Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Little Rock, AR
Issued by NWS Little Rock, AR
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645 FXUS64 KLZK 172244 AFDLZK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 444 PM CST Mon Nov 17 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 155 AM CST Mon Nov 17 2025 -Well above normal temperatures persisting through most of this week, with another warming trend towards record levels again on Tuesday and Wednesday -Light rain accumulations anticipated today across mainly central to northern Arkansas -Showers and thunderstorms towards the latter portions of the week will result in mostly beneficial rains across the state, but cannot rule out some flash flood potential && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 155 AM CST Mon Nov 17 2025 Persistent mid to upper level ridging is weakening across the central U.S. as an ejecting shortwave downstream of the anomalous Pacific trough is beginning to take form across the Plains. This is resulting in enhanced southerly flow in the lower levels of the atmosphere, as a warm frontal band ushers in a more moist airmass. IR satellite is depicting a pretty expansive area of mid-level clouds developing across the Natural State and should persist and push further north going through the day. Some light showers may accompany this area today, prior to a mostly dry cold frontal passage later this evening and into tonight. Most areas will likely not see any accumulations, but central to northern Arkansas are the favored areas for accumulating rains today through tonight where NBM PoP`s are maxing out around 30-40%. Post-frontal passage will bring more dry conditions again going into the middle of the week as mid-level ridging amplifies downstream of another deepening Pacific trough across the southwestern U.S. Temperatures will warm quickly back into the 70s and lower 80s for highs again across the state Tuesday and Wednesday. Record high temperatures will be in play both days depending on the climate site and regional cloud cover, as records for this time of year run in the low to mid-80s. As this Pacific trough slowly migrates eastward through the middle of the week, a more energetic shortwave will eject east of the Rockies during the latter portions of this week. This will aid in the surface low developing across the Plains Wednesday into Thursday. The initial warm frontal passage across the area will bring increasing rain chances starting Wednesday night into Thursday, with the main cold frontal passage late Thursday into Friday. Thus, the timing trend continues to slow relative to the last several forecast cycles, which is lessening overall storm total precipitation amounts and lowering the flash flood potential during this period. The latest NBM projections seem to be indicating this is the case, as the 50th percentile storm total rainfall Wednesday-Friday is widespread 1-2", but higher amounts only in the 3-4" range favoring western Arkansas. Thus, due to the continued downward trend in total rainfall amounts, expect more of a beneficial rainfall event mid to late week, with only areas that receive multiple heavy thunderstorms/downpours in a short period to pose any flash flood threat. Once the rainfall clears the area going into this weekend, another amplifying ridge seems favored as another Pacific trough deepens across the West Coast. There remains some modest uncertainty on how progressive this trough will be moving into and through the weekend, but should the cutoff scenario come to fruition, expect building high pressure and dry conditions through at least this weekend. Whenever the Pacific trough ejects eastward, we can expect another round of rain, but that might not be well into next week as current projections suggests at this point. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 444 PM CST Mon Nov 17 2025 TAFS across the forecast area will range from VFR to as low as IFR flight category for lowering CIGS and VSBY across all terminals. At the northern terminals of KHRO and KBPK, expect a few hours at the beginning of the forecast period with LLWS that will subside by early Tuesday morning. Additionally, a few VCTS will be possible across the northern terminals early Tuesday morning. All terminals will experience surface wind gusts in excess of 23 knots between late Tuesday morning and into Tuesday evening. The CIGS will lower at the western sites and far southern sites including: KHOT, KADF, and KLLQ to MVFR flight category before lifting to VFR by Tuesday afternoon. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 57 81 56 76 / 30 10 10 10 Camden AR 63 80 62 81 / 10 10 0 10 Harrison AR 55 79 49 73 / 50 0 0 20 Hot Springs AR 63 79 62 81 / 20 10 10 20 Little Rock AR 63 78 62 78 / 20 10 0 10 Monticello AR 64 81 64 82 / 10 10 0 10 Mount Ida AR 64 81 61 82 / 20 10 10 20 Mountain Home AR 54 81 49 73 / 50 10 0 10 Newport AR 60 81 58 77 / 30 10 10 10 Pine Bluff AR 63 80 63 81 / 10 10 10 10 Russellville AR 59 83 56 80 / 30 10 0 20 Searcy AR 58 80 59 78 / 20 10 10 10 Stuttgart AR 62 80 62 80 / 10 10 10 10 && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM....99 AVIATION...74