Heat and humidity are part of the weather story over Labor Day weekend, but so is the wildfire danger.
Heat Advisories are in place statewide through Sunday, September 6, for heat index values between 105 degrees and 109 degrees Fahrenheit. An Extreme Heat Warning is in place for parts of Crawford, Sebastian, and Franklin Counties for heat index values in excess of 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
A few spotty showers and storms have brought brief bouts of heavy rain and maybe a strike of lightning or two to parts of Arkansas on Saturday afternoon, September 5. This activity will end Saturday evening into Saturday night. Not everyone will see rain, as this activity is very isolated.
Sunday, expect hot and humid conditions with another tiny chance of stray showers and storms. Showers and storms that do pop up will be mainly brief. Strong to severe storms aren’t expected.
Highs on Sunday will reach the upper 90s to triple digits, with heat index values in excess of 105 degrees.
By Labor Day, rain chances end for most of the state. A small chance of a shower or storm exists in far western and far southern Arkansas. Highs will again reach the upper 90s to triple digits, but a little less humidity in the air means heat index values may be a bit below heat advisory criteria (105 degrees to 109 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday afternoon.
As the moisture levels in the air drop, the wildfire danger shifts from high to extreme. Wildfire safety precautions are very strongly encouraged. In these conditions, a wildfire will be able to spark and spread rapidly if ignited.
Moisture levels in the air are expected to remain low with temperatures still very hot through Wednesday, September 9. A bit more moisture returns to the air by Thursday, September 10, but the wildfire danger is still high…