textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 300 AM CDT Mon Mar 30 2026

- Near record high temps possible into Wednesday

- Showers and thunderstorms return Wed night/Thursday

- Storms possible Sat/Sat night, some becoming strong/severe

- Colder and drier conditions expected Sunday/Sunday night

DISCUSSION

Issued at 300 AM CDT Mon Mar 30 2026

Low stratus was developing across the ArkLaMiss region this morning due to low-level moisture advection. Predawn temps ranged from the lower 50s to mid 60s. Today, temps will modify as S/SW winds continue across the region under partly cloudy skies. Highs today should top out in the low to middle 80s. These readings are 10-20 degrees above climatological averages for the date. Similar conditions are expected on Tuesday with readings climbing well into the 80s once again. Near record to record setting high temps are possible over the next couple to few days.

On Wednesday a short wave trough will drop out of the Pac NW and across the Cntrl Rockies. This feature will move towards the region heading into Wednesday night. Rain chances will increase as precipitation develops Wednesday evening/night into Thursday. Notable changes from 24 hours ago is the lack of frontal boundary dipping into the state from the N, instead this boundary will remain N of the state into Cntrl MO plus the entire short wave has slowed a bit. The fact the warm front will not become stationary in AR coupled with weak upper level jet dynamics should limit convection to scattered showers and thunderstorms. The threat for severe weather appears low with this round of precipitation. QPF amounts have likewise decreased due to the stationary front/warm front placement further N.

Friday can be characterized as a in-between day (lull) from the departing short wave to the E and another trough dropping out of the Pac NW into the Cntrl Plains. Given mainly dry conditions anticipated during the daytime on Friday, highs may climb into the lower to middle 80s.

The aforementioned trough will eject across the upper MS Valley on Saturday with a trailing cold front in tow. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop over NW MO/SE KS/N & Cntrl OK/ Cntrl TX (Friday night into Saturday morning) before this activity sweeps Ewrd. Rain chances will ramp up Saturday morning through midday over NW half of AR before pushing into the SE half of AR by Saturday afternoon and evening. Upper level dynamics will be a little better with this system promoting the potential of some organized stronger storms. Modeled thermodynamic parameters are not optimistic to widespread organized severe weather but we will be monitoring these trends over the next several days. Damaging winds would be the primary hazard worth watching/monitoring.

The probabilities for beneficial rainfall has decreased quite a bit from just 24 hours ago. Probabilistic guidance suggest 20-40% of greater than 2" rainfall through Saturday night across NW AR with 40-70% of 1" or greater across the majority of the state.

Cold front will push across the state Saturday night into Sunday morning ending precipitation from NW to SE. Colder and drier air will advect into the region on Sunday. Temps will need to be watched over Nrn AR Sunday night as lows could fall into the 30s.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 611 AM CDT Mon Mar 30 2026

Patchy MVFR condns were noted acrs SErn terminals w/ passing low stratus. The aforementioned lower stratus should begin to dissipate later into Mon aftn as Srly winds induce deeper mixing, w/ VFR condns resuming at SErn terminals, and mainly BKN higher cloud covg noted. Gusty Srly winds of 10 to 15 kts, and gusts near 20 kts wl prevail thru Mon aftn.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 82 63 85 64 / 0 0 0 10 Camden AR 84 59 85 62 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 83 63 84 63 / 0 0 0 30 Hot Springs AR 83 59 84 62 / 0 0 0 10 Little Rock AR 83 62 85 64 / 0 0 0 10 Monticello AR 83 64 86 64 / 10 0 10 10 Mount Ida AR 83 59 82 62 / 0 0 0 10 Mountain Home AR 84 62 85 62 / 0 0 0 20 Newport AR 81 64 84 65 / 0 0 0 10 Pine Bluff AR 83 62 85 63 / 0 0 0 10 Russellville AR 85 61 85 62 / 0 0 0 10 Searcy AR 82 60 85 62 / 0 0 0 10 Stuttgart AR 81 64 84 64 / 10 0 0 10

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.