Severe Weather Outbreak and Tornado Emergency in Multiple States
The United States is bracing for a violent thunderstorm outbreak and a tornado emergency as a large and destructive tornado hit the Little Rock Metro Area on Friday. More than a dozen states, including Arkansas, central Illinois, and other regions, are forecast to be impacted by this explosive storm, putting about 89 million people at risk.
According to reports from the National Weather Service, the storm is moving quickly across the country, heading east at speeds of up to 50 mph. Several tornado warnings have been issued for different parts of central Arkansas, including Pulaski and Lonoke counties. The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded the risk for severe storms across eastern Arkansas to a rare Level 5 out of 5 risk.
Tornado Strikes Sherwood, Arkansas
The violent storm system produced a tornado that struck Sherwood, Arkansas early Friday afternoon causing widespread damage. The front gate of Camp Robinson was closed due to significant damage beyond it. Power was knocked out in many areas, including the National Guard office. Debris has been reported near Interstate 430 in Little Rock.
The Weather Service in North Little Rock declared a tornado emergency and shut down operations. Entergy’s outage map showed that over 45,000 customers were without power. The city of Little Rock advised residents to stay in their homes while emergency officials were dispatched to respond.
Tornado Warning Issued for Little Rock Metro Area
There have been numerous reports of damage from an earlier tornado in the Little Rock metro area, prompting authorities to issue a tornado warning for parts of Lonoke and Pulaski counties on Friday afternoon. A tornado emergency was declared for the region due to confirmed sightings of a large and destructive tornado on the ground.
The National Weather Service reported that a destructive tornado was over Burns Park and near North Little Rock, causing significant damage around the Little Rock metro area, including trees down on major roadways causing traffic accidents. There is also severe damage in Jacksonville.
The storm could produce 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch of rain, and wind gusts could reach 35 to 45 mph. People are advised to have a plan in place in case of a tornado warning.
Winter Storm and Blizzard Conditions Expected
In addition to the tornado outbreak, the same storm system is expected to produce blizzard conditions and heavy snow from the central Plains to the upper Great Lakes region. A winter storm warning goes into effect in parts of Oregon and Washington with snow accumulations up to 48 inches.
Tornado season in the USA has been very active with more than 300 tornadoes and 31 deaths in 2022. Several rare high risk zones for severe weather were issued by the Storm Prediction Center for this latest outbreak, the first time in two years.
The president and first lady are visiting areas severely damaged by tornadoes last week as part of their commitment to supporting recovery efforts. With more violent storms expected in many parts of the USA, it’s essential for people to stay alert and informed about changes in weather conditions.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
