textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 202 AM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026

- Seasonably warm temperatures will continue into early next week.

- A window for rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms across Arkansas will begin this morning and remain through Monday evening.

- Overall, the entire forecast period will highlight increased chances for rainfall across the state.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 202 AM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026

FRIDAY (TODAY) through MONDAY EVENING:

In the upper lvls, a series of shortwave pulses will pass over Arkansas for the duration of the next few days, specifically the most pronounced SWTs will move over Arkansas today through Monday. At the sfc, a cold front is expected to move across Arkansas from northwest to southeast across the state during the day today.

Today (Friday) will be a two-part possibility for severe weather across Arkansas.

First, the weakening MCS moving into Arkansas will pose a limited risk for severe weather tracking across the state with a few damaging wind gusts, isolated areas of large hail, and a tornado cannot be completely ruled out.

Second, the track and timing of the MCS may either enhance or hinder the possibility of additional thunderstorm development.

Scenario 1: A quick moving MCS which moves fast through the state and allows central and southern Arkansas to become conditionally unstable allowing storms to develop which will likely become strong to severe with large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a tornado or two as the primary threats.

Scenario 2: A slower moving MCS which tracks across Arkansas will hinder central and southern Arkansas to become conditionally unstable as daytime heating would be suppressed.

Into Saturday, the majority of the day is anticipated to remain dry across Arkansas. However, a complex of storms is progged to develop across Oklahoma and move into western Arkansas by Saturday evening into Saturday night with a threat of large hail and damaging wind gusts, especially for the western half of the state.

Into Sunday, a similar situation is expected to take place across Arkansas with a complex of rain and thunderstorms developing across Oklahoma and moving into Arkansas during the evening and overnight timeframe. All hazards would be possible, but greatest risk for severe weather would remain across the western half of the state.

Into Monday, a much more concerning severe weather potential materializes across Arkansas. A warm front is progged to be lifting northward throughout the day ending up across the Mid-Western region of the CONUS by Monday afternoon/Monday evening with an advancing cold front moving into northwestern Arkansas. In response, a warm sector will open up across the state with increased surface warming and low level moisture return. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop statewide and track northeastward with all hazards possible: large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a few tornadoes. The activity on Monday will be come to a close across the Natural State later Monday night as a cold front sweeps across the state.

TUESDAY through THURSDAY:

An active pattern is expected to remain with shortwave pulses continuing to traverse over Arkansas and multiple stationary boundaries draped across the state over this period. It remains too early for specifics, but severe weather potential confidence remains low this far out.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 608 AM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026

Expect flight category to be lowered across the state through most of the forecast period from Friday morning through Saturday morning as TSRA and RA moves through the state. Lowered CIGS and VSBY will drop terminals to MVFR and IFR statewide. Surface wind gusts within the stronger TSRA may exceed 35 knots.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 74 59 79 61 / 100 70 20 40 Camden AR 77 61 80 63 / 80 70 30 60 Harrison AR 73 55 77 59 / 100 30 10 50 Hot Springs AR 73 59 79 61 / 90 70 20 70 Little Rock AR 75 61 80 63 / 100 80 20 60 Monticello AR 79 63 81 65 / 80 80 30 50 Mount Ida AR 73 59 79 61 / 90 60 20 70 Mountain Home AR 73 55 78 59 / 100 40 10 40 Newport AR 73 60 80 62 / 100 70 20 30 Pine Bluff AR 77 61 80 63 / 90 80 30 50 Russellville AR 73 59 80 62 / 100 50 20 60 Searcy AR 76 59 80 60 / 100 80 20 40 Stuttgart AR 76 63 79 64 / 100 80 30 40

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.