textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 134 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

-Dry air and near record high temperatures Wednesday and Thursday.

-Increasing wildfire danger, especially Thursday across western and northern Arkansas.

-Cooler temperatures from Friday through early next week with light rain possible Saturday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 134 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

The H500 pattern will remain zonal to southwesterly the next couple of days as elongated ridging persists from the Eastern Pacific across the Gulf. A series of mid-level shortwave troughs will lift from the SW US toward the Great Lakes over the next few days.

For Thursday, one of the H500 troughs will move just north of the state with a corresponding sfc low and trailing cold front approaching from the west. Strong sfc winds due to the enhanced pressure gradient ahead of the front will be seen across much of the state. Very dry air will also be in place, especially across portions of W/N Arkansas. As temperatures climb to near record levels Thu afternoon, min RH values are likely to dip down below 20 percent. This combination will lead to increased wildfire danger and potential Red Flag conditions Thursday afternoon.

The front will progress through by Friday morning which will bring cooler temperatures to the area. The H500 ridge to the south will begin to contract and drift farther SW which will allow a weak system to move through from Friday into Saturday. Compared to yesterday, much less precip coverage and QPF is expected. But, the flow aloft will turn more out of the NW and sfc ridging will expand south into the region. This will allow much cooler temperatures through early next week.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 508 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

MVFR cigs in place across central and southern AR will improve to VFR through the morning hours. Increased S/SW winds will diminish through the morning hours as well. Could see winds increase after 19/06z across northern AR terminals once again with MVFR cigs possible near the end of the period as well.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 75 58 77 41 / 0 10 10 0 Camden AR 75 60 79 47 / 0 0 10 10 Harrison AR 75 55 75 35 / 0 0 0 0 Hot Springs AR 75 59 77 44 / 0 0 10 0 Little Rock AR 74 60 77 45 / 0 0 10 0 Monticello AR 73 63 79 51 / 0 0 10 10 Mount Ida AR 75 59 77 42 / 0 10 10 0 Mountain Home AR 76 54 77 36 / 0 0 10 0 Newport AR 73 59 74 44 / 0 10 20 0 Pine Bluff AR 73 61 78 47 / 0 0 10 10 Russellville AR 76 57 78 40 / 0 10 0 0 Searcy AR 74 57 77 42 / 0 10 10 0 Stuttgart AR 72 61 76 45 / 0 0 10 10

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.