21 hours Ago By Anthony Orrico,Abigail O'Leary
A state of emergency was declared for many parts of Arkansas on Wednesday evening as potentially deadly storms bear down on the state producing heavy winds and tornados. Tornadoes have already been reported touching down in the South and Midwest portions of the state, knocking down power lines, and trees and ripping the roofs off of some homes. Golf ball-sized hail falling has also been reported as forecasters expect this violent spate of storms to continue until at least Thursday.
The National Weather Service’s office posted in Memphis on X Wednesday evening telling residents on the social platform X: “This is a life-threatening situation. Seek shelter now.” Dad makes friend dig own grave and kill himself after raping his daughter, six Major US travel warning issued to visa holders - 'everyone is at risk - even citizens' In Lake City, five houses and one power line were down as of 7:30 pm on Wednesday evening, Mayor Cameron Tate told CNN.
The Division of Emergency Management also said they had “reports of tornadoes on the ground". Public information officer Lacey Kanipe said: "We are working with local emergency management offices for situational awareness and still learning of impacts as they come in. It’s early in the event and we will release more information about potential impacts as it becomes available.
" Flash flood warnings were also issued for much of the state, with the South and Midwest areas expected to see the worst of the storms. These conditions are expected to last until the end of the week, according to forcasts. Dozens of tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued in parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Mississippi as the swath of storms hit those and other states Wednesday evening.
Forecasters expected an intense period of violent weather, with daytime heating combined with an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear, and abundant moisture streaming into the nation’s midsection from the Gulf. The potent storm system will bring “significant, life-threatening flash flooding” each day through Saturday, the National Weather Service said. With more than a foot (30 centimeters) of rain possible over the next four days, the prolonged deluge “is an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime,” the weather service said in one of its flood warnings.
“Historic rainfall totals and impacts are possible.” The flood fears come as residents in parts of Michigan continued to dig out from a weekend ice storm..
