Southeast Arkansans woke up to dark skies Wednesday as severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings were issued for parts of the region before 7:45 a.m.
A siren in the Pine Bluff area was sounded at about 6:50 a.m. At 7:02 a.m. the NWS reported a severe thunderstorm 7 miles east of Carthage, or 14 miles south of Sheridan, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Due to the weather event, all bus operations in the White Hall School District were temporarily paused. Superintendent Gary Williams said before 9 a.m. all bus riders should be on campus, after some riders were sent to Hardin Elementary to keep clear of the bad weather.
Buses ran their normal routes in the Pine Bluff and Watson Chapel school districts. Pine Bluff district Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree said some routes may have had a little delay of time at stops due to cautious driving.
Temperatures for Wednesday night were to drop down to 37 after high chances of heavy rain were forecast for Pine Bluff. Skies are expected to be clear Thursday with a high of 57 and low of 40. Skies will range from sunny to partly sunny through the weekend, with the mercury rising into the 70s Saturday and Sunday.