ARwx.info
Arkansas Severe Weather Readiness
Essential tools, alerts, and preparedness information for Arkansas residents. Stay informed. Stay safe.
The Essentials
NOAA Weather Radio
24/7 continuous broadcasts of weather information directly from the National Weather Service. Midland models ($30–$75) are loud enough to wake you during nighttime storms.
- Programmable alerts for your county via SAME codes
- Works during power and internet outages
- Battery backup recommended
- Tip: configure for Tornado Warning only to avoid alert fatigue
- NOAA Weather Radio Official NWR station finder and info
- NWS SAME Code Lookup Find your county SAME code for programming
- Midland Weather Radios Recommended consumer weather radios ($30–$75)
WeatherCall
Phone call and text alerts for a precise location — not just your county. Only $10–$12/year.
- Alerts by call and SMS to your phone
- Location-specific, not county-wide
- Add to your phone's sleep mode exceptions so calls come through at night
- WeatherCall Sign up for location-based weather alerts
RadarScope
The go-to professional weather radar app. The only radar app recommended for accurate and timely data.
- Real-time NEXRAD radar data
- Learn to read velocity and reflectivity displays
- Available on iOS, Android, and desktop
- RadarScope Professional-grade radar app (paid)
- College of DuPage NEXLAB Free radar and satellite imagery
- NWS Radar (Little Rock) Official NWS radar centered on Arkansas
Supplement your weather radio with these mobile tools for real-time alerts and forecasts. Storms and tornadoes can strike at night — having a system that can wake you is critical.
Privacy note: Be cautious with weather apps — many, including well-known ones, monetize by selling user data. Always read the privacy policy before downloading.
- Hello Weather Privacy-friendly weather app with a clean interface. Pro ($5/yr) includes push weather notifications.
- FEMA App Fast mobile alerts, shelter finder, and disaster planning resources
- Red Cross Emergency App Set alert locations for family members; available on iOS and Android
- Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Free alerts direct to your phone — no app needed. Ensure WEA is enabled in settings.
Authoritative forecasts and data from the National Weather Service.
- Weather.gov (NWS) Official forecasts and warnings
- NWS Little Rock Local forecast office for central Arkansas
- NWS Tulsa Covers northwest Arkansas
- NWS Memphis Covers northeast and eastern Arkansas
- NWS Shreveport Covers southwest Arkansas
- Storm Prediction Center Severe weather outlooks and watches
- Iowa State Mesonet Surface observations, radar, and climate data
Official Sources & Data
Authoritative weather data from government and academic sources.
- Arkansas Department of Emergency Management State emergency coordination and resources
- FEMA Federal emergency management
- Ready.gov Federal preparedness guides
- Arkansas ARES/RACES Amateur radio emergency services
Know Your Risk
- Arkansas is in Tornado Alley — tornado season peaks March through June, with a secondary season in fall
- Flash flooding is the #1 weather-related killer in Arkansas
- Severe storms can produce tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail with little warning
- Nighttime tornadoes are disproportionately deadly — always have alerts enabled while sleeping
Build a Plan
- Identify your safe room: interior room, lowest floor, away from windows
- Practice tornado drills with your household at least twice a year
- Know the difference: Watch = conditions favorable; Warning = take shelter now
Communication Plan
- Designate an out-of-town contact as your family's relay point
- SMS/text messages are more likely to go through than calls when networks are overloaded
- If iMessage fails, switch to SMS — know how to do this on your device
- Keep a written list of important phone numbers in case your phone is lost or damaged
Build a Kit
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days minimum
- Non-perishable food, manual can opener
- Flashlight, batteries, NOAA weather radio
- First aid kit, medications (7-day supply)
- Phone charger (battery bank), important documents in waterproof bag
- Emergency ponchos, trash bags, basic toiletries
- Cash in small bills, multitool
- Wear sturdy shoes when taking shelter — even at home. Debris and broken glass are common after storms.
- Keep helmets accessible for children — bike helmets, batting helmets, anything to protect their heads
- Equip each family member with a whistle for emergency signaling if trapped
- Save important documents locally on your phone, accessible offline — don't rely on cloud access during outages
- Practice drills regularly to reduce panic and ensure everyone knows what to do
- Consider a storm shelter or safe room if in a manufactured home or tornado-prone area
- Review your insurance coverage annually — standard policies often exclude flood damage
Follow reputable Arkansas meteorologists for timely, reliable severe weather coverage.
WXexperts — Curated list of trusted Arkansas meteorologists on XWatch vs. Warning: A Watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather — stay alert. A Warning means severe weather is occurring or imminent — take shelter immediately.