Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Little Rock, AR
Issued by NWS Little Rock, AR
994 FXUS64 KLZK 181732 AFDLZK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 1232 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026 ...New KEY MESSAGES, AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 1230 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026 - A Heat Advisory remains in effect for eastern Arkansas through Saturday - Dry air begins to move into the region, below 30th percentile Min RHs possible through the weekend. - Little to no rainfall and above average temperatures to continue through the weekend && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 228 AM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026 The 600Dm H500 ridge that has been dominating the region for several weeks now is firmly planted over the Arkansas River Valley and will stay in place through at least the weekend. With it wide spread near record & record temps are expected to continue. What little moisture that has been lingering in the area will be quickly tapped out with a dry air mass working its way across the Southern Plains to the Mid- South. The daily afternoon showers and t`storms that have provided a little rain to the lucky few they popped up over will shut off into the weekend. Very little to no rainfall is expected across the state until PoPs begin to increase mid next week. The downward dew point trend will continue through the weekend with the dry air entering the region, which is a double edge sword. The drier air will take an edge off the oppressive heat indices and potentially allow for some areas to be removed from the heat advisory, and potentially removing all heat headlines by mid next week. However, this will also start to drop Min RHs below 30th percentile over the weekend. Friday HREF probs of sub 30 percentile RH range between 40% and 50% statewide with a bullseye of higher probs in the MS River Delta. Saturday shows widespread 50% to 70% with scattered 80%+ bullseyes around the state. The more humid conditions we have been experiencing have been some help with fire weather due to saturated low levels keeping fire behavior somewhat more tame. As afternoon RHs crater fire behavior is expected to become more aggressive in very dry fuel beds. Some relief may be in site by mid next week. The H500 ridge should finally show some weakness and break down at the start of the week. This will allow for a shortwave to track across central MO with an attached cold front. Models continue to waffle on timing/intensity/extent of the front run to run. Current trends and pattern suggest that the front will likely struggle to make it south across large portions of the CWA, limiting the more seasonal temps and PoPs to the northern half of Arkansas early next week. Ensemble runs are now starting to favor of a more elongated H500 pattern instead of a reintensifying ridge, this could finally be the break in the pattern to allow more seasonable temps to build back in, or it could be more ensemble members joining the transition season climatology bias. Cluster analysis of the ensemble is still split on more seasonable temps or return to well above average. Until a discernible pattern breakdown occurs expect more well above average temperatures and very little to no rainfall to continue. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1230 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026 Widespread VFR conditions are expected through the period. Winds will mostly be light and out of the south/southwest this afternoon before becoming light and variable overnight. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 74 101 73 100 / 0 0 0 0 Camden AR 69 100 71 99 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 72 96 72 96 / 0 0 0 0 Hot Springs AR 72 98 72 98 / 0 0 0 0 Little Rock AR 74 99 74 99 / 0 0 0 0 Monticello AR 72 100 74 98 / 0 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 68 98 68 97 / 0 0 0 0 Mountain Home AR 71 98 71 97 / 0 0 0 0 Newport AR 73 100 73 100 / 0 0 0 0 Pine Bluff AR 71 100 72 99 / 0 0 0 0 Russellville AR 72 100 71 99 / 0 0 0 0 Searcy AR 72 101 71 100 / 0 0 0 0 Stuttgart AR 73 101 74 101 / 0 0 0 0 && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Saturday for ARZ007-008-016-017-025- 033-034-046-047-057. && $$ DISCUSSION...99 AVIATION...73