Strong winds whipped through the Natural State on Wednesday, knocking out power to thousands and feeding wildfires across the state. As of 3 p.m., the National Weather Service was reporting sustained winds from 20 to 32 mph in central Arkansas communities with gusts up to 44 mph at the Little Rock Air Base in Jacksonville, 47 mph at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport and 48 mph in Conway.
The highest reported winds were in Batesville, which experienced 28 mph and gusts of 53 mph.
Meanwhile, local media outlets are reporting fire crews were battling at least 38 wildfires, including at least seven within Little Rock city limits. Arkansas Goodwill headquarters in southwest Little Rock caught fire around 4:30 p.m., now contained, and a large blaze was threatening the Walmart on Bowman Road and Chenal Parkway…