Weather
Tornado Watch Issued for Parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi
The National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch for portions of southeastern Arkansas, eastern and northeastern Louisiana, and western and southwestern Mississippi.
The watch is in effect from 5:00 PM until 10:00 PM CDT as conditions are highly favorable for severe weather, including tornadoes, large hail, and damaging wind gusts.
Affected Areas
In central Louisiana, the following parishes are included in the watch:
- Rapides
- Grant
- Allen
- Evangeline
- St. Landry
- Avoyelles
- LaSalle
- Catahoula
- Winn
- Concordia
Primary Threats
- Several tornadoes are possible, including the potential for strong and intense (EF2+) tornadoes.
- Scattered damaging wind gusts of up to 70 mph are likely.
- Scattered large hail is expected, with isolated instances of very large hail up to 2 inches in diameter possible.
Thunderstorm development is anticipated this afternoon and evening within a highly unstable and strongly sheared atmospheric environment across the Lower Mississippi Valley.
Given these conditions, supercell thunderstorms capable of producing all severe weather hazards, including large hail and strong tornadoes, are expected to develop.
The Tornado Watch covers an area approximately 65 miles east and west of a line extending from 65 miles south-southeast of Alexandria, LA, to 25 miles northwest of Greenwood, MS.
Residents in the affected areas should closely monitor weather alerts and have a severe weather safety plan in place.
Stay informed through official weather sources, including the National Weather Service, local emergency management, and NOAA Weather Radio. Additional warnings may be issued as the situation develops.
Emergency crews are responding to widespread storm damage in Princeton, Indiana after a tornado touched down in the area Thursday evening, leaving a trail of destruction across multiple neighborhoods.
According to the National Weather Service, a trained weather spotter confirmed a tornado in the area, reporting that the storm tore roofs off buildings and caused major structural damage.
The most heavily impacted area includes the vicinity of Seminary and Oak Streets, where multiple mobile homes sustained significant damage.
Officials on scene confirmed that power lines are down, contributing to hazardous conditions.
Residents are strongly urged to avoid the affected area, both for safety and to allow emergency personnel to conduct response and recovery operations.
Emergency management officials stated that, at this time, no injuries have been reported, and all residents in the damaged area have been accounted for.
The damage spans an estimated eight-block area, with visible destruction to homes, debris scattered across roads, and utility disruptions throughout the community.
Local authorities continue to assess the extent of the damage, and cleanup efforts are underway.
Further updates will be issued as more information becomes available.