textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 207 AM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026

- Upper level high pressure centered to the east of the state this morning will slowly move to the ENE over the next few days.

- Heat advisories and Extreme Heat Warning will remain in effect through Thursday with heat index values forecast to be over 110 in the advisory area and up to 115 in the warning area.

- An Extreme Heat Watch is effect over parts of central, eastern, and northeast Arkansas for Friday. Heat Advisories are in effect for the Arkansas River valley region, southeast, north and northeast Arkansas on Friday with Heat Index values up to 110 degree possible. - An increase in cloudiness with isolated showers and thunderstorms from Saturday through the latter part of next week will provide limited relief.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 207 AM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026

A few isolated showers are all that remain from showers and thunderstorms that were seen across parts of southeast, south, and central Arkansas Tuesday night. High level cloudiness remains over parts the aforementioned areas with the remainder of the state mainly clear with light and variable winds early this morning.

Upper level high pressure over the Ohio Valley will meander through the day on Friday. Similar to Wednesday, an area of higher PWAT values around 2.20 inches will move into parts of central, eastern, and southeast Arkansas this afternoon. Surface CAPE values across most of the state will be in the 3500-4500 J/kg with steep low and mid level but absence the presence of mid level dry air. Nonetheless, a few locally strong storms would be possible with damaging winds being the primary threat. Hi-res CAMs are not nearly as robust with regards to coverage with limited isolated coverage. Those areas lucky enough to see a strong storm could also see some a brief period of locally heavy rainfall.

Another day of hazardous heat is expected across the state with a Extreme Heat Warning in effect across parts of central, eastern, and northeast Arkansas with a Heat Advisory covering the Arkansas River valley along with parts of southeast, northern, and central Arkansas. Heat Index values within the Extreme Heat Warning up to 115 degrees and up to 110 degrees within the Heat Advisory area. An additional round of isolated diurnally driven shower and thunderstorms are again possible on Friday.

As we head into Saturday, upper level high pressure over the southeast will be flatted as a shortwave rounds the base of the trough along the US west coast and traverses across the central part of the country this weekend. This will set up a typical summertime regime that will persist through the later part of next week bringing chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorm.

Temperatures through the period will be in the lower to mid 90s. A look at the CPC 6-10 day outlook for July 10th through 11th favors warmer conditions and wetter conditions across the state.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 605 AM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026

VFR conditions will persist through the morning hours across the area. Light south/southeast winds will prevail through the period with a mid and high level clouds during the day across a large part of Arkansas. Isolated SHRA & TSRA are possible this afternoon with the most favorable areas across eastern and southeast Arkansas. At this time, confidence remains too low to place in southern or central TAFs. Main aviation impacts if a thunderstorm does pop up near or overhead will be a brief period of MVFR/IFR condtions, gusty thunderstorm winds and frequent lightning.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 96 77 95 77 / 20 10 10 0 Camden AR 96 74 95 75 / 20 0 10 0 Harrison AR 93 74 91 73 / 30 10 10 0 Hot Springs AR 96 76 95 76 / 20 10 0 0 Little Rock AR 97 78 95 79 / 20 0 10 10 Monticello AR 95 76 95 77 / 20 0 10 0 Mount Ida AR 94 74 92 75 / 20 10 0 0 Mountain Home AR 93 75 92 74 / 20 10 10 10 Newport AR 97 77 97 77 / 20 10 10 10 Pine Bluff AR 95 76 95 76 / 20 0 10 0 Russellville AR 96 77 95 77 / 20 10 10 0 Searcy AR 97 77 96 76 / 20 10 10 0 Stuttgart AR 97 78 96 78 / 20 10 10 0

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Saturday for ARZ006-014-015-039- 043>045-056-057-064-065-069-121>123-130-138-230-238.

Heat Advisory until noon CDT today for ARZ007-008-016-017-024- 025-031>034-046-047.

Heat Advisory from 8 PM Friday to 8 PM CDT Saturday for ARZ007- 008-016-017-024-025-031>034-046-047-055.

Extreme Heat Warning from noon today to 8 PM CDT this evening for ARZ007-008-016-017-024-025-031>034-046-047.

Extreme Heat Watch from this evening through Friday evening for ARZ007-008-016-017-024-025-031>034-046-047.

Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Friday for ARZ223.