A cold front moved across Arkansas from west to east during the morning and afternoon hours before crossing the Mississippi River into Tennessee and Mississippi. In the wake of the cold front, strong gradient winds not related with any thunderstorm activity, but a tight pressure gradient or vast difference in pressure over a short distance would lead to strong winds which caused some damage…
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS LZK wrote it up.
A cold front moved across Arkansas from west to east during the morning and afternoon hours before crossing the Mississippi River into Tennessee and Mississippi. In the wake of the cold front, strong gradient winds not related with any thunderstorm activity, but a tight pressure gradient or vast difference in pressure over a short distance would lead to strong winds which caused some damage across northern Arkansas.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Little Rock, AR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 18, 6:02 PM CST, 2 hours 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 602 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 230 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025 -Showers and a few thunderstorms today across the region will result in rainfall amounts up to one quarter to one half inch through this afternoon -Return of dry weather conditions for this weekend, with low rain chances Saturday into Sunday the only notable weather going into next week -Above normal temperatures this weekend through Christmas && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 230 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025 Persistent low stratus and fog will stick around into the morning hours across the region, as a cold front approaches the state from the west. This front will increase shower and occasional thunderstorm chances starting near day break along the western counties of the CWA and progress eastward throughout the day, with most of the rainfall activity complete by the evening hours. Expect rainfall amounts totaling a few hundredths to one quarter inch, with some higher amounts with any heavier showers or thunderstorms. Widespread gusty winds 20-30 mph ahead of and along the front can be expected throughout the morning and afternoon hours, with winds calming by the evening hours as direr and colder air filters in from the northwest. After this front clears the state, quiet weather looks likely to persist through Christmas. At this point, chances for another round of showers seems to be trending down over the weekend, as the latest guidance pushes the low circulation further south, leaving only isolated chances Saturday into Sunday. Otherwise, temperatures will rebound from near normal on Friday to well above normal levels through the middle of next week. Thus, expect the Christmas holiday to be dry and warm, as highs in the 70s are becoming more likely (60-80%) across most of the state. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 601 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025 A cold front has pushed to the east of the area clearing out terminals and bringing with it drier and cooler air. Surface winds will be out of the northwest and could be gusty at times. Widespread VFR conditions are expected. Additionally, some low- level wind shear will be possible for the next few hours. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 29 50 37 63 / 0 0 0 0 Camden AR 33 54 39 68 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 27 52 38 63 / 0 0 0 0 Hot Springs AR 32 53 39 65 / 0 0 0 0 Little Rock AR 32 52 38 65 / 0 0 0 0 Monticello AR 35 54 40 68 / 0 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 32 55 41 67 / 0 0 0 0 Mountain Home AR 28 50 37 64 / 0 0 0 0 Newport AR 29 48 35 62 / 0 0 0 0 Pine Bluff AR 32 52 38 67 / 0 0 0 0 Russellville AR 30 54 38 65 / 0 0 0 0 Searcy AR 28 49 33 64 / 0 0 0 0 Stuttgart AR 31 49 38 65 / 0 0 0 0 && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM....99 AVIATION...73
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Power lines were blown down around the community of Cotter.
A few trees were blown down along Arkansas Highway 56 between the towns of Brockwell and Calico Rock.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, December 2025
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1298892, 1298893.