Two people were killed by falling trees in northeast Arkansas as a powerful storm system tore through the region and knocked over trees and utility lines.
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management spokesman Brandon Morris said one man died when a tree fell on a van in the Lawrence County town of Black Rock on Thursday. In Jonesboro, Craighead County Coroner Toby Emerson said a man died in his home when a tree fell on the structure. Names of the dead weren't released, pending relatives being notified.
The storms damaged numerous homes and businesses and caused widespread power outages in the region.
Affected counties include Craighead, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi and Lawrence. Morris said no other injuries were reported but there was plenty of property damage in Craighead and Lawrence counties.
(Earlier report)
A powerful storm system tore down trees and knocked out electricity to more than 9,500 homes and businesses as it made its way across northern Arkansas.
The storm system brought powerful winds to parts of northern Arkansas as it moved through the Ozark Mountains on Thursday.
The Storm Prediction Center says northern Arkansas was at a moderate risk of severe weather Thursday, along with southern Missouri, western Tennessee, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Kansas.
A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for northern and eastern Arkansas until 5 p.m. Thursday.