Damage reported in Butler County as severe weather moves through

UPDATE**

As of 2:30 p.m. storm spotters are reporting trees down on a house and cars on on County Road 461, west of Poplar Bluff, and damage to a house on County Road 470.

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Trees have been reported down in central Poplar Bluff and other areas of Butler County. DAR/Donna Farley

At 1 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Butler County and the surrounding areas through 8 p.m.

Storm spotters are tracking the storm and expect it to reach Butler County by about 3 p.m., said Craig Meador of the Poplar Bluff Severe Weather Response Team. Spotters will continue to track the system’s progress, he said.

The second round of thunderstorms is expected to bring heavy rainfall as the primary concern, especially in areas that received flooding rains recently, the NWS reports.

Strong gusty winds could also accompany the storms tonight, they say.

Counties under the watch include: CARTER; DUNKLIN; RIPLEY; STODDARD; and WAYNE.