Much of Arkansas is set to see large hail and damaging winds for a short period of time Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service said.
Justin Condry, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in North Little Rock, said some parts of the state could see severe weather from about 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. that day.
Western parts of Arkansas is where the hail and damaging winds are most likely to be seen, and those parts include Fort Smith, Mena and Texarkana, Condry said.
Much of western Arkansas is also at a slight risk for severe weather. A slight risk is defined as conditions where scattered severe storms are possible, the weather service said.
Some portions of southern and Central Arkansas, including Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Conway and El Dorado, are at a marginal risk for severe weather. A marginal risk of severe weather means that isolated, severe thunderstorms are possible, according to the weather service.
"As these storms push in, there is a chance that some storms fizzle out over the more central and eastern parts of the state, but there is also a chance that some stay," Condry said.
Little Rock is more likely to see storms between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., the forecaster said.
Condry said Arkansans should make sure they have a plan, because even if this weather event does not need a safety plan, the next one might.
"We're in severe weather season and it's never too early to get ready," he said.
A bigger severe weather event is possible Friday. It could possibly impact more of the state and bring more severe storms, the forecaster said.
"The ingredients are in place, but we're still several days out and monitoring," Condry assured.