Tornado Watch in Place for 6 States as Severe Weather Hits

Tornado watches are active in six states in the early hours of Wednesday, along with unconfirmed reports of a tornado touching down in Arkansas.

The watches come after days of rough weather in the central U.S., which is often referred to as "Tornado Alley."

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The states included in the tornado watch are Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The watches are widest in Arkansas and Kentucky, with multiple counties under tornado watch until 6 a.m. CDT. Some states have only a handful of counties under watch.

A tornado watch is declared when conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. People living in affected areas are urged to be on alert for a warning to be issued.

A tornado warning, which is the most severe alert, was in place for the counties of Garland and Hot Springs in Arkansas until 1:45 a.m. CDT.

Several videos shared on social media appeared to show a tornado touching down in Arkansas in the early hours of Wednesday, although the tornado is still unconfirmed.

Photos and videos shared on social media showed severe storms hitting the state overnight, including images of marble-sized hail.

The Hot Springs Fire Department said roads in the area were "mostly impassable," according to local outlet THV11.

Several social media users reported that power was out in parts of Arkansas because of the severe weather.

On Monday and Tuesday, several states were struck by tornadoes and severe storms, causing extensive damage.

At least 15 tornadoes were reported to have struck by Monday night, of which seven were in Oklahoma, according to the National Weather Service.

The city of Barnsdall in Oklahoma was the worst affected. The city, which has a population of around 1,000, was hit just weeks after being struck by another tornado.

At least one person was killed, according to Sheriff Eddie Virden of Osage County, and several buildings and homes were badly damaged.

The central U.S. is particularly prone to twisters because of a variety of factors, especially its flat terrain, where warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico meets cooler, drier air from the north creating instability.

Michigan was also struck by tornadoes on Tuesday evening, leading to homes and businesses being damaged and several injuries being reported.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in parts of the state on Tuesday.