(CNN) — Two tornadoes touched down in Arkansas on Friday afternoon, the United States National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed.
Tornadoes were reported in Pulaski and Garland counties, according to Meteorologist Travis Shelton. Pulaski County includes the city of Little Rock. Garland County is located about 70 miles from Little Rock.
The area is under an unusual level 5 of 5 threat from bad weather.
Additionally, a tornado emergency has been declared for the cities of Parkin and Earl, Arkansas, located about 30 miles west of Memphis. A confirmed, large, extremely dangerous and life-threatening tornado touched down. It is expected to cross the Mississippi River into Tennessee, just north of Memphis, in the next hour.
The governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, reported for her part that there is “significant damage” in the area of the center of the state as a result of the phenomena.
“Arkansans should continue to be aware of severe weather as the storms continue to advance,” Huckabee Sanders said in a tweet. “Praying for everyone who was and remains in the path of this storm,” he added.
Significant damage has occurred in Central Arkansas. I’m in constant communication with AR State Police and @AR_Emergencies who are working with local law enforcement to assist anyone injured. Praying for all those who were and remain in the path of this storm.
Arkansans must…
—Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) March 31, 2023
State police and emergency management teams are working with local authorities to help injured residents, he said.
Little Rock City Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. called for National Guard assistance after the tornado hit his community.
“I have been in contact with Governor @SarahHuckabee Sanders to request the National Guard’s assistance with our response to the tornado emergency. Again, please stay away from affected areas to allow access for emergency services,” Scott wrote to via Twitter.
For her part, Pulaski County spokeswoman Madeline Roberts said police vehicles are being used to help transport injured people following the tornado in the area. Roberts could not confirm the number of injuries. She also explained that several fallen trees are reported in the area.
The Arkansas Office of Emergency Management told CNN that there is a “high probability” that there will be multiple injuries due to the phenomenon. And he stressed that information is still being collected because “there is widespread damage.”
Hours earlier it was reported that more than 50,000 customers were without power in Pulaski County in the moments before the tornado hit the area, according to poweroutage.us,
No injuries or structural damage have yet been reported in Garland County, Garland County Deputy Director of Emergency Management Bob King told CNN.
Report a possible tornado in Iowa
A possible tornado reported near Ottumwa, Iowa, on Friday afternoon caused structural damage, but no injuries have yet been reported, the local emergency management said. “I have reports of damage to three structures so far,” Wapello County Emergency Management Director Tim Richmond said.
The local sheriff’s office is completing an initial sweep of the area and has no reports of injuries, according to Richmond. “Damage assessment teams will probably deploy in the morning,” she said.
There are millions under a tornado watch in the US.
Tornado watches have been issued for 15 million people, from southern Arkansas to northern Iowa as of 9 p.m. Miami time, and parts of northeast Texas, northwestern Louisiana, and far south Oklahoma as of 9 p.m. 10:00 p.m. Miami time. The cities of Shreveport, Louisiana and Tyler, Texas are included in the tornado watch.
A tornado watch is also in effect for northern Illinois, northwestern Indiana, southern Wisconsin and Lake Michigan until 11 p.m. Miami time, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Storms developing late Friday afternoon and evening are expected to produce intense tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and golf ball-sized hail.
Among the cities under alert are Chicago, Madison, Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Rockford, Illinois.
With information from , , Gene Norman and Chris Boyette, all from CNN.
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