New Year's Eve Tornado Kills Three in Arkansas

Although rare in December, tornadoes can occur anytime of the year and this one struck a small town in Arkansas:

Emergency workers in Washington County, Arkansas have confirmed three people are dead after a possible tornado touchdown in the small town of Cincinnati in northwestern Arkansas.

The emergency workers are working to free several people trapped in buildings hit by the storm.

Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is closed now because of debris on the runway.

The initial report is that a brick home, a mobile home and a barn have been destroyed. Local reports say a weather service crew is headed to the scene to investigate.

This has been a severe weather week around the country.

UPDATE: The storms have continued into Missouri:

Severe weather moved through southwest Missouri early Friday morning causing damage in numerous locations.

The National Weather Service has confirmed one fatality and one injury in northwest Dent county on County Road 2050 where a trailer was destroyed.

The most numerous reports are coming from Fort Leonard Wood where officials report that a tornado caused damage and injuries on the base. Information is limited due to apparent communications issues at the base. The Laclede County Office of Emergency Management posted on their Facebook page: "Laclede County Emergency Operations Center Staff assisting Ft. Wood EOC staff with communications relay due to tornado damage on Fort Leonard Wood." Reports into The National Weather Service from law enforcement state that three homes were damaged at Fort Leonard Wood.