textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 308 AM CDT Wed Jun 24 2026

- Near daily rounds of showers/storms expected through Friday

- Upper ridging/surface high will build into the region late week

- Temps to increase from below average to above average

- Heat headlines likely needed early/middle part of next week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 308 AM CDT Wed Jun 24 2026

Showers and isolated thunderstorms were ongoing over portions of N/Cntrl/SE AR this morning. This activity is expected to expand in coverage through the predawn hours thanks to a passing weak upper level shortwave. Today, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to redevelop with the approach of a secondary weak upper level shortwave set to traverse the region later this afternoon. Upper level wind profiles will favor an environment conducive for training of storms, given this, flash flooding will be the greatest thunderstorm hazard. Damaging winds can not be ruled out within stronger convection. Highs today are expected to be in the lower to mid 80s. Winds today will be out of the S/SW at around 10 mph. Dew pt temps are expected to creep back into the low/mid 70s by the afternoon.

Synoptically, NW flow will be in place across the region through mid week. By late week, NW flow should briefly transition to zonal flow, then become SW flow as upper level ridge takes shape over the SE U.S.. Heading into early next week, the upper level ridge should be situated overtop the Cntrl/Srn MS Valley into the the TN and OH Valley regions.

Early in the period, upper level disturbances are expected to traverse NW flow on a near daily basis resulting in MCS development and/or broken complexes of showers and thunderstorms. Once complexes develop, they should track SE over the region. The main hazards with these storms will be flash flooding and damaging winds. Daily PoP chances will start to wane by the weekend with temps climbing back above to well above average.

Large scale forcing for subsidence should suppress organized rainfall across the area into early portion of next week. With high antecedent soil moisture in place (thanks to recent rainfall) coupled with warm and moist air advection on S/SWrly winds, temps are expected to climb into the mid/upper 90s with apparent T's reaching or exceeding heat headline criteria. Heat risk is also on par favoring Major Risk category late in the period (driven mainly by warm overnight lows). Talking about warm overnight temps, readings may struggle to fall below 80 degrees in AR River Valley, Cntrl AR, and Ern AR Sunday night through at least Tuesday night. WBGT temps may approach upper 80s/near 90 over portions of Cntrl AR into Ern sections of the state Sunday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. Long range guidance suggests the upper level ridge could linger over the region beyond the end of the long term period. This would prolong the period of dangerous heat anticipated across AR.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1224 PM CDT Wed Jun 24 2026

Mixed MVFR/VFR condns were noted acrs the FA Wed aftn, w/ higher cirrus moving Ewrd into Wrn AR fm ongoing convection in OK. Expect convection over Wrn AR to persist thru the evng hours, possibly bringing impacts to SWrn terminals. A brief lull in precip activity is anticipated around 06Z Wed night, before another wave of convection develops along a band extending ESE fm approx FSM towards PBF. There is still some uncertainty in placement of overnight precip, but at least intermittent MVFR condns wl be possible. MVFR VISBYs may be possible overnight where rainfall does not occur, particularly in regions where rainfall occurred on Wed aftn. Winds thru the PD wl stay light and variable.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 70 87 73 89 / 50 30 50 10 Camden AR 71 93 73 93 / 50 20 0 0 Harrison AR 68 84 72 85 / 60 60 30 30 Hot Springs AR 71 90 74 91 / 60 20 0 0 Little Rock AR 71 90 75 92 / 40 20 10 0 Monticello AR 72 91 75 92 / 40 30 0 0 Mount Ida AR 71 89 74 89 / 60 10 0 0 Mountain Home AR 68 84 72 86 / 60 50 40 20 Newport AR 70 89 74 91 / 50 30 30 0 Pine Bluff AR 71 90 74 92 / 50 30 0 0 Russellville AR 71 90 74 91 / 60 30 10 10 Searcy AR 69 89 73 91 / 50 30 20 0 Stuttgart AR 72 90 76 92 / 40 30 10 0

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.