The National Weather Service in Little Rock says a weak tornado, commonly known as a "water spout" touched down in northwest Arkansas.
Weather service meteorologist Jeff Hood says the tornado briefly touched Bull Shoals Lake in Marion County Tuesday night and did not reach land. He said it will likely be classified an EF0 - the weakest tornado with wind speeds of 65 to 85 mph. There are no reports of damage.
The storm comes ahead of another system that's expected to produce large hail, high winds and possibly tornadoes in a region that includes northwest Arkansas, northeast Oklahoma and southwest Missouri on Wednesday.
Hood said the greatest threat is golf ball to tennis ball-sized hail as the storm develops starting Wednesday afternoon and continues through the early morning hours Thursday.
