textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 106 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026

-Rain chances lingering into early Saturday morning for southern portions of Arkansas.

-Temperatures will remain near average to a few degrees below average through Sunday across the state.

-The next opportunity for statewide rainfall will be by the middle of the upcoming workweek.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 106 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026

FRIDAY/FRIDAY NIGHT:

A closed low aloft ejecting east of the Rockies combined with a surface stationary boundary south of the state will be the focal point of rainfall today. There is a noticeable southerly shift to the rainfall axis, so the rain chances for southern Arkansas have decreased, with forecasted amounts also lowered through Friday evening (generally one quarter inch or less). Skies will remain mostly cloudy throughout the day, with cool morning temperatures in the 40s and 50s and highs in the 60s, which is 5-10 degrees below normal.

THIS WEEKEND:

Very pleasant weather conditions developing this weekend as surface high pressure builds, as remnants of the stingy longwave troughing that's been centered across the central portions of the U.S. gradually shifts east of the region. Upper level ridging will remain to the west, so drying and warming conditions are anticipated, although temperatures continue to remain at or below normal through the weekend.

EARLY NEXT WEEK:

Ensembles remain in excellent agreement through Monday, where the warming trend continues (25th-75th highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s across the state) as a result of a moderating ridge that will shift eastward across the Plains. However, another trough deepening across the Northern Plains Monday into Tuesday will phase with the sub-tropical jet, resulting in improving rain chances through the middle of the week. Depending on how amplified this trough becomes would affect timing of rainfall and the amounts, but consensus is an unsettled weather pattern as early as Tuesday through at least Wednesday. Uncertainties with the pattern evolution is resulting in low severe weather potential during this period at this time. With more active weather anticipated, temperatures moderating back towards normal levels is expected.

MID TO LATE NEXT WEEK:

Ensemble clusters depict the upper low across the Northern Plains again shifting eastward, but how quickly this troughing shifts will depend on how amplified this feature becomes going through next week. Should the troughing linger, another couple rounds of unsettled weather may commence, but that remains to be seen at this time.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1156 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026

Expect VFR flight category across all sites for the duration of the forecast period between early Friday morning and early Saturday morning. Included VCSH across the sites of KADF, KPBF, and KLLQ for the possibility of scattered showers over the beginning of the forecast period for KADF and KPBF, but chances for VCSH will be possible over the entire forecast period.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 65 48 67 46 / 10 0 0 0 Camden AR 70 51 64 48 / 10 30 50 50 Harrison AR 65 46 64 42 / 10 0 0 0 Hot Springs AR 66 50 66 47 / 10 10 10 10 Little Rock AR 67 51 67 49 / 0 10 10 10 Monticello AR 68 52 65 49 / 10 30 40 50 Mount Ida AR 65 49 66 46 / 10 10 10 10 Mountain Home AR 67 47 65 42 / 10 0 0 0 Newport AR 65 50 67 48 / 0 0 0 0 Pine Bluff AR 69 51 67 49 / 10 10 20 30 Russellville AR 69 49 68 46 / 0 0 10 0 Searcy AR 65 48 68 46 / 0 10 10 10 Stuttgart AR 68 51 67 51 / 0 10 10 20

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.