Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Little Rock, AR
Issued by NWS Little Rock, AR
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974 FXUS64 KLZK 031828 AAA AFDLZK Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 1228 PM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 ...New UPDATE, AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 1227 AM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 - A brief warmup today before a cold front moves through by tonight. - Cooler temperatures expected on Thursday with precip most likely across southern Arkansas through Thursday night. - There is a low chance for a brief period of winter weather Thursday. - Dry conditions and slightly warmer temperatures expected for the weekend. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1215 PM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 Given the past 24-36 hours of temp and ceiling trends, expect cooler than NBM temp fcst, w/ high temps struggling to reach or exceed 40F over much of AR today, w/ the exception being where clouds may clear acrs NWrn AR. Have kept this trend going forward into Thurs, with temps lkly once again staying several degrees below blended base guidance. In addition to cooler than fcst temps, the precipitation fcst is still largely uncertain thru the next 24 hrs, as 12Z short term guidance has trended towards higher PoPs along and behind the apprchg frnt. This raises the question of impacts of winter precip, given incrsg potential and an earlier onset time. Both HRRR/RAP fcst soundings suggest favorable thermal profiles, alongside higher PoPs, w/ portions of Cntrl AR (mainly along and north of I40), and the Nrn third of AR in this area of uncertainty. Wl continue to monitor short term guidance thru the aftn to evng for trend consistency, w/ confidence of higher impact winter precip still low attm. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1227 AM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 Early morning satellite imagery shows an extensive area of stratus across much of the SE US, including much of eastern Arkansas. This will have an impact on overnight lows in these areas, while clear sky conditions elsewhere will allow temperatures to be quite cool. Additionally, some FG development may be possible across portions of western and northern Arkansas. With temperatures below freezing in these areas, any fog would be freezing fog. Will monitor trends through daybreak in case a dense fog advisory is necessary. By this afternoon, temperatures are expected to be a bit warmer as sfc ridging shifts east of the area and southerly winds are briefly noted. This will be short lived as a cold front is expected to move through from later this evening through tonight which will usher in much cooler temperatures for Thursday. In the mid-level flow aloft a weak H500 disturbance will move from the SW US Wednesday evening to just east of Arkansas early Tuesday morning. A corresponding sfc low will move east along the Gulf coast with precip spreading north into Arkansas. Precip is most likely across southern AR Thursday into Thursday night. There remains a limited threat for a brief period of freezing rain or light sleet along the northern edge of the precip. Mostly dry conditions are expected through the end of the period with slightly warmer temperatures into early next weekend. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1215 PM CST Wed Dec 3 2025 Low cloud cover, including MVFR/IFR CIGs remains in place over much of AR via recent vis sat imgry. Expect MVFR/IFR condns to prevail thru at least the first 12 hours of the PD, w/ NWrn Nrn terminals seeing some improvements thru the day today. Elsewhere, low CIGs wl persist w/ light SE winds bcmg light and variable briefly ahead of an apprchg cdfrnt. Winds wl bcm Nrly late overnight and towards 12Z behind the frnt. Precip is expected to incrs in covg acrs SWrn to Srn AR beyond 12Z Thurs mrng, but have withheld mentions for now due to lower confidence on covg. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 29 40 25 46 / 0 20 30 10 Camden AR 36 43 32 46 / 50 60 60 10 Harrison AR 28 38 26 48 / 10 10 20 0 Hot Springs AR 33 43 29 48 / 10 30 40 10 Little Rock AR 34 41 29 45 / 10 30 40 10 Monticello AR 37 44 34 47 / 60 80 70 20 Mount Ida AR 33 44 29 50 / 10 30 30 0 Mountain Home AR 28 38 24 47 / 10 10 20 0 Newport AR 32 39 28 43 / 0 20 40 10 Pine Bluff AR 34 43 30 45 / 30 50 60 10 Russellville AR 33 43 29 49 / 10 20 20 0 Searcy AR 30 40 27 45 / 0 20 40 10 Stuttgart AR 34 42 31 45 / 20 40 50 10 && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...67/72 AVIATION...72