textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 213 AM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

- Heat advisories are in effect over parts of central, eastern, north, and northeast Arkansas and within the Arkansas River valley through the 4th of July. - An increase in cloudiness with isolated showers and thunderstorms from Sunday through the latter part of next week will provide limited relief.

- Temperatures will a few degrees above normal through the forecast period for early July.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 213 AM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

An isolated shower over Sharp county from early this morning has now dissipated. Elsewhere throughout the state, some high level cloudiness was noted over parts of northern and western Arkansas early this morning with light and variable winds.

Another day of hazardous heat is expected across parts of central, eastern, south/southeast, north/northeast Arkansas and the Arkansas River valley region with Heat Advisories in effect today and Friday across those areas. The only relief in sight will be isolated showers and thunderstorms each afternoon through the 4th of July weekend.

The subtropical ridge of high pressure over the southeastern US will hold firm through today, then begin to break down as the upper trough over the western US lifts northeast into the central/northern plains later tonight. This will aid in weakening and then flatting of the subtropical ridge on Saturday. By Sunday, another subtropical ridge will build across the parts of the southwest US into the southern Plains, while troughing will develop over the eastern US early next week. A Bermuda ridge will also begin to build early next week into the southeastern US.

Depending on the orientation of the troughing over the eastern US, and the proximity of the western ridge and Bermuda high, parts of northeast Arkansas could be in the proximity of northwest flow by early next week. Nonetheless, due to diurnal destabilization, steep low and mid level lapse rates along with some mid level dry air, with precipitable water of 1.75 to 2.0 inches are shown within point soundings each afternoon through the middle part of next week. With that in mind, a pulse strong to severe thunderstorm or two cannot be ruled out. As we head into early next week, model guidance continues to show an increasing in cloudiness will lead toward high temperatures in the lower 90s through the latter part of next week.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 620 AM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

Expect widespread VFR conditions through the morning hours with light south to southeast winds throughout the day. SKC this morning will give way to diurnal CU by this afternoon with isolated SHRA and TSRA. All SHRA/TSRA will dissipate around sunset this evening. Low confidence remains with timing and placement of SHRA and TSRA at any site at this time. If a TSRA does pop at or near a terminal, then main aviation impacts will be a brief drop to MVFR/IFR, gusty thunderstorm winds, and frequent lightning.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 94 76 94 75 / 10 10 20 20 Camden AR 93 74 93 73 / 10 0 30 20 Harrison AR 89 73 90 72 / 20 10 30 20 Hot Springs AR 92 76 93 75 / 10 10 40 20 Little Rock AR 94 77 94 77 / 10 0 20 20 Monticello AR 93 76 94 75 / 10 0 20 20 Mount Ida AR 90 74 91 74 / 10 10 40 20 Mountain Home AR 90 74 90 73 / 10 10 30 20 Newport AR 96 77 95 76 / 10 0 30 10 Pine Bluff AR 93 76 93 75 / 10 0 20 20 Russellville AR 92 77 93 76 / 20 0 30 20 Searcy AR 94 76 95 75 / 10 0 20 20 Stuttgart AR 94 77 95 77 / 10 0 20 20

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Saturday for ARZ006>008-014>017-024- 025-031>034-039-043>047-055>057-064-065-069-121>123-130-138-230- 238.