901 FXUS64 KLZK 030217 AFDLZK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 917 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2020 .UPDATE... Data from local radars continue to indicate several areas of convection, drifting across the forecast area. Areas that have not convectively overturned this evening still has large amounts of energy to fuel thunderstorms, as ML CAPE values of over 3000 j/kg are indicated across portions of southwest through northeast sections of the state. Expect a very slow decrease in convective coverage through the early morning hours. 55 && .PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 641 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2020) AVIATION... Forecasts will continue to reflect ongoing convection, with an expected diurnal reflection on areal coverage. Expect scattered areas of 4000-6000 ft ceilings to affect sites during the second half of the valid forecast period. 55 PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 256 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2020) SHORT TERM...Tonight Through Saturday Seasonal highly moist airmass to remain across the forecast area through the period while a strong upper ridge over the central Plains begins to weaken and move west. While the weakening high pressure will bring somewhat lower daytime highs the next couple of days and get us away from the heat advisory headlines, it will also allow for more widespread development of afternoon/evening thunderstorms through the first half of the holiday weekend. Given the high moisture content of the atmosphere, some storms could give a quick inch or more of rainfall in a short amount of time. Will see a cooling trend the next couple days with highs Friday afternoon ranging from the mid 80s over the northern higher terrain with lower 90s across the southern two-thirds of the forecast area. Highs on Saturday will range from the lower 80s over the northern higher terrain to around 90 over the far south. LONG TERM...Saturday Night Through Thursday An upper level ridge of high pressure will remain quasi-stationary across the midsection of the country thru the period, although there will be some variability in the strength of the ridge over time. Overall, Arkansas will remain just to the east of the ridge axis, remaining under a northwesterly to the occasional meridional flow pattern. A number of shortwaves will traverse the ridge with little consequence, and will emerge on the eastern side to kick up some convective activity. The flow pattern will be conducive to the development of MCS activity across the Plains at times, and remnant boundaries and convection could certainly influence POPs in unforeseen ways this far out. Overall most convection will be diurnally driven thru the period, but may occasionally become a bit more widespread or intense due to the above mentioned disturbances and/or remnant MCS activity. My confidence in POPs and the timing at this range is fairly low, and it's probably safe to assume that most days during the extended term will see some kind of precip activity across the state. Despite the presence of the ridge, convection, cloud cover, and outflow boundaries should keep daytime max temperatures from getting out of hand. && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...NONE. && $$ Aviation...99