textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1222 AM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

-Additional thunderstorms possible early this morning through around sunrise along the I-40/Arkansas River Valley corridor. An isolated strong/severe thunderstorm could be seen...with damaging winds the primary threat. Additional thunderstorms possible Tuesday afternoon as well

-Heat headlines continue for Tuesday...with Extreme Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories in place for all but the northeastern section of the state

-Very hot conditions expected areawide on Wednesday...with temps near or over 100 degrees for many areas

-New front will move through the state by Thursday...with better rain chances and slightly cooler conditions expected late this week into the weekend

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1222 AM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

Mostly quiet conditions are ongoing early this Tue morning after the weak front dropped south into the state on Mon. A SVR storm produced widespread wind damage along and north of the I-40 corridor Mon afternoon...with numerous reports of damage. New convection is now developing just west of the CWA near FSM...activity likely forming just ahead of a weak upper wave dropping ESE into the state. Near- term hi-res guidance suggests this activity continuing off and on overnight into sunrise Tue...potentially moving east in the same general path as Mon afternoon storm...along the I-40/AR River Valley corridor. The threat for SVR Wx with this activity should be lower than seen on Mon...but still wouldn't rule out an isolated strong/SVR storm.

There may be a break after sunrise into the early afternoon hrs in the convective potential...but the front that moved south into the state on Mon...will lift back north Tue afternoon. Areas SW of this front will likely see temps back in the upper 90s to around 100...with heat index values near or over 105...potentially over 110 in some areas. Heat headlines will continue for all but the NERN counties where relatively cooler air will remain. Some additional afternoon convection may also develop along/SW of the front over the SWRN half of the CWA.

By Wed...SW SFC flow will intensify...and afternoon mixing will allow for lower dewpts in the afternoon hrs...but also result in hotter temps. In fact...this may result in nearly the hottest conditions of the year so far...with highs for most areas likely at or over 100. Even with the drier afternoon air...some additional afternoon isolated convection may again be possible as a new front drops south towards the state. This front will continue dropping south into the state on Thu as an upper shortwave drops SE through the region. This will bring better chances for rainfall...and cooler conditions for later this week into the weekend.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 523 AM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

Some isolated to widely scattered SHRA is ongoing this morning over portions of central AR. This activity should move east by later this morning. Additional convection may develop late this afternoon/evening across SWRN sections as a front lifts back north across the state. Beyond any convective activity...expect dominant VFR conditions to persist.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 98 76 103 74 / 20 0 30 40 Camden AR 101 77 101 77 / 20 20 20 0 Harrison AR 96 76 98 72 / 0 0 20 40 Hot Springs AR 102 77 103 77 / 20 10 20 10 Little Rock AR 103 78 106 79 / 30 10 20 10 Monticello AR 101 78 102 79 / 20 20 10 10 Mount Ida AR 101 77 103 77 / 20 10 20 10 Mountain Home AR 95 74 98 72 / 0 0 20 60 Newport AR 96 75 101 75 / 20 0 20 50 Pine Bluff AR 98 76 101 77 / 20 20 20 20 Russellville AR 101 76 106 77 / 20 0 20 20 Searcy AR 98 74 104 75 / 30 0 20 20 Stuttgart AR 99 77 103 78 / 20 10 20 20

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for ARZ004-005-014-024- 033-042-045>047-052>057-062>069-103-112-113-123-137-140-141-203- 212-213-221>223-237-240-241-313-340-341.

Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for ARZ031-032- 039-043-044-121-122-130-138-230-238.