Although the tri-county area has seen a lack of rainfall, National Weather Service Forecaster Colby Pope says that will soon change, but with the incoming rain, also comes the increased chance for severe storms.
“I know you need it [rain] in that part of the state. We will have to deal with some thunderstorms to get that rainfall. The main days for that thunderstorm chances will begin on Thursday and run through Sunday. Really into Monday there will be the possibility of more showers,” Pope said.
He noted that several inches of rainfall are expected across northern Arkansas and parts of southern Missouri.
“This will likely be an event where we will see several inches of rain and flash flooding will be a concern. Looking at Friday and Sunday, those are two days I want to outline because those are the days right now, we could see the highest chances for severe weather in that area and that includes damaging wind gusts, large hail and the possibility of a few tornadoes,” Pope said. “On Thursday and Saturday, we could still see thunderstorms capable of strong winds and isolated severe thunderstorms, but Friday and Sunday are the primary concern at the moment. We’re really going to be entering a very unsettled pattern beginning Thursday.”
Pope said he encourages everyone to have a severe weather plan in place prior to the arrival of the storms.
“You definitely want to have a severe weather plan enacted and ready to go, if need be because it is going to be a very unsettled pattern. You want to have multiple ways to get warnings and watches over this period of time,” Pope said.
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