Dry conditions persist in first weeks of October, National Weather Service says

The first part of October will be a dry one in Arkansas, the National Weather Service in Little Rock said.

Outside of parts of the northeast, where remnants of Hurricane Helene last week brought rain, most of Arkansas has been very dry. Don’t expect that to change in coming days, either.

“It appears that more dry weather is in the forecast with no precipitation expected through Oct. 11, at least,” the NWS said on its website. These dry conditions will lead to increasing drought concerns and elevated wildfire danger as grasses and shrubs dry out.

Multiple wildfires reportedly broke out in the Bismarck area on Friday, Sept. 30, and kept volunteer firemen busy through the weekend as fires re-ignited. In south Clark County, firemen responded Tuesday, Oct. 1, to a forest fire at Kansas Road.

Two-thirds of the state are now under moderate or high risk of wildfire danger, with some counties in Northwest Arkansas under burn bans. Clark County and all of South Arkansas is under a moderate risk of wildfire danger, according to the latest from the Arkansas Forestry Division.

Temperature-wise, the seven-day forecast for the Arkadelphia area calls for highs in the upper 80s through the weekend, then gradually falling into the upper 70s by early next week. Lows will be in the lower 60s through the weekend, then in the lower 50s by next week. Expect clear skies both day and night.