Storms bring heavy winds, power outages throughout Region 8
JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - A strong storm system brought heavy winds and caused nearly 6,500 people to be without power throughout Region 8 Wednesday.
The storm system moved into Sharp County around 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, County OEM Director Jeremy Langston said. Tree limbs and power lines were reported down throughout the county, while a limb went through a house in the Cave City area.
Langston said the storm system lasted for about an hour and that no injuries were reported in Sharp County.
According to the National Weather Service, heavy winds were also reported near Ash Flat around Highway 167 and Fairground Road, as well as 52 mph winds at the Newport Airport.
Jonesboro/Craighead County E-911 Director Jeff Presley said two wrecks were reported in the Harrisburg and Parker Road areas, with trees down in the 2300 block of Anne Street and on Sanderson Street. Also, several power/traffic signal outages were reported on the south side of town.
Crews have been dispatched and officials are asking people to treat the area as a four-way stop, Presley said.
The storms also caused power outages.
As of 4:55 p.m., Entergy Arkansas reported about 840 people in the state were without power.
At least 160 people in Cross County and 180 people in Poinsett County were without power, with sporadic outages reported in Baxter, Craighead, Crittenden, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Mississippi, Sharp, St. Francis and White counties.
Craighead Electric reported on its website nearly 1,500 people were without power, with 900 without power in Lawrence County, with sporadic outages in Poinsett, Craighead, Crittenden, Sharp and Greene counties.
North Arkansas Electric also reported about 1,100 customers were without power, with nearly 550 each in the Ash Flat and Salem areas.
WEATHER INFORMATION
One of the best ways to be aware of the weather is to follow the Region 8 StormTEAM:
- Watch the latest forecasts on KAIT-TV at 4:30-7 a.m., Midday at 11 a.m., News at 5, 6, and 10 p.m. on KAIT-ABC & KAIT-NBC. Newscasts are available over the air, on cable & satellite where available, on kait8.com, on the Region 8 News mobile app for smartphones and tablets (to install or update the news app search KAIT in your mobile marketplace).
-OTT watch Region 8 News from any device by downloading the Region 8 News app, the Region 8 Weather app, the Region 8 News Roku channel, or on the Region 8 News on Amazon Firestick.
- Follow the Region 8 StormTEAM on social media:
FACEBOOK:
· facebook.com/ryanvaughanweather
· facebook.com/BryanMcCormickKAIT
· facebook.com/ZachHolderWeather
· facebook.com/MeteorologistAaronCastleberry
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