Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Little Rock, AR

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695 FXUS64 KLZK 221131 AAA AFDLZK Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 631 AM CDT Sun Sep 22 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Monday Night) Issued at 232 AM CDT Sun Sep 22 2024 Regional composite reflectivity depicted ongoing precip acrs Cntrl OK, asctd w/ a cdfrnt advancing thru the Cntrl Plains, and a potent outflow bndry moving thru Ern OK, approaching N/Wrn AR. Another seasonably warm day is on deck as we ring in the Fall Equinox. Aloft, broad H500 ridging that has been in place acrs the Srn US should begin to weaken as height falls and asctd troughing develop over the Cont Divide, and a shortwave perturbation maneuvers thru the mean troughing flow. At the sfc, a synoptic cdfrnt is progged to be moving Swrd thru the Plains thru the day, and approaching N/Wrn to Nrn AR by later this aftn/evng. Area temps ahead of this frnt are set to top out in the mid 90s acrs Cntrl to Srn AR, while Nrn AR should see temps in the upper 80s to low 90s, under incrsg cloud cover fm the approaching frnt, and ongoing precip activity. The aforementioned outflow bndry moving acrs N/Ern OK may serve as a focal point for additional isoltd convective development later this mrng to aftn acrs Wrn to N/Wrn and Nrn AR. However, stronger forcing wl accompany the approaching cdfrnt, w/ incrsg covg of showers/storms expected later this evng, b/w 21-00Z. Much like the past few aftns, a modest environment wl be in place along the advancing frnt, w/ MLCAPE of 1500-2000 J/kg and rather low, but still conducive bulk shear of 20 to 30 kts supporting the threat for some isolated severe weather, including instances of strong to damaging wind gusts and perhaps some hail. The cdfrnt should stall out over the N/Wrn half of the FA Sun night into Mon, and wl cont to drive sctd covg of showers and storms thru the day Mon. Areas of N/Wrn AR can expect generally cooler temps Mon aftn in the wake of this frnt, w/ readings in the low to mid 70s. Along and to the S/E of this frnt, temps wl still be able to climb into the low 90s on Mon aftn, and possibly slightly above blended fcst guidance w/ some compressional heating along the bndry. Additional sctd convective development wl be possible in a favorable environment Mon aftn, as a more potent upper shortwave/vorticity max ejects thru mean troughing flow. Slightly higher vertical shear and conducive buoyancy wl support another round of aftn to late evng convective development, in which damaging wind gusts and large hail remain as the primary hazards, primarily acrs Cntrl to Ern AR thru Mon night. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday through Saturday) Issued at 232 AM CDT Sun Sep 22 2024 The majority of the long-term forecast period will consist of unsettled weather overall offering several opportunities across the CWA and state of Arkansas for showers and thunderstorms. The forecast period will begin with a cold front that will be completing the journey across Arkansas, lingering across southeastern Arkansas to just south and east of the state on Tuesday. Expect shower and thunderstorm activity to be possible across the southern and eastern portions of Arkansas as the cold front will be placed in close enough proximity to provide increased POP chances across southern and eastern parts of the state. Into the middle and thru the end of the week, an upper lvl trof will be nearing the Deep South region of the CONUS in conjunction with a sfc stationary front that will be associated with the anticipated tropical system that models have now progged to develop across the Gulf of Mexico. The combination of the stationary boundary and attendant sfc trof that will be present across the region will lead to increased POP chances across the CWA in the form of showers and thunderstorms. From the end of the week into next weekend, the boundary, now lifting as a warm front, along with the remnants of the forecast tropical system which is expected to remain well east of the CWA across the Southeastern region of the CONUS will support a continued influx of moisture into the CWA along with a sfc trof in the region that will aid in keeping POPs in the forecast in the form of isolated showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures over the long-term forecast period are expected to lower to values that will be near normal with respect to both high and low low temperatures compared to climatological normals for this time of the year thanks to the cooler airmass behind the FROPA and expected sfc trof leading to sfc convergence that will promote lift equating to increased cloud cover and POP chances over much of the week into next weekend. The unsettled pattern will not equate to any one day being a complete washout, but providing respectable POP chances over the long-term forecast period which could amount to respectable QPF values that may help alleviate drought conditions in parts of Arkansas. && .AVIATION...
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(12Z TAFS) Issued at 626 AM CDT Sun Sep 22 2024 A cdfrnt wl be approaching N/Wrn AR thru the day today, w/ incrsg cloud cover noted acrs Nrn terminals. SHRA/VCTS wl be become prevalent b/w 21-00Z Sun evng along the frnt near HRO/BPK, resulting in intermittent MVFR condns, although greater covg of convective activity is favored over Nrn Cntrl to N/Ern AR thru tonight. Elsewhere, expect VFR condns w/ breezy S/Wrly winds. Late in the PD, deteriorating condns are expected along and behind the aforementioned frnt, w/ MVFR to IFR CIGs ensuing acrs the N/Wrn half of the state. /72/
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&& .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
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Batesville AR 91 70 83 65 / 10 30 60 60 Camden AR 94 70 91 68 / 0 0 20 20 Harrison AR 89 65 73 58 / 30 60 90 40 Hot Springs AR 94 72 88 65 / 0 10 50 30 Little Rock AR 95 74 90 68 / 0 10 30 40 Monticello AR 94 72 92 71 / 0 0 10 20 Mount Ida AR 93 69 86 61 / 0 10 60 20 Mountain Home AR 90 67 76 61 / 40 60 80 50 Newport AR 91 70 85 66 / 10 20 40 70 Pine Bluff AR 94 72 90 69 / 0 0 20 30 Russellville AR 94 71 83 63 / 10 20 70 30 Searcy AR 94 70 87 66 / 10 10 40 60 Stuttgart AR 93 72 90 69 / 0 0 20 50
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&& .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...72 LONG TERM....74 AVIATION...72