LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Scattered rain and storms are moving through the region this afternoon as of 4:58 PM, bringing much-needed heavy rain and frequent lightning to an area dealing with an ongoing wildfire in Calhoun County, Arkansas. The storm activity is slowly drifting northward, with cells visible from Little Rock and Pine Bluff eastward through Clarksdale and toward Memphis. The severe risk is extremely low with today’s storms, but heavy rainfall and dangerous lightning are both present with this activity.
Where the Storms Are Right Now at 4:58 PM
The radar image captured at 4:58 PM shows scattered storm cells with active lightning spread across the region. The blue northward-pointing arrows on the radar confirm the entire storm complex is slowly drifting north. Here are the communities visible within or near the active storm activity:
- Little Rock sits directly within the active storm zone at 4:58 PM, with radar showing lightning-producing cells clustered around the area and heavy rainfall moving through.
- Pine Bluff falls within one of the most active storm clusters on the 4:58 PM radar image, with multiple lightning symbols visible near the city and heavy rainfall occurring in the area.
- Conway is visible on the radar north of Little Rock and falls within the broader storm environment as the activity drifts northward this afternoon.
- Camden and El Dorado are visible in the southern portion of the radar image within the active storm zone, with lightning-producing cells visible near both communities at 4:58 PM.
- Danville is visible on the western edge of the radar image within the broader storm environment for this afternoon.
- Jonesboro is visible on the northern portion of the radar image with active lightning symbols showing storm cells near the city at 4:58 PM.
- Mount Olive and West Plains are visible on the northern edge of the radar as the storm complex drifts slowly northward from its current position.
- Branson and Poplar Bluff are visible at the top of the radar image in the forward northward path of the drifting storm complex.
- Memphis is visible on the eastern edge of the radar with active storm cells and lightning symbols nearby at 4:58 PM, as scattered activity extends eastward toward the Memphis area.
- Clarksdale falls within the eastern portion of the active storm zone visible on the 4:58 PM radar, with the storm complex spanning the region’s border area.
- Greenville and Grenada are visible on the southeastern portion of the radar image within the broader storm environment this afternoon.
- Yazoo City is visible on the southeastern edge of the radar within the broader storm environment at 4:58 PM.
- Texarkana is visible on the western edge of the radar image near the southwestern boundary of the storm activity.
- Shreveport and Monroe are visible at the bottom of the radar image south of the active storm zone at 4:58 PM.
- Bastrop is visible along the southern edge of the radar image near the boundary of the storm complex.
The Wildfire in Calhoun County and Why Today’s Rain Matters
An ongoing wildfire is burning in Calhoun County as of today, and the scattered storms moving through the region this afternoon are bringing critically needed rainfall near the fire area. The source data confirms that storm activity near the ongoing Calhoun County wildfire is being tracked this afternoon alongside the broader regional storm coverage. Rain falling near or over an active wildfire can help suppress fire spread and reduce the immediate threat to surrounding communities, making today’s storms genuinely welcome despite the lightning risk they bring.
Low Severe Risk But Heavy Rain and Lightning Still Dangerous
The source data is clear that the severe risk is extremely low with today’s storm activity. However, low severe risk does not mean no danger. Heavy rainfall from today’s storms can cause localized street flooding and reduced visibility on roads across Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and surrounding communities. Lightning remains a life-threatening hazard regardless of severe risk level — anyone caught outdoors while these storms pass should seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately and stay there until the lightning threat passes.
Storms Are Drifting North: Who Is Next in the Path
The entire storm complex is slowly drifting northward as of 4:58 PM, meaning communities currently north of the active cells should prepare for storm arrival in the coming hours. Conway and Jonesboro are in the northward drift path, as are West Plains and Branson visible on the upper edge of the radar. Residents in these communities should monitor radar closely through the evening as the storm complex continues its slow northward progression.
