Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Little Rock, AR

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112 FXUS64 KLZK 210723 AFDLZK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 223 AM CDT Sat Sep 21 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .SHORT TERM...
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(Today through Sunday Night) Issued at 221 AM CDT Sat Sep 21 2024 SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT: An upper lvl trof over the Western CONUS approaches the Four Corners region of the CONUS. The upper lvl ridge remains positioned over Arkansas begins a process of becoming less amplified and more zonal with the approaching trof, within the northern periphery of the upper lvl ridge will be several shortwaves that will pass through the flow pattern presenting the opportunity for unsettled weather across the northern half of Arkansas. At the sfc, a low pressure center will be deepening across the Central Plains region of the CONUS with an associated cold front extending southwestward into Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. In tandem, a warm front will be lifting across the Mid-West region of the CONUS along with a sfc area of high pressure across the Deep South region of the CONUS which given CW flow around the sfc high pressure will allow moisture to be advected into the region via the Gulf of Mexico ahead of the approaching front. Expect another day of intense temperatures that will above average between 5 and 10 degrees. The northern half of Arkansas will see isolated showers and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon into Sunday evening. Latest short-range model guidance does show an environment with high CAPE (2,500 to 3,000 J/kg) and low shear with parcels that will have a convective temperature environment in the low 90s to coerce development. The environment will also have PWAT values of 1.8 to 2 inches which is extremely high for this tine of the year. DCAPE values are forecast to be between 900-1,200 J/kg in this region as well with a TEI of 30C or greater which will promote the development of possible large hail and gusty winds in any cell that is able to maintain itself during the maximum daytime heating. SUNDAY/SUNDAY NIGHT: The upper lvl trof approaches the Southern Plains region of the CONUS with the upper lvl ridge remaining over Arkansas, but becoming zonal. Nonetheless, temperatures will remain in the avenue of 5 to 10 degrees above normal on Sunday as a cold front will begin to approach the state from the northwest, but not begin the process of moving through the majority of the state until Monday. Expect shower and isolated thunderstorms along the frontal boundary on Sunday remaining primarily across northern and northwestern Arkansas. Widespread POP chances will increase as the cold front proceeds southeastward across Arkansas into the long-term forecast discussion on Monday.
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&& .LONG TERM...
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(Monday through Friday) Issued at 221 AM CDT Sat Sep 21 2024 he long term PD and new work week looks to bring a pattern change after a brief stint of much warmer than normal temps. Aloft, mean S/Wrly H500 flow wl be in place acrs much of the Srn US and persist thru much of this next week, as several shortwave perturbations are progged to maneuver thru mean longwave troughing. At the sfc, a stalled cdfrnt oriented fm S/W to N/E, wl extend fm Cntrl TX, thru Cntrl AR, and N/Ewrds towards the OH River Valley. Thru the early portion of the long term, this frnt wl serve as the focus for enhanced precip chcs, particularly over the N/Wrn half of the FA. W/ precip covg in place, temps acrs N/Wrn to Nrn AR should also stay much cooler relative to the remainder of the state, w/ daily highs in the mid 70s thru much of next week. The good news is, to the warm side of this stalled frnt acrs Cntrl to Srn AR, temps wl be trending down thru the week, w/ highs initially in the mid 80s, and dipping down to the upper 70s to low 80s. In addition to cooler daily highs, drier air should begin to filter into the state thru the week, allowing for daily overnight lows to trend back to normal values, w/ readings in the 50s bcmg common acrs Nrn AR, and lows in the low to mid 60s elsewhere. Magnitude and covg of PoPs is progged to decrs by Wed and thru the remainder of the PD, but daily low Chc PoPs wl remain thru the later portion of next week.
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&& .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1201 AM CDT Sat Sep 21 2024 VFR conditions will prevail over the majority of the forecast period from early Saturday morning through early Sunday morning for all terminals with a few brief exceptions. The exceptions will be some patchy fog that may develop across the northern and western sites of KBPK, KHOT, and KADF which could drop VSBY to MVFR flight category just prior to sunrise on Saturday morning. Later on Saturday from around noon through Saturday evening, isolated showers and thunderstorms may develop across northern Arkansas and impact the sites of KHRO and KBPK where CIGS and VSBY may drop to MVFR flight category given an isolated shower or thunderstorm passes over the airfield. However, any deviation from VFR flight category across all terminals would be brief over the forecast period. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
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Batesville AR 92 71 91 71 / 30 10 20 20 Camden AR 96 71 93 71 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 92 71 89 66 / 30 10 40 40 Hot Springs AR 97 73 94 72 / 0 0 0 0 Little Rock AR 96 74 95 74 / 0 0 0 10 Monticello AR 95 73 93 72 / 0 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 96 71 93 69 / 10 0 0 10 Mountain Home AR 92 70 90 68 / 30 20 30 40 Newport AR 91 71 91 71 / 20 10 10 10 Pine Bluff AR 95 71 93 72 / 0 0 0 0 Russellville AR 97 71 93 72 / 20 10 10 10 Searcy AR 94 70 93 71 / 20 10 10 10 Stuttgart AR 94 72 93 73 / 0 0 0 10
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&& .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...74 LONG TERM....72 AVIATION...74