, a strong south wind will bring warm temperatures and increasing moisture, and the potential of strong to severe thunderstorms. 

There is some question as to how much warmth/moisture (instability) will be in place as thunderstorms develop. Also, the system/associated energy will be well north of the state, and this may limit the amount of severe weather that occurs. The situation will be monitored closely. 

Quarter to three quarter inch precipitation totals are in the forecast. This will not be enough to make existing high water issues (elevated rivers/saturated soil) worse.

Severe Weather Briefing for Arkansas on Thursday; Freeze watch also in effect for the weekend

A round of showers and thunderstorms will move across the state later today into tonight and some of these storms could become strong to severe. Damaging winds will be the primary hazard.

Showers and thunderstorms will begin to increase late this morning in Northeast Texas, Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas, and even Northwest Louisiana by early this afternoon. All of this well ahead of a strong cold front and associated upper level disturbance that will approach the region from the west tonight. An isolated severe threat exists with these afternoon storms with large hail possible, but the majority of our severe weather threat will hold off until late this afternoon as the warm front comes into play. Then the thunderstorms gradually become more surface based moving eastward and better organize ahead of the strong cold front as it moves across I-30 this evening. The thunderstorms will merge into a potent squall line, while moving southeastward ahead of the cold front this evening. Large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes are the main threats late this afternoon and on through much of Thursday night, before diminishing in the predawn hours. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible with 2 inches or more in the stronger storms, which may result in minor flooding of our low lying and poor drainage areas.

...FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SW ARKANSAS AND SE OKLAHOMA FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 32 possible.

* WHERE...In Arkansas, Sevier County, Howard County, Little
  River County, Hempstead County and Nevada County. In Oklahoma,
  McCurtain County.

* WHEN...From late Friday night through Saturday morning.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
  sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
  plumbing.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent
freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should
be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have
in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-
ground pipes to protect them from freezing.


Severe Weather to affect Arkansas Wednesday and Thursday

An active weather pattern is underway with the first round of severe weather expected this afternoon through tonight. An additional round of heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are expected Thursday afternoon through the early morning hours on Friday. Severe weather types include damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes.

The threat for flash flooding will increase across the central and northern portions of the state over the next few days.

Please see the attached briefing for more details.

National Weather Service in Little Rock, AR

Severe Weather Briefing for Arkansas Wednesday and Thursday

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will begin moving across the region on Wednesday, with some storms capable of producing hail and strong wind gusts. On Thursday, another round of strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible from late afternoon into the overnight hours when large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes will all be possible.