Plains Tornado Count Rises

Thus far today (9:00 p.m. Eastern) 20 tornadoes have been reported (mostly in Kansas), winds to 80 mph have been clocked in Missouri, and hail to 1.75" has been reported by spotters.

More than 10,000 lightning strikes per hour were reported by AccuWeather.com RadarPlus in Arkansas.

At one point 4 tornadic vortex signatures were reported on the Fort Smith, Arkansas radar, and rotation signatures were easy to see (see snapshot of reflectivity and velocity). Movies are available here.

Among the more interesting reports:

"3 MILES W OF PLUMERVILLE, AR: ON INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 110 AND 111... LUMBERYARD HIT BY TORNADO. LUMBER COVERING BOTH SIDE OF I-40... CARS TURNED OVER ON I-40."

"PERRYVILLE, AR: STRUCTURE DAMAGE TO HOUSE... PERSON TRAPPED IN HOME... AND WAS RESCUED BY EMERGENCY PERSONNEL..."

"GARLAND, AR: DOCKS DESTROYED AND BOATS OVERTURNED AT BRADY MOUNTAIN MARINA... ALSO...REPORT OF PENNY SIZED HAIL."