ARKANSAS — (AP) — Severe weather spawned a tornado Saturday in northeast Arkansas, damaging shopping areas in the college town of Jonesboro.
There are no immediate reports of injuries, but local media coverage shows substantial damage to buildings.
Jonesboro E-911 Director Jeff Presley tells TV station KAIT that a mall was damaged and that first responders were searching the area. Most stores in the Mall at Turtle Creek were closed Saturday to help in fight against spreading coronavirus pandemic.
The National Weather Service tweeted a video from the Arkansas Department of Transportation that showed a large tornado dropping from storm clouds in Jonesboro.
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, who represents much of eastern Arkansas, said on Twitter that a tornado tore through "the heart of town" and asked for prayers for first responders. Crawford said his staff and family were safe.
Forecasters with the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, warned that a severe weather outbreak was possible later Saturday for much of the central U.S. Forecasters said tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds are possible, particularly in parts of Illinois and Iowa.
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