textproduct: Little Rock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1255 AM CST Fri Dec 26 2025

-Record setting warmth continuing into this weekend

-Rain chances increasing late weekend, with much cooler temperatures settling into the region through early next week

-Temperatures moderating towards normal levels by the middle of next week.

-Temperatures will hover at or just below normal for begin the new year.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1255 AM CST Fri Dec 26 2025

Low stratus kept temperatures from warming on Christmas Day with high temperatures across the state still running roughly around 20 degrees above normal. Latest deterministic and ensemble guidance shows the ridge of high pressure over the southern Plains and southeast will gradually break down and move to the east as a upper trough dives southeastward out of Alberta/British Columbia by Saturday. The upper trough will be the beginning of the aforementioned pattern change referenced in previous AFDs. The upper trough will deepen over the western US as a low pressure system trekking east over the Great Lakes region Sunday into Monday.

The trough will bring a cold front through Arkansas with increasing chances for rain on Sunday. As the front exits the state late on Sunday, much cooler air will filter in behind the state with high temperatures running roughly 10 to 15 degrees below normal on Monday and Tuesday of next week. High temperatures will gradually moderate but hover around normal the middle and latter part of next week. The main uncertainty in the mid to latter part of the period continues to be the track, strength, and position of the cut off low over the Pacific as guidance moves it closer to the state late in the period, which may impact both temperature trends and precipitation chances around Jan 3rd into the 4th.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1117 AM CST Fri Dec 26 2025

MVFR CIGs across SRN sections are gradually decreasing late this Fri morning...with continued improvements expected into the afternoon hrs. Some Breezy SW winds may persist for a few hrs...with some gusts over 20 kts at times. These winds will relax late this afternoon and overnight. Some MVFR CIGs look to return late tonight into Sat morning...mainly over SRN sections.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Batesville AR 78 55 74 64 / 0 0 0 0 Camden AR 79 61 76 61 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 78 52 78 64 / 0 0 0 0 Hot Springs AR 76 58 75 63 / 0 0 0 10 Little Rock AR 78 58 75 63 / 0 0 0 0 Monticello AR 79 64 76 64 / 0 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 77 58 76 64 / 0 0 0 0 Mountain Home AR 76 51 76 63 / 0 0 0 0 Newport AR 77 57 73 64 / 0 0 0 0 Pine Bluff AR 79 62 76 63 / 0 0 0 0 Russellville AR 78 54 78 63 / 0 0 0 0 Searcy AR 79 56 75 62 / 0 0 0 0 Stuttgart AR 79 61 75 63 / 0 0 0 0

LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.