Tornado Warning 9, NWS Little Rock, AR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
556 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 141 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

-Isolated storms possible Weds mid-afternoon

-Rain chances become more widespread Wed evening into early Thurs
 morning.

-Well above normal temps Friday

-Cool down and rain chances increase Saturday

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 141 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

A lingering line of t'storms is weakening across NW AR early Weds
morning. Light showers will persist in the area through pre-sunrise
hours. By sunrise PoPs will decrease across the area as the
remnants of the complex pull to the north.

Rain and t'storm chances will begin to increase again Weds afternoon
as a deepening shortwave rounds the base of a shallow H500 trough
along the NE/SD border. Southerly flow out ahead of dry line
stretching across Central KS to TX will create a favorable
environment for isolated storms to form across Central MO and tailing
down to Northern AR by mid-afternoon. Straight hodographs will keep
tornado risk low with early development. Hailers and splitting cells
will be more likely if development can tail far enough south into
North Central AR.

The more widespread rainfall event will be later in the evening Weds
and overnight into Thurs morning. Isolated storms/supercells will
develop along the dryline to our W by late-afternoon Weds. As these
storms push off the dryline they will become more upscale. If these
can remain rooted along the surface a brief all hazards severe
threat will be possible in NW AR but will quickly diminish as the
line pushes to the east and loses much of its organization.
Convection becomes more scattered early Thurs morning as storms run
into a very stable SFC to 700mb layer in Estrn AR.

Chances for rain will then diminish until later in the week. Well
above normal temps will flow into the area Thurs and Fri. Widespread
highs in the upper 80s to near 90 will be likely on Fri.

Into the weekend a positively tilted trough will swing to neutral
across the region. This will bring our next chance of rain across our
area. Uncertainty remains on where peak development along the cold
front. QPFs >1 inch will be possible where convection does develop
Sat into Sun.

Behind the cldfrnt temps return closer to normal Sun into Mon, and
Min RH values will plummet into the mid to low 20s across the state.
Areas that dodge showers this week will likely become very dry.
During this same time period winds remain srthly but rather benign
around 8-10kts with few to no gusts. This will limit the upper end
of fire wx risk, but the critical Min RHs and where meaningfully rain
falls will still need to be monitored later into the week.

By Tues next week srthly flow will continue across the region and
begin increasing Min RH values to above critical thresholds. Temps
will begin to increase to above normal again by mid next week as a
ridge spreads across Central CONUS.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 556 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Expect the central and western terminals of KLIT, KHOT, and KADF to
have CIGS lower to MVFR flight category for a few hours early
Thursday morning, additionally VSBY will lower to MVFR flight
category across all sites on Thursday morning as a complex of SHRA
is expected to move across the state. Surface wind gusts will be in
excess of 20 knots for the terminals of KHRO, KBPK, and KLIT to
begin the forecast and later Thursday early afternoon. A round of
VCTS will be noted late Wednesday night into the early portions of
Thursday morning as the activity slowly decreases in intensity as it
moves from southwest to northeast across Arkansas. Expect a return
for all terminals to VFR flight category by Thursday afternoon.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Batesville AR     65  82  64  87 /  90  70  20  20
Camden AR         65  84  64  88 /  50  40  10   0
Harrison AR       61  81  63  84 /  90  60  10  30
Hot Springs AR    63  82  63  86 /  80  50  20   0
Little Rock   AR  66  83  65  88 /  80  70  20  10
Monticello AR     66  85  66  88 /  30  30  10   0
Mount Ida AR      62  82  64  85 /  80  40  20  10
Mountain Home AR  61  82  63  85 /  90  60  10  30
Newport AR        66  82  65  87 /  80  70  10  20
Pine Bluff AR     65  83  64  89 /  50  50  20   0
Russellville AR   63  82  64  86 /  90  50  10  10
Searcy AR         63  82  62  88 /  80  80  10  10
Stuttgart AR      67  82  65  87 /  60  80  20  10

&&

.LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

SHORT TERM...99
LONG TERM....99
AVIATION...74

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
929 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

ARZ137-140-237-240-241-340-341-160315-
Northern Scott County AR-
Southwest Montgomery County Higher Elevations AR-
Polk County Lower Elevations AR-Central and Southern Scott County AR-
Southeast Polk County Higher Elevations AR-
Northern Montgomery County Higher Elevations AR-
Northern Polk County Higher Elevations AR-
929 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Scott, northern Polk
and west central Montgomery Counties through 1015 PM CDT
...

At 928 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Heavener to near Big Cedar to near
Octavia. Movement was east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Mena...                           Waldron...
Hatfield...                       Beauchamp...
Cardiff...                        Opal...
Mountain Fork...                  Polk County Fairgrounds...
Mena Intermountain Airport...     Oliver...
Morgan Springs...                 Queen Wilhelmina State Park...
Bates...                          Acorn...
Black Fork...                     Board Camp...
Winfield...                       Ink...
Potter...                         Boles...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3493 9445 3493 9443 3495 9441 3494 9439
      3496 9437 3495 9434 3496 9426 3498 9423
      3502 9388 3484 9384 3460 9390 3460 9393
      3455 9393 3454 9392 3450 9393 3449 9446
TIME...MOT...LOC 0228Z 259DEG 47KT 3481 9462 3471 9460 3458 9468

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

62

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
931 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

ARZ121-130-137-138-221-230-160315-
Northwest Yell County AR-Northern Scott County AR-
Western and Northern Logan County AR-
Johnson County Higher Elevations AR-
Southern and Eastern Logan County AR-Southern Johnson County AR-
931 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Logan, southwestern
Johnson, northern Scott and northwestern Yell Counties through 1015
PM CDT
...

At 930 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Jenny Lind to near Excelsior to near
Huntington. Movement was east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Booneville...                     Paris...
Mansfield...                      Magazine...
Subiaco...                        Hartman...
Ratcliff...                       Blue Mountain...
Echo...                           Mount Magazine...
Coal Hill...                      Caulksville...
Barber...                         Roseville...
Chismville...                     Liberty...
Hunt...                           Wilkins...
Corley...                         Grayson...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3496 9437 3496 9431 3497 9424 3506 9423
      3507 9424 3510 9414 3514 9414 3514 9403
      3523 9403 3523 9392 3532 9391 3531 9381
      3543 9381 3536 9375 3538 9371 3558 9370
      3560 9368 3535 9359 3504 9367 3494 9439
TIME...MOT...LOC 0230Z 250DEG 34KT 3528 9429 3517 9427 3502 9429

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

62