Arkadelphia, AR 71923 Weather

Key Messages

Issued at 106 AM CDT Wed Oct 21 2026

-Near-normal to above-normal temperatures are expected to continue through the remainder of the work week and into this weekend.

-No significant rainfall is expected through the end of the work week with drought conditions persisting.

-Low afternoon relative humidity values and drying fuels may contribute to daily elevated fire danger concerns.

Discussion

Issued at 106 AM CDT Wed Oct 21 2026

Recent WV sat imgry depicted perturbed upper level flow over the CONUS, w/ an upper low approaching Srn CA and the Baja region, and another upper low maneuvering over the NErn US. Intermediate ridging resided over the Cntrl US, w/ broad sfc high pressure extending SEwrd fm the Great Lakes thru the OH River Valley and Mid-South.

Thru much of the current fcst PD, there is considerable agreement amongst deterministic and ensemble global guidance for upper level ridging to persist across the central CONUS. This wl drive a persistence-style fcst, w/ daily high temps in the upper 70s to low 80s...typically above-normal for most locations...and lows in the upper 40s to low 50s, w/ no appreciable rainfall expected.

Concerning drought and fire danger, a lack of forecast rainfall, and any recent substantial rainfall wl foster drying ground fuels (noted by fcst ERC values approaching >90th percentile over portions of Srn AR), and persisting to deteriorating drought conditions for much of the state. Additionally, very low afternoon RH values of 25 percent or less may contribute to daily elevated fire danger concerns through at least this weekend.

For the long term, the aforementioned west coast trof looks to slowly translate Ewrd over the Four Corners region into early next week, weakening as it does so. Locally, the center of the upper level high wl also shift Ewrd, positioning SWrly flow acrs the Srn Great Plains, and possibly driving some poleward moisture transport by mid- week next week, but confidence remains low, w/ most ensemble guidance pointing towards zonal H500 near the end of the fcst PD and beyond.

Aviation

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1200 PM CDT Wed Oct 21 2026

VFR conditions are expected throughout the period with a NE to SE wind direction throughout the period. Mid clouds currently over the area will move east by sunset.

Preliminary Point Temps

Batesville AR 47 80 48 79 / 0 0 0 0 Camden AR 45 82 45 83 / 0 0 0 0 Harrison AR 50 77 49 77 / 0 0 0 0 Hot Springs AR 49 82 50 81 / 0 0 0 0 Little Rock AR 51 81 51 81 / 0 0 0 0 Monticello AR 49 81 49 81 / 0 0 0 0 Mount Ida AR 45 82 46 81 / 0 0 0 0 Mountain Home AR 47 77 48 75 / 0 0 0 0 Newport AR 49 80 50 79 / 0 0 0 0 Pine Bluff AR 47 81 48 81 / 0 0 0 0 Russellville AR 48 81 49 80 / 0 0 0 0 Searcy AR 48 80 49 80 / 0 0 0 0 Stuttgart AR 49 81 49 81 / 0 0 0 0