An active weather pattern will continue across the region through the weekend, with some threat for strong to severe thunderstorms forecast through the weekend.
Chances for severe weather will be greatest across the southwest section of the state through tonight. The threat on Thursday will be less concentrated, but may be more focused for western sections. Chances for severe weather will be a tad lower on Friday…but return for Saturday and Sunday.
The primary threats expected with the strongest storms will be large hail and damaging winds, with some tornadoes also possible. Very large hail over 2 inches in diameter and damaging winds over 70 mph could be seen across southwest sections of the state this Wednesday afternoon.
Some areas of heavy rainfall could be seen by late this week. Additional rainfall amounts exceeding 1.5 inches could be seen through Memorial Day, especially across the south half of the state. Locally heavier amounts are possible. This may lead to some isolated flash flooding.
The latest weather briefing for Arkansas from the National Weather Service in Little Rock
An active pattern will remain in place into the weekend, with chances for thunderstorms expected nearly every day through Sunday. Some of these storms could become strong to severe. Expect damaging winds and large hail with the strongest storms, with locally heavy rainfall also possible. The best chances for seeing any strong to severe thunderstorms will be late tonight into Friday morning, and again Saturday night through Sunday. However, there will still be some potential outside of these times.
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Your NWS Little Rock Forecast Team
Winter Storm Warning in effect for McCurtain County in Southeastern Oklahoma; Winter Weather Advisory for Sevier and Howard Counties in SW Arkansas
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for McCurtain County, Oklahoma. A Winter Weather Advisory is also in effect N of I-30 by mid afternoon through tonight. Snow accumulations will be slushy to start, with slush and snow-covered roads becoming slick into the evening hours.
Arkansas Forecasted Rain For the Week from the National Weather Service
Showers and isolated thunderstorms will return to portions of the region today, generally north of the Interstate 30 corridor near a stationary cool front. By this evening, the front will start to slowly push southeastward, bringing increased rain chances to Southeast Oklahoma, adjacent southwest Arkansas, and portions of East Texas. Although the overall threat for severe weather is limited, the Storm Prediction Center has issued a Marginal Risk for these same general areas, with a Slight Risk for the extreme western sections of McCurtain County Oklahoma and Red River County in Texas. Damaging winds and large hail are the main threats. Also, these same locations could see locally heavy rainfall. Localized amounts up to 3 inches will be possible, which could lead to a some isolated flash flooding. In addition to the rain, expect winds to increase today from the south to near 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. A Lake Wind Advisory is in effect from 9 AM to 7 PM this evening, as strong winds will create hazardous conditions on area waterways.
Rain chances will continue to spread across the entire area, as a cool front slowly moves across the region Thursday into Friday morning. Although the overall threat for severe weather is limited, a few strong thunderstorms cannot be ruled out, with locally heavy rainfall possible. Some slightly cooler and drier air will filter into the area in wake of the front, but rain chances will return for the weekend, as an upper level trough moves across the region.