textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 300 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

- Scattered showers/storms possible Sat/Sun, mainly in the PM

- Dangerous heat/humidity returns this weekend into mid week

- Heat advisories are in effect Sat/Sun over Cntrl/Ern Arkansas; additional heat headlines will likely be needed early/mid week

- Frontal boundary may bring a cool down mid to late week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 300 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

Conds were tranquil across AR on this Saturday morning. Scattered showers and storms will be possible once again today over mainly NW/Nrn AR associated with low-level moisture ejecting out from an upper low situated over SW TX. Elsewhere, conds should be partly cloudy to mostly clear.

Highs today are expected to top out in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Heat index values should be near or above 105 degrees over Cntrl/Ern AR, thus the issuance of heat advisory across these locations. Very similar conds are anticipated on Sunday regarding rain chances and locations. Highs may top out a couple degrees hotter with temps climbing into the mid and upper 90s. Heat index values are expected to range from 105 to 110 degrees on Sunday over Cntrl/Ern AR, therefore a heat advisory encompasses the same areas as on Saturday.

Near the surface, high pressure should be positioned along the Nrn Gulf Coast providing SW to Wrly winds to the state through mid week. Temps and moisture will build in the absence of cloud cover and dwindling afternoon rain chances. AR is anticipated to reside on the Ern fringes of an upper ridge by middle part of the week (NW flow aloft) which could allow for a backdoor cold front on Wednesday. Given this, temps should be cooler over the NE half of AR on Wednesday afternoon and cooler across most, if not all, of the CWA on Thursday. Temps should begin to modify on Friday with the return of Srly flow.

Before the mid/late week cool down, high temps are expected to remain in the mid to upper 90s, possibly even reaching or exceeding 100 degrees on Monday and especially on Tuesday. Excessive ground moisture from recent rainfall should work against temps exceeding 100 across Cntrl/Ern half of AR on Monday and Tuesday, nonetheless it will be hot and humid either way. Some locations may still hit the century mark despite ample greenery over Cntrl/Ern AR. A combination of heat headlines will likely be needed Monday through Wednesday, however Tuesday appears to be the single hottest day during the period.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1236 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

VFR conds are expected through the TAF period. Winds will be light overnight becoming Wrly at around 10 kts or less on Sat. Did not mention PoPs at Nrn sites during this TAF cycle for Sat afternoon due to low confidence, but a few SHRA can not be discounted during peak heating.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 95 75 95 75 / 20 10 20 0 Camden AR 96 73 97 73 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 90 73 91 74 / 20 10 20 0 Hot Springs AR 95 75 96 75 / 0 0 0 0 Little Rock AR 96 76 97 77 / 0 0 0 0 Monticello AR 97 75 98 76 / 0 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 93 74 94 75 / 0 0 0 0 Mountain Home AR 91 73 91 74 / 20 20 20 10 Newport AR 96 76 95 76 / 20 10 10 0 Pine Bluff AR 95 74 96 74 / 0 0 0 0 Russellville AR 96 75 97 76 / 10 10 0 0 Searcy AR 96 75 96 75 / 0 0 10 0 Stuttgart AR 95 76 96 76 / 0 0 0 0

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory from noon today to 8 PM CDT this evening for ARZ007-008-016-017-024-025-031>034-039-044>047-057-065.

Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM CDT Sunday for ARZ007-008-016- 017-024-025-031>034-039-044>047-057-065.