textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 157 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

-One more day of dry conditions and near normal temperatures

-Winds to shift out of the south Wednesday afternoon and begin an influx of moisture and higher temperatures into the weekend

-Several rounds of rain and t'storms expected into next week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 157 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

A weak surface high has developed just on the TN side of the MO bootheel. Light ESE will shift to mainly SSE by mid afternoon Weds. Some 20mph+ gusts will be possible in higher elevations as the high pressure begins to strengthen and dig in over the Deep South. Low Min RHs combined with these gusty winds in elevation could present a conditional elevated fire risk. Highs will start our climb back to well above normal temps Weds, widespread mid to upper 70s expected.

Once winds shift to SSE they will persist through the weekend as the ridge off to our E hangs around. This flow will gradually bring Gulf moisture and higher temps across the region for several days. Increased moisture will put to rest much of the fire weather concern starting Thursday in W AR and area wide by Fri. Highs into the weekend will build into the lower to mid 80s with the hottest day being Sat.

Friday afternoon PoPs begin to increase as a trough swings around the Great Lakes and pushes a cold front towards the region from the north. How much rain and how far south into our FA this front gets will be dependent on the location and how strong the ridge to the east is. A weaker/more east ridge would likely stall the front across N AR and some rainfall totals could get close to an inch. A stronger/more west ridge would stall the front to our North in MO, this would result in little to no rainfall in AR.

Saturday through mid-afternoon Sunday will be a window of very pleasant weather before an extended active synoptic pattern starts and hangs around through next week. By Sunday afternoon a deepening trough will push the entrenched ridge out of the area. As this ridge gets pushed out the first shortwave will eject around the trough and increase rain and thunderstorm chances that will remain elevated through the rest of the period. How far east this rain makes it will also depend on how far the shortwave can dig into the ridge.

Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are anticipated into next week. The synoptic pattern remains supportive of several days of severe weather from the Plains to the Mid-South into next week. Overall timing of the trough and mesoscale features still yet to be determined as this pattern enters the mid to short range over the next several days.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1207 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

Widespread VFR conditions are expected through the period under high pressure. Some high level clouds will be possible by the end of the period.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 54 79 57 82 / 0 0 0 20 Camden AR 52 81 57 83 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 52 78 57 80 / 0 0 0 50 Hot Springs AR 52 80 56 82 / 0 0 0 10 Little Rock AR 54 80 58 82 / 0 0 0 10 Monticello AR 54 81 58 83 / 0 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 52 79 56 81 / 0 0 0 20 Mountain Home AR 52 79 56 81 / 0 0 0 40 Newport AR 53 80 56 82 / 0 0 0 20 Pine Bluff AR 52 80 57 82 / 0 0 0 10 Russellville AR 52 81 56 82 / 0 0 0 20 Searcy AR 49 80 54 82 / 0 0 0 10 Stuttgart AR 54 79 57 82 / 0 0 0 10

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.