Hail and Damaging Wind in Arkansas, April 3, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
1229 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 336 AM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

-All severe hazards possible Friday afternoon into evening in NW and
W AR.

-Return to normal temps behind the cold front into next week

-Elevated Fire danger into the beginning of next week

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 336 AM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

...Fri...

Very similar to earlier in the week, a low forming off the Rockies
will push NE towards the Great Lakes. A trailing cldfrnt will be the
main forcing for storms to form out to our W during the afternoon. A
stationary front S of KC will pull N and open up the warm sector to
the N and W. I-30 will effectively act as the eastern edge of the
warm sector. Some storm initiation in the warm sector will be
possible in wstrn AR mid afternoon in a decently buoyant environment
with SBCAPE values between 2000-3000 J/kg. Some lingering CIN in the
area could promote a more isolated nature in these storms as they
are forming. However, lapse rates are relatively meager at all
levels and storms may struggle to overcome this. Decently curved but
short hodographs have most of the sheer and helicity (20-
25kts/120m^2/s^2) for these storms in the lowest 3km, and lack of
winds in the upper levels could make things messy within these, if
they can form, quickly. As the line approaches, this prefrontal
environment becomes much less favorable for surface based storms as
diurnal inversions set in and will transition from an all hazards to
mainly hail threat.

The main event will be an approaching QLCS from the west. Again much
like earlier in the week, this line will be dying out as it
approaches the CWA. Surface inversions begin to take root by the
time the system makes it to the wstrn edge of the CWA and storms
will become elevated the further east they push. There will be a
short window for these storms to be severe in our CWA but will be
dependent on if/how long they can remain surface based.
Unfortunately QPFs have continued the steady downtrend to around 1-2
in. across the state, some locally higher spots will be possible
with training or a prefrontal storm.

...Sat...

Saturday will bring a relatively messy day for the state. Some heavy
shower and t'storms will be scattered from the decaying line from
the night before. The line will make a push to become more organized
in SE AR. This will be dependent on the surge of the low level jet
bringing more energy north mid afternoon. This surge will bring
SBCAPE values back up into the 1500J/Kg range. Recent trends have
gone later and the line organizing more into MS/LA. The majority of
this system will be cleared out by midnight and temps will quickly
begin to drop behind the line of storms with the cold front with a 20-
25 degree temp drop back down to closer to normal temps.

...Sun/Mon/Tues...

Dry and calmer conditions build in early next week behind the
cldfrnt. Temps will finally drop to more seasonable Mon as a nose of
a ridge begins to work its way into the region. Fire weather risk
could be elevated through the midweek as Min RHs will drop to near
the 30th percentile behind the cldfront. The big limiter in fire
risk in the early week will be relatively light winds. Sustained sfc
winds are expected to be below 10mph with gusts struggling to get
above 15mph until later in the week. Tues a high pressure system
will pass to our N. into the Great Lakes region. This will shift
winds from NNW to NNE and push in a bit cooler air keeping highs
down in the 60s with some upper 50s possible in NE AR.

...Wed/Thurs...

By midweek the ridge will be blanketed across the region, and it
brings with it even more calm and dry weather. Weak southerly flow
will gradually increase temps and Min RH values, by Thurs elevated
fire risk will diminish as Min RH values return to above 40th and
50th percentiles.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1221 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

Prevailing MVFR ceilings across a few central/southern terminals
expected to return to VFR by later this afternoon. An cold front
will move into the state late tonight into early Saturday morning
bringing a line of SHRA/TSRA with it with MVFR ceilings. Expect
MVFR ceilings through remainder of period as progresses southeast
across the area. Winds will veer from S/SW ahead of the boundary
to N/NW first across northern terminals Saturday morning.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Batesville AR     60  70  44  68 /  90 100  10   0
Camden AR         65  74  45  69 /  40  90  30   0
Harrison AR       53  62  40  65 / 100  90   0   0
Hot Springs AR    59  70  44  69 /  60 100  10   0
Little Rock   AR  63  72  46  69 /  60  90  10   0
Monticello AR     68  77  49  69 /  30 100  60   0
Mount Ida AR      56  70  44  69 /  80  90  10   0
Mountain Home AR  54  64  40  66 /  90  90   0   0
Newport AR        63  72  44  66 /  70  90  10   0
Pine Bluff AR     66  75  45  67 /  40  90  30   0
Russellville AR   57  70  43  70 / 100 100   0   0
Searcy AR         62  72  44  69 /  70  90  10   0
Stuttgart AR      67  74  46  66 /  40 100  30   0

&&

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

Discussion....BENTLEY
AVIATION...KELLY

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
346 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

ARZ067-068-032115-
Bradley AR-Calhoun AR-
346 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Bradley
and eastern Calhoun Counties through 415 PM CDT
...

At 345 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles south of Harrell, or 8 miles south of Hampton, moving north at
25 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch 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...
Hampton...                        Harrell...
Hampton Municipal Airport...      Lanark...
Banks...                          Tinsman...
Artesian...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3335 9238 3335 9245 3339 9251 3370 9248
      3363 9219
TIME...MOT...LOC 2045Z 198DEG 22KT 3341 9244

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

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Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
535 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

ARZ067-068-032300-
Bradley AR-Calhoun AR-
535 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Bradley
and southeastern Calhoun Counties through 600 PM CDT
...

At 535 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Moro Bay, or 11 miles south of Hampton, moving north at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch 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...
Hampton...                        Harrell...
Hampton Municipal Airport...      Moro Bay...
Moro Bay State Park...            Artesian...
Woodberry...                      Jersey...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3327 9244 3329 9247 3332 9246 3333 9248
      3332 9249 3333 9251 3332 9253 3334 9252
      3335 9253 3336 9256 3363 9252 3361 9227
      3328 9234 3328 9236 3330 9235 3330 9236
      3328 9238
TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 188DEG 31KT 3337 9243

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

74

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
541 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

ARZ066-067-032315-
Calhoun AR-Ouachita AR-
541 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Calhoun
and central Ouachita Counties through 615 PM CDT
...

At 541 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Cullendale, or over Camden, moving north at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel 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...
Camden...                         Bearden...
Cullendale...                     Highland Industrial Park...
East Camden...                    Amy...
Warner...                         Eagle Mills...
Harmony Grove...                  Millville...
Fairview in Ouachita County...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3347 9274 3351 9291 3378 9287 3376 9259
TIME...MOT...LOC 2241Z 193DEG 20KT 3355 9282

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

74