textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 100 AM CDT Sat Oct 17 2026

-Much cooler temperatures expected to continue this weekend, including possible patchy frost conditions in the higher elevations of portions of northern Arkansas Sunday morning.

-Warming trend back to above normal levels are possible by the middle of next week.

-No significant rainfall is expected for the next week or so with drought conditions continuing to worsen.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 100 AM CDT Sat Oct 17 2026

Satellite early this morning shows some low clouds streaming into parts of far northern Arkansas. These clouds are associated with some low level moisture on the backside of the upper trough now east of the state in the Ohio river valley that dragged a cold front through the state on Friday. Temperatures across the state early this morning are in the 50s with clear skies elsewhere in Arkansas. Lows later this morning will bottom out generally in the 40s across the state with a few locations possibly seeing upper 30s across the higher terrain areas of northern and western Arkansas. A few areas of patchy frost are not entirely out of the question this morning and Sunday morning as well. Temperatures today and Sunday will be roughly around 5 to 7 degrees for afternoon highs for mid October.

As we head into the day, high pressure will build north and eastward into the state behind the upper trough will have moved into the eastern US. Another day of slightly below normal temperatures is expected with north to northeast winds across the state, but not nearly as breezy as Friday with winds generally 10 to 15 mph seen across the state with a few gusts around 20 mph possible.

By Sunday, the ridge axis will east move over the state during the day, before moving into the Ohio river valley Sunday evening into Monday morning. This will allow winds to veer from the north/northeast to south/southeast bringing warmer air north into the state.

Temperatures by Monday will to above normal during the early part of next week, then well above normal by the latter part of the week. A few locations during the latter part of next week may approach record territory for afternoon highs. Dry conditions will unfortunately prevail as little to no rainfall is expected through the latter part of next week and possibly longer.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 624 PM CDT Sat Oct 17 2026

Widespread VFR conditions are expected through the period. Winds will be out of the N/NE through the period and could continue to be gusty through the evening hours. With that said, wind speeds will decrease considerbly overnight.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 39 69 41 74 / 0 0 0 0 Camden AR 40 73 41 79 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 39 68 41 72 / 0 0 0 0 Hot Springs AR 41 71 43 77 / 0 0 0 0 Little Rock AR 43 71 44 76 / 0 0 0 0 Monticello AR 43 73 45 78 / 0 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 40 71 41 77 / 0 0 0 0 Mountain Home AR 40 67 40 72 / 0 0 0 0 Newport AR 39 71 41 75 / 0 0 0 0 Pine Bluff AR 39 72 41 78 / 0 0 0 0 Russellville AR 42 70 43 75 / 0 0 0 0 Searcy AR 39 70 41 75 / 0 0 0 0 Stuttgart AR 41 72 43 78 / 0 0 0 0

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Frost Advisory from 4 AM to 8 AM CDT Sunday for ARZ006-007-015.