Little Rock, AR – A large area 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.
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issued an alert at 9:55 a.m. CDT for southern and eastern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, northern Mississippi, western Tennessee, and northeast Texas.
Forecasters warn that the conditions are favorable for tornadoes, with the possibility of a few strong ones later today.
The storm system is expected to intensify throughout the afternoon, bringing damaging wind gusts of up to 70 mph and hail as large as 2 inches in diameter.
Supercell development is likely, particularly along and 65 miles north or south of a line that runs from near Longview, Texas, to northeast of Jackson, Tennessee.
Residents in the affected area are encouraged to stay vigilant and monitor NOAA weather radios, local alerts, and trusted weather apps.
Identifying safe shelter locations and avoiding travel through high-risk areas during peak storm hours are examples of preparedness actions.
The watch is active until 7 p.m. CDT Saturday, but conditions could change quickly. If the storms become more severe, additional warnings may be issued.
