Two tornado warnings were issued Saturday evening in Union County, but no damage has been reported, according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
The earlier storm, at around 6:30 p.m., tracked to the west of El Dorado near Urbana. The second storm, at around 7:15 p.m., tracked to the west of El Dorado and shifted northeast toward Smackover and Norphlet.
Click here. You can navigate the map anywhere in the country simply by dragging your curser. Also, there is a storm tracker option under the “settings” tab.
The main threat, according to the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La., will be high wind gusts. There is also a slight risk of tornadoes. Storms will likely begin in the late afternoon and evening hours.
The Associated Press is reporting today that one Arkansan died Wednesday night after a round of strong storms passed through the state.
“I can confirm that we have one fatality,” Cleburne County Sheriff Marty Moss told the AP, but he declined to identify the victim or provide more details.
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Renee Preslar had said four people were injured during the storms, including three who were in a home that was destroyed near Pearson in Cleburne County.
Moss would not say whether the victim was among those three.
The storms, which forecasters had been warning about since the weekend, missed much of the state’s populated areas.
About 1,600 customers remained without power Thursday morning, with Entergy Arkansas reporting on its Web site nearly 1,500 outages from southwestern to northeastern Arkansas. First Electric Cooperative reported 83 outages, most of those in Saline County just southwest of Little Rock.
There were no reports of significant damage in Union County, though there have been reports that a small tornado was spotted near Mount Holly.
••UPDATE••
U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln has issued the following statement about Wednesday night’s storms:
“My heart goes out to the families affected by the severe weather that hit our state last evening. I pray for the family and loved ones of the Cleburne County resident who lost his life. I also pray for the quick recovery of those injured in this devastating storm.
“As Arkansans, we have experienced our share of severe weather. Through it all, our citizens remain strong and resilient and neighbors reach out to help neighbors. I am especially thankful for the courageous and skilled emergency responders in our state.
“My office has been in close contact with officials in the areas affected by these storms. Arkansans should know that their federal government will be there for them in their time of need. That’s why I will continue to stay in close contact with local, state, and federal officials, and I will work hand-in-hand with the affected communities to provide any support needed from the federal level.”
The National Weather Service in Shreveport, La., has issued a winter storm warning for Union County until 4 p.m. Friday.
Click here for the latest.
From the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La.:
A winter weather advisory has been issued for South Arkansas through 4 p.m. Friday. Snowfall is expected to begin this afternoon, and overnight, snowfall amounts could total several inches.
Accumulation will first occur on grassy areas and bridges, then on some roadways overnight, according to the NWS.
Early Friday morning commutes could be hazardous, the NWS warns.
Two major events are scheduled for this evening, and as of now, officials say both are going on as planned.
The Mercy Me concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, and the South Arkansas Community College Lecture Series, featuring motivational speaker Bill Strickland, kicks off at 7 p.m. at the SouthArk Gymnasium.
Click here for the latest forecast from the NWS.
Fifty degrees this afternoon seems like a heat wave. I took a walk during lunch and didn’t freeze. It’s a nice change, and to be honest, the frigid temps are depressing.
Tuesday’s high will drop slightly from today’s — to 45 degrees — but we’re expected to see highs in the 50s for the remainder of the week, according to the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La.
There’s a slight chance of rain Thursday and Friday.
Click here for the latest.
… really snow any significant amount? I am a skeptic when they call for a good chance of snow. They being the omnipotent forecasters at the National Weather Service. Here’s hoping it snows just enough to be pretty, but not enough to cause problems on area roadways.
And forecasts always change. Let’s watch this one closely, though.
If the National Weather Service forecast for later this week holds true, we’re in for some record breaking temperatures.
El Dorado is currently forecast to break the record for the lowest maximum temperature of 27 degrees — set in 1973 — on Friday, and we will meet and possibly exceed the record low of 10 degrees — set in 1910 — on Thursday.
The all-time record low for January in El Dorado was set in 1962 at -10 degrees. The all-time record for the lowest maximum temperature for January — also set in 1962 — was 14 degrees.
Things to remember: Your pets, the elderly and anyone who doesn’t have adequate heating in their homes. Also, those who do not have proper coats and other winter items to protect their skin.
A car parked on Madison Avenue in downtown El Dorado Monday morning is dusted with snow. Photo credit: John Worthen.
• • •
A low-dipping jet stream that normally sits across the middle and upper-middle sections of the U.S. is bringing us snow showers today. It’s in the upper 20s right now, and snow is expected to fall through the noon hour, with some clearing expected by afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La.
Accumulation will be less than a half-inch.
More snow is forecast for Wednesday night and Thursday.
Some area bridges and overpasses are already receiving sand treatments, and there are spotty patches of ice, so be extra careful while driving.
Though it’s colder than a polar bear’s nose today, the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La., says we’re likely not due for any snowfall — anything other than a few small flakes, that is.
Most of the snow is expected along and below the Interstate 20 corridor, according to NWS officials. Click here for the latest.
I can’t embed the video from the Dallas Morning News, so click here to view snowfall in the DFW area. The above photo is a screen capture from the video of downtown Dallas today.
And speaking of snow… .
According to the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La., we aren’t expected to get any.
**UPDATE**
The NWS is forecasting a “slight chance” of snow for Union County Friday night. Little or no accumulation is expected, however.
Streets in Felsenthal are still flooded, and Mayor Lester Lancaster said he expected water levels to remain high through mid-November.
The Ouachita River is expected to fall to a level of 84.3 feet by Nov. 17, he said. “But that would still mean that K Avenue and other streets would still be flooded.”
Right now, the Tram Road, an old railway path, is the only way to access the city by car, and several homes there remain flooded.
As of Thursday afternoon, the river level was at 85.4 feet, according to the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La. Flood stage is 70 feet.
I spoke with the Salvation Army in El Dorado Thursday, and the organization has served approximately 700 meals to residents there. Look for an update in Saturday’s News-Times.
It looks like Ida isn’t going to pack that much of a wallop. According to the National Hurricane Center, Ida has already weakened into a tropical depression.
That’s good news for folks along the Gulf Coast, specifically in the Pensacola, Fla., area.
I’ll send you here for more.
Top news stories Local weather