textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1246 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

-Cold temperatures and cold wind chill values will be noted statewide this morning

-A widespread Freeze across the state of Arkansas is expected to take place this morning before temperatures begin increasing late this morning

-An increase of temperatures overall will take place on Wednesday and continue to values well-above normal for this time of the year by late workweek and into the weekend statewide

-Rain chances across Arkansas over the next seven days remain near zero

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1246 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

Cold temperatures will begin the forecast period across the state this morning with widespread temperatures below the freezing mark statewide. The state remain in a Freeze Warning into this morning before temperatures manage to warm above the freezing mark.

The main weather story over the remainder of the workweek and into the weekend will be the dominant upper lvl ridge in place over the Southwestern region of the CONUS which will keep northwesterly flow over Arkansas. At the sfc, a warm front will move from southwest to northeast across Arkansas during the day on Tuesday and begin a process of highly effective WAA as southwesterly winds will begin to advect southerly to southwesterly winds into Arkansas which will lead to a rapid increase in overall temperatures.

Per example, forecast daytime high temperatures across the state on Wednesday are expected to be in the 60s and 70s across the state while from Thursday through Sunday temperatures will continue to in crease overall as daytime high temperatures are forecast to peak into the 80s statewide on Thursday and Friday.

Into Saturday and Sunday, the increase of well-above normal temperatures for this time year will continue as high temperatures over the weekend will be in the 80s across all of Arkansas with a few locations across the western half of Arkansas approaching and eclipsing the 90 degree mark in some locations.

For perspective, high temperatures will be 15 to 20+ degrees above average than normals for this time of the year by the weekend. Additionally, no chances for any rainfall are forecast over this period as fair and dry weather conditions are expected.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 534 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

Expect VFR flight category for the entire forecast period of Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning. The northern terminals of KHRO and KBPK will experience surface wind gusts in excess of 20 knots from Tuesday late afternoon through Tuesday evening. Low level wind shear will be present at the sites of KHRO, KBPK, KHOT, and KADF from late Tuesday evening through the early morning hours on Wednesday. The sites of KHOT and KPBF have been designated "AMD NOT SKED" due to a communication issue that is currently being worked by maintenance personnel as observations are not being communicated.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 50 39 68 48 / 0 10 0 0 Camden AR 55 38 70 46 / 0 10 0 0 Harrison AR 51 40 70 47 / 10 10 0 0 Hot Springs AR 54 39 69 46 / 0 10 0 0 Little Rock AR 53 40 69 48 / 0 10 0 0 Monticello AR 53 40 69 49 / 0 10 0 0 Mount Ida AR 55 39 71 46 / 0 10 0 0 Mountain Home AR 50 38 70 45 / 10 10 0 0 Newport AR 48 40 66 46 / 0 20 0 0 Pine Bluff AR 52 38 67 47 / 0 10 0 0 Russellville AR 55 40 71 46 / 0 10 0 0 Searcy AR 50 37 67 44 / 0 10 0 0 Stuttgart AR 50 40 66 47 / 0 10 0 0

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Freeze Warning until 10 AM CDT this morning for ARZ004>008- 014>017-024-025-031>034-039-042>047-052>057-062>069-103-112-113- 121>123-130-137-138-140-141-203-212-213-221>223-230-237-238-240- 241-313-340-341.