700 FXUS64 KLZK 151034 AFDLZKArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 534 AM CDT Wed Oct 15 2025
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 208 AM CDT Wed Oct 15 2025
-Seasonably warm temperatures will prevail across the forecast area through the remainder of the workweek, with dry and settled conditions prevailing over this period.
-Unsettled weather, including rain and thunderstorm chances appear possible across the region by late workweek transitioning to better chances over Saturday into early Sunday, but uncertainties remain between exact timing, QPF, and severe weather possibilities.
-Severe weather across Arkansas on Saturday into Saturday night remains a good possibility. However, models are still working out specific detail with respect to possible severe weather hazards (via storm mode) and timing, expect those to become clear over the next couple of days.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 208 AM CDT Wed Oct 15 2025
WEDNESDAY (TODAY) AND THURSDAY:
A robust, upper lvl ridge will be settled across the Mid-South region of the CONUS extending eastward over the Southeastern region of the CONUS which will assist in the promotion of mostly sunny skies and fair weather across the Natural State. Additionally, regional sfc high pressure will lead to a continued advection of southerly to southeasterly flow into Arkansas ushering a warm and moist airmass across the state. Expect temperatures overall to remain unseasonably warm for this time of the year averaging about 5 to 10 degrees above normal overall.
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY:
A significant pattern shift in the upper lvls is forecast to take place by late workweek (Friday). An upper lvl trof is projected to dig over the Central Plains region of the CONUS and will drive a cold front across Arkansas through the weekend. Latest model guidance of both the GFS and ECMWF continue to be in cohesion with regard to the occurrence of rain and thunderstorm activity ahead of and along the placement of the cold front; however, both are not in agreement on timing of this occurrence. The latest run as of this forecast discussion paints two different pictures:
1.) The GFS and related ensembles hint at a faster frontal passage with the leading edge of the rain and thunderstorm activity arriving into western Arkansas on Saturday morning. The earlier timing is more representative of a rain-event with limited potential for embedded strong to a few severe thunderstorms. A morning arrival of rain and thunderstorms could also limit the destabilization of the atmosphere which would potentially limit the high-end severe threat to a degree.
2.) The ECMWF presents a slower and potentially more potent solution. The model solution delays the arrival of the main line of strong to severe thunderstorms to until Saturday evening and into the overnight hours. The later timing would allow for greater diurnal heating and destabilization of the airmass ahead of the front potentially leading to a higher-end severe weather threat with a greater threat of significant, severe thunderstorms.
Over the next couple of days these models and shorter-term model guidance will continue to be closely analyzed to see which outcome appears more probable. However, the key takeaway should be that ingredients will be in place on Saturday into Saturday Night for severe weather across the Natural State and all hazards will be in play: damaging wind gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
Into the day on Sunday, expect precipitation to come to an end across the eastern portion of the state. A much cooler and drier (via both the rain-cooled environment and the cooler and drier airmass behind the cold front) will lower temperatures to near or slightly below average temperatures for mid-October transitioning into later October.
MONDAY AND TUESDAY:
Into Monday, the cold front will push well east of Arkansas and sfc high pressure will occupy the region. In response this will usher in a cooler and drier airmass which will place temperatures overall near normal for mid-October transitioning into late-October.
At the end of the forecast period on Tuesday a warm front is progged to lift northward across the Natural State and will be the chance of a second bout of rainfall, but this rain opportunity does not appear to have severe weather potential attached to it.
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.AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 533 AM CDT Wed Oct 15 2025
Expect VFR flight category for the duration of the forecast period from Wednesday morning through Thursday morning across all terminals. Upper level ridging and regional surface high pressure will keep weather conditions over the period fair and dry. Surface winds will gust in excess of 20 knots across the central and southern sites of KLIT, KPBF, KLLQ, KHOT, and KADF from later Wednesday morning until Wednesday evening before the gusting conditions will subside at the surface.
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.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 85 57 85 58 / 0 0 0 0 Camden AR 84 55 86 60 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 81 56 80 58 / 0 0 0 0 Hot Springs AR 84 58 84 61 / 0 0 0 0 Little Rock AR 83 58 84 63 / 0 0 0 0 Monticello AR 86 58 87 62 / 0 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 85 56 85 60 / 0 0 0 0 Mountain Home AR 83 58 82 59 / 0 0 0 0 Newport AR 86 58 86 61 / 0 0 0 0 Pine Bluff AR 84 56 86 61 / 0 0 0 0 Russellville AR 86 59 85 62 / 0 0 0 0 Searcy AR 85 57 86 60 / 0 0 0 0 Stuttgart AR 84 58 85 63 / 0 0 0 0
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.LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
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SHORT TERM...74 LONG TERM....74 AVIATION...74
NWS LZK Office Area Forecast Discussion