A brutal combination of soaring temperatures and heavy humidity has prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) in Little Rock to issue a heat advisory for a massive swath of Arkansas, warning residents that the heat index could push past 105 degrees.
The advisory takes effect Tuesday at noon and will run through 8:00 PM Wednesday, covering central, eastern, north-central, southeast, and western portions of the state. Impacted areas include Saline, Pulaski, Faulkner, and Jefferson counties, among dozens of others.
Forecasters warn that this marks the state’s first prolonged stretch of true summer misery this year, with ambient temperatures consistently hitting the 90s paired with sticky dewpoints at or above 70 degrees.
“The combination of this being the first prolonged period of temperatures of 90 degrees or above… will make it misery to be outside for long periods of time,” the NWS stated, urging the public to take frequent breaks, stay hydrated, and closely monitor pets and elderly neighbors.
A Turbulent Start to the Week
The extreme heat follows a chaotic Monday afternoon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms pushed through the Little Rock metropolitan area midday, bringing brief heavy downpours and gusty winds.
Once those storms clear out, the heat begins to build. Monday afternoon is expected to reach a high near 89 degrees, though high humidity will make it feel closer to 99.
The Week Ahead: No Immediate Relief
While the official heat advisory currently runs through Wednesday evening, the oppressive weather pattern looks dug in for the workweek:
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 90 and gusty south-southwest winds up to 15 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
A pulse of relief may arrive late Thursday night into Friday, as a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms moves into the region. Rain chances will linger through the weekend, keeping daytime highs in the upper 80s to low 90s.
How to Stay Safe
Health officials emphasize that the combination of high heat and humidity drastically increases the risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Residents are strongly advised to:
- Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- Stay in air-conditioned rooms and avoid direct sunlight during peak afternoon hours.
- Never leave children or pets in unattended vehicles.
- Check in frequently on vulnerable relatives and neighbors.
