Arkansas man dies as storms hit state

OKLAHOMA CITY—A tornado watch on Saturday was expanded to include five additional states in the central United States as a strong storm system moved from the Plains states and across the Mid-South.

The latest watch was in effect until 9 p.m. Saturday and addednortheastern Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, northwestern Mississippi, western Tennessee, western Kentucky and southern Illinois.

The previous watch remained in effect until 6 p.m. and already included most of most of the remainder of Arkansas in addition to northeastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Louisiana.

The National Weather Service said the system was also capable of producing wind gusts of up to 75 mph and hail up to 2 inches in diameter, or about the size of an egg.

Heavy rain and flooding is also possible.

In northeast Arkansas, an 83-year-old man was killed after high winds toppled a trailer home. Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller told KAIT-TV that Albert Foster died Saturday night after the home was blown into a pond.

About 50 miles away, the weather service said the roof was blown off a hotel in Osceola, about 160 miles north of Memphis, Tenn.

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens signed an executive order earlier Saturday declaring a state of emergency ahead of the anticipated storms and flooding in parts of southern Missouri.

The order activates the resources of the Missouri National Guard and ensures state resources are available in the event of weather damage.

A levee breach along the Kankakee River in northwestern Indiana had local officials urging about 30 homeowners to evacuate.