Hazardous weather outlook - River Valley and Northwest Arkansas

TORNADO WATCH 556 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CST FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS . ARKANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE BAXTER BENTON BOONE CARROLL CRAWFORD FRANKLIN JOHNSON LOGAN MADISON MARION NEWTON POLK SCOTT SEARCY SEBASTIAN WASHINGTON This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. Tonight. TORNADO. RISK...Limited. AREA...Southeast Oklahoma into western Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...Significant. AREA...Southeast Oklahoma into western Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. AREA AT GREATEST RISK...Northwest Arkansas. DISCUSSION... Scattered thunderstorms continue to develop in the vicinity of the dry line across far northeast Oklahoma into southeast Oklahoma this evening. This activity is expected to spread to the east-northeast through the evening hours in advance of a cold front that will sweep through the area. Some of these storms could be severe with damaging winds, large hail and brief tornadoes all possible. This activity is expected to end by midnight with much cooler weather behind the cold front. Gusty northerly winds will follow the passage of a cold front on Saturday morning before gradually dying off during the afternoon and evening hours as high pressure builds into the area. Southerly winds and above normal temperatures will quickly return on Sunday and continue into the middle of next week.

By the middle of the week, another frontal boundary will approach the area, bringing a chance for showers and storms. This front may linger around the area for a bit bringing prolonged periods of rain chances to the region.