The storms last night did spawn two tornadoes. The first tornado developed in southern Newton county about 4 miles W-SW of Nail.  It was rated an EF1 with a path of .5 mile.  It tracked through a very rural area with a few downed trees.

The second tornado was spawned in northern Pope  near Treat.  It was an EF0 with a path of .3 mile. Only a few trees on top of a ridge were knocked down.

12:30 PM Update... Tornado watch for southern Arkansas until 7 PM

Noon Update... Please send your rainfall amounts in the comment section below.  Flash flooding is a big concern and so is severe weather.  This Sat. afternoon, south Arkansas is warming to near 80 degrees with the front and outflow boundaries approaching.  I expect storms to initiate there and get a bit rough.  I'm watching it for you!

4:30 PM Friday Update... Here's an image of rainfall amounts through Sunday evening according to our exclusive model "Futurecast".  Remember, this is only a computer model, but it's in line with others showing heavy amounts of rainfall Sat. night into Sunday.

4 PM Friday Update... Severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 10 PM for the northern half of the state. 

The energy pulling out Sunday looks impressive and so will the rain amounts.  Futurecast shows several inches possible across the south half of the state Sunday.

2 PM Friday Update... There was a HUGE amount of rainfall with numerous water rescues in NE Oklahoma.  Here's an image of doppler radar estimates in that area...

7:45 AM Friday Update... Big thunderstorms now rolling out of NE Oklahoma into western Arkansas.  Severe thunderstorm watch now in effect for western Arkansas until 2.  Golf ball size hail possible with storms.

6:30 AM Friday Update... There is so much going on over the next seven days with our weather.  First of all, some places have seen heavy rainfall over the last several days and the ground is becoming saturated.  More rainfall is expected as a front moves into the state and disturbances interact with it.

I'm becoming more concerned with a potent system expected to arrive Sunday.  This will bring the potential for more very heavy rainfall and severe weather.  It does appear this will have enough power to push the moisture out Monday afternoon into Tuesday. 

One other note, I have been working on a story which airs tonight at 10 (Nightside).  It's about some alarming tornado statistics here in Arkansas.

1:30 PM Wednesday Update... The storms have decreased in intensity, but are still strong/severe.  I just had a brief thunderstorm here in W.L.R that dumped about .5 inch of rain in about 10 minutes.

11 AM Wednesday Update... A major storm complex is rolling through central and southern Oklahoma this morning.  A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for western Arkansas.  The image below is from late morning and it shows the storms "bowing out".  This is an indication of very high wind speeds at the apex of the bow.  Storm reports out of Oklahoma indicate some wind damage.  For those in west and southwest Arkansas, we will need to keep an eye on this to see if it holds together or not.  If it does, get ready for high winds, very heavy rainfall, and hail.  We'll keep you updated.

2:30 PM Tuesday Update... The heavy rain fell last night in parts of central and northeast Arkansas.  According to doppler radar, more than 5 inches fell in some spots with more to come.  Also, there was a weak tornado confirmed in Johnson county.  The EF1 tracked from 1.3 miles northeast of Clarksville to 2.7 miles S-SE of Hillcrest.  The length of the path was 3.1 miles.

Below is an image of doppler rain estimates as of Tuesday afternoon.

Get ready for an active weather pattern this last week of April.  It looks like a front will move into the state and stall out late Monday into Tuesday.  Waves of rainfall will be locally heavy and a strong to severe thunderstorm will be possible.

Below is a chart from the HPC showing the potential for heavy rainfall across the Red River Valley of Oklahoma into Arkansas.  I think it may be overdone, but it does show the potential for big soaker.  The yellow area indicates almost 9 inches of rainfall with 3-6 inch amounts extending into western Arkansas.