Tornadoes in Arkansas, December 10, 2021

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
529 PM CST Fri Dec 10 2021

.DISCUSSION...

Updated to include the 00Z aviation discussion below...

&&

.AVIATION...

Breezy SRLY winds will be seen this evening and overnight...with
scattered to numerous SHRA/TSRA convection becoming likely as time
goes on this evening. Some strong/SVR storms are possible with
this activity. The cold front will dive SE through the state
overnight...with convection decreasing behind this front. Expect
some breezy NW winds behind this front through much of Sat before
winds relax late in the TAF period.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 259 PM CST Fri Dec 10 2021)

SHORT TERM...Tonight Through Sunday

Surface analysis shows a deepening surface low out in northeast
Kansas, with an attendant cold front extending into the southern
Rockies. Out in the warm sector, a dry line was moving into
northeast Oklahoma, with a wide, extensive swath of 60s and 70s
dewpoints ahead of it. There were also several weak boundaries
with the most prominent one located from southwest into western
Arkansas.

Satellite imagery shows extensive cloud cover, but we've had
enough sucker holes opening up as well as strong warm advection
to allow for temperatures warming well into the 70s to even lower
80s over portions of the area, and, not surprisingly, we've
already set or tied record daily highs at several locations with
long periods of record.

Parameters are coming together for showers/storms this afternoon
and into the overnight hours. Special 19Z sounding from LZK shows
CAPE value over 2700 j/kg, with a great deal of speed shear,
particularly in the low and mid levels. Still looking at a healthy
mid-level inversion around 800 mb, but this will likely erode a
bit, especially if we see more surface-based heating.

Bottom line is that we do have the proper setup for a few strong/
severe thunderstorms this afternoon and into the overnight hours.
While I don't think there will be widespread severe in our area,
I do think there will be two prime opportunities for severe
storms.

The initial round will be with discrete cells ahead of the front,
with large hail and damaging winds the primary threat, as well as
a few tornadoes. At this time looks like the highest tornado
threat would be from southwest into central and northeast Arkansas
through mid to late evening.

Frontal boundary will move into the area most likely after
midnight, with showers/storms along it. This would be more of a
damaging wind threat, especially as the low level jet kicks in by
mid to late evening.

Gradient around the front will be fairly tight, with gusty winds
ahead of and behind the boundary, especially in the higher terrain
of the Ouachitas and Ozarks, and over the Delta Region. Have
increased winds in these areas, because, as I've said before, the
models tend to underdo winds in the higher terrain in this kind of
setup.

Once the front clears the state early Saturday morning, colder air
will move in, as high pressure moves in on northwest flow aloft.

LONG TERM...Sunday Night Through Friday

Temperatures will begin to rebound beginning Sunday through early
next week while a deep trough develops to our west. We will again
be flirting with record highs by mid week for this time of year
with highs in the mid to upper 70s on Wednesday. Overnight will
remain mild as well with lows in the 50s to 60s.

As far as precipitation and chances of severe weather, they remain
minimal at this time. Better chances exist outside the forecast
cycle next weekend but leading up to the weekend we've got
increasing chances along and ahead of the next cold front Thursday
into Friday.

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.LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...NONE.
&&

Aviation...62

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
536 PM CST Fri Dec 10 2021

ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-111100-
Boone-Marion-Baxter-Fulton-Sharp-Randolph-Newton-Searcy-Stone-
Izard-Independence-Lawrence-Johnson-Pope-Van Buren-Cleburne-
Jackson-Logan-Conway-Faulkner-White-Woodruff-Scott-Yell-Perry-
Polk-Montgomery-Garland-Saline-Pulaski-Lonoke-Prairie-Monroe-Pike-
Clark-Hot Spring-Grant-Jefferson-Arkansas-Dallas-Cleveland-
Lincoln-Desha-Ouachita-Calhoun-Bradley-Drew-
536 PM CST Fri Dec 10 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Thunderstorms chances will become likely throughout the evening
and into the overnight hours ahead of an approaching cold
front...which will push southeast through the state overnight.
Some severe thunderstorms will be possible...with damaging
winds...large hail...and a few tornadoes all possible with the
strongest storms. Locally heavy rainfall will also be
possible...which may lead to an isolated flash flood threat. The
threat for severe weather will decrease behind the front late
tonight into early Saturday morning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday Through Thursday

Breezy northwest winds will be seen on Saturday behind the cold
front. Winds of 10 to 20 mph are expected...with some gusts over
30 mph possible. These breezy conditions will dissipate by late in
the afternoon on Saturday...with the threat for hazardous weather
becoming low.

.Spotter Information Statement...

Spotter activation is requested through this evening and
overnight for much of the southeast two-thirds of the area.

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Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk.