textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1230 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

- An Extreme Cold Warning with sub-zero wind chills lingering into Tuesday morning.

- Hazardous travel conditions are expected to continue through at least the beginning portions of this week, especially on less traveled roads, as multiple thaw and freeze cycles will unfold, resulting in slippery morning road conditions.

- Below normal temperatures continuing, with another round of very cold temperatures possible this weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1230 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

Much quieter weather conditions encompass the region, as most portions of Arkansas are under clear skies. Weak southwesterly flow has settled in, so this marks the onset of warming conditions as the Arctic airmass begins to lift north and east of Arkansas. However, very cold wind chills bottoming out in the -10 to -15 degree range overnight tonight prolongs the Extreme Cold Warning through Tuesday morning.

The overall mid-level pattern through the rest of the week will remain zonal for the most part, but a couple of shortwave troughs will bring a couple rounds of cloudy skies and maybe even some low-end wintry precipitation chances Thursday into Friday. A well defined 850 mb to surface Colorado low develops with this second shortwave, advecting just enough moisture into the region to bring those precipitation chances. However, some uncertainties on how strong this low becomes and how quickly it moves eastward would affect trends upwards or downwards for precipitation chances and amounts for the Thursday to Friday timeframe.

Behind this low will usher in the next round of Arctic air for this weekend. Very cold overnight temperatures in the single digits are anticipated as early as Friday night, with much below normal temperatures persisting through most of the weekend the weekend.

Once this Arctic airmass begins to slide east of the state going into next week, much warmer temperatures are anticipated as mid- level ridging build in from the west. The main uncertainty at this point will be how quickly the trough and the colder air in place will get dislodged, but definitely will be warming going into next week.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 459 PM CST Tue Jan 27 2026

VFR conditions will prevail through a large majority of the forecast period. Satellite this evening shows high level cloudiness streaming in from the west from Texas and Oklahoma into and across most of the state. Some short term models continue to hint at freezing fog development potential across the southern half of the state and within the river valleys around 07z and persisting through 14z Wednesday morning.

If clouds do clear out and the current very shallow moist layer expands in depth, then freeze fog potential may materialize in those areas. At this time, have elected to keep TEMPO groups in central and southern TAF sites to account for this possibility. Otherwise, light winds and VFR conditions will prevail through the forecast period at all terminals.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 15 39 21 38 / 0 0 0 0 Camden AR 19 45 22 50 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 14 43 21 42 / 0 0 0 10 Hot Springs AR 18 44 22 45 / 0 0 0 0 Little Rock AR 18 38 22 42 / 0 0 0 0 Monticello AR 24 44 25 49 / 0 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 18 47 22 47 / 0 0 0 0 Mountain Home AR 12 40 19 39 / 0 0 0 10 Newport AR 13 33 19 35 / 0 0 0 0 Pine Bluff AR 19 39 22 45 / 0 0 0 0 Russellville AR 15 42 22 44 / 0 0 0 0 Searcy AR 14 36 17 39 / 0 0 0 0 Stuttgart AR 18 35 22 42 / 0 0 0 0

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.