Severe Storms Hit Area

(MENA)  Wednesday, June 19th, the National Weather Service said official measurements showed winds peaked as high as 64 mph in Little Rock, though one trained storm spotter in central Arkansas recorded a gust of 70 mph.

Large hail was also seen, including some that measured an estimated four inches in diameter in Vandervoort in Polk County.

The strong winds downed numerous trees, including some that fell on homes and vehicles.

In Lincoln County near Avery, a pole barn was destroyed and in Florence in Drew County, a mobile home was damaged. It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was injured in the storms.

Power was knocked out for periods of time Wednesday evening in parts of Hatfield, Cove and Wickes.

Utility crews from SWEPCO and Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative worked feverishly to get customers power restored in a timely manner.

Sunday Night, June 23rd, the National Weather Service issued several warnings  and watches for the local area, including severe thunderstorm warning, flash flood warning and flash flood watch.

Sunday night, county officials received several reports of water over roadways and  power outages.  According to a local report, one vehicle was washed down a creek off Highway 88 East and another vehicle was stranded in water on County Road 22. No injuries were reported.

Four-inches of rain was measured at the KENA studios on Highway 71.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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