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

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 617 PM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026

Line of storms and trainling showers from earlier in the day have almost worked out of the state to the E. Cigs will recover slightlyin between rounds of t'storms in the early evening. A complex of t'storms will work along the SW corner of the area. T'storm coverage confidence is lower closer to I-40 as of now, left VCTS in southern terminals for now as line passes. Fog is possible in northern terminals depending on clearing of upper level clouds overnight. CIGs will improve to MVFR and VFR by midday tomorrow.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 70 59 80 60 / 100 70 20 30 Camden AR 74 61 80 62 / 90 90 20 80 Harrison AR 70 55 78 58 / 100 30 10 50 Hot Springs AR 71 60 79 60 / 90 80 20 80 Little Rock AR 71 62 81 63 / 90 80 20 60 Monticello AR 74 62 82 63 / 90 80 30 60 Mount Ida AR 71 59 79 60 / 90 70 20 80 Mountain Home AR 70 55 79 58 / 100 40 10 40 Newport AR 71 61 79 62 / 100 70 10 30 Pine Bluff AR 74 62 79 62 / 100 90 30 60 Russellville AR 71 59 80 61 / 100 50 10 70 Searcy AR 70 59 81 60 / 100 80 20 40 Stuttgart AR 74 63 79 64 / 100 80 30 50

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.