Early Morning Storms Roll Into Northwest Arkansas With Thunder and Lightning Before Weakening, but No Severe Weather Is Expected
Northwest Arkansas – Many residents across Northwest Arkansas may be waking up to the sound of thunder this Sunday morning. A cluster of rain and storms began moving into the region around 2:40 a.m. on September 27, bringing lightning, rumbles of thunder, and pockets of heavy rain as it pushed in from the northwest.
Storms Moving In From Oklahoma and Missouri
Radar showed a large area of rain and thunderstorms stretching across northeast Oklahoma and southwest Missouri, near Miami and Joplin, as it drifted southeast toward Arkansas. The leading edge of the activity reached the Springdale area overnight, with frequent lightning showing up across the northwest corner of the state.
This batch of rain and storms is expected to keep moving into western and northwest Arkansas through the morning hours. Areas around Springdale, Fayetteville, Rogers, and Bentonville are most likely to see the activity first, with the storms then drifting toward Fort Smith and nearby communities.
Storms Expected to Weaken
The good news is that this system is expected to weaken and fall apart as it moves deeper into Arkansas. As the storms lose energy, the rain should become lighter and more scattered, with thunder becoming less frequent later in the morning.
Severe Weather Not Expected
Severe weather is not expected with this round of storms. Damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes are not a concern at this time. However, the storms could still be noisy, with thunder and lightning possibly waking people up during the early morning hours.
What Residents Should Know
Even though the storms are not severe, anyone heading out early should be ready for wet roads and reduced visibility in heavier downpours. Pet owners may want to keep an eye on animals that are sensitive to thunder. It is also a good idea to stay indoors when lightning is nearby, since any thunderstorm can produce dangerous lightning strikes.
Quieter Weather Later in the Day
As the storm activity fades, conditions across Northwest Arkansas should gradually improve through the rest of the day. For most people, this round of weather will simply mean a rumbly start to Sunday rather than any major impacts.
For more Arkansas weather updates and storm alerts, stay with bchssreport.com.