Heat Persists in the South Central U.S. and Southwest; Heavy rains in the Desert Southwest and Central Plains

Sweltering heat remains across the South-Central Plains, Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley, and the Southwest this week with limited nighttime relief. Thunderstorms will bring heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding in portions of the Desert Southwest and central Plains. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of the central Plains into the Northeast. Read More >

Click a location below for detailed forecast.

Last Map Update: Tue, Sep 8, 2026 at 7:54:44 pm CDT

Watches, Warnings & Advisories

National Weather Service Wichita, Kansas

National Weather Service Springfield, MO

Zoom Out

National Weather Service Little Rock, AR

National Weather Service Fort Worth/Dallas, TX

Extreme Heat Warning

Heat Advisory

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Dangerous Heat Continues

Dangerous Heat Wednesday

Hot Weather Continues

Severe Weather Outlook Wednesday

Thunderstorm Chances Tuesday & Wednesday

Forecast Summary

Fort Smith Radar

An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect from noon to 8PM Tuesday for parts of eastern Oklahoma into the Arkansas River Valley of western Arkansas for heat index values in excess of 110 degrees. A Heat Advisory is in effect for the rest of the forecast area. Expect peak heat index values up to 109 within the advisory area. Continue to take heat safety precautions.

Dangerous heat continues on Wednesday with heat index values of 105 to 113 degrees forecast across eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.

Dangerous heat index values will continue through mid week before a minor cool down for late week.

Thunderstorms are expected to develop across southern Kansas and spread south late Wednesday afternoon through early evening. A few storms could be severe with damaging winds the primary hazard.

Isolated thunderstorms are forecast Tuesday afternoon but chances increase along a slow moving front late Wednesday into Wednesday night. Gusty downburst winds and cloud-to-ground lightning will be the main threats.

Hot weather continues through mid week with increasing rain chances and slightly cooler weather by late week.

KSRX Radar (Fort Smith, AR).

Latest Text Product Selector (Selected product opens in a new window)


Decision Support	Winter	Hazards	Observations	Climate	Hydrology



Social Media	Satellite	Fire Weather	Weather Radio	Spotter Training	Text Products



Models

Tulsa Radar

Weather Map

Fort Smith Radar

TSA RSS Feed

Heat Persists in the South Central U.S. and Southwest; Heavy rains in the Desert Southwest and Central Plains

NWS Forecast Office Tulsa, OK