Select units of measurement for the temperature and rainfall tables (metric or imperial).
Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Little Rock, the capital and largest city of Arkansas, is
temperate, with relatively cold winters and hot, muggy summers, during which there are quite frequent thunderstorms.
The city is located in the southern United States. Across the Arkansas River, a tributary of the Mississippi, lies the city of North Little Rock.
The
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 4.8 °C (40.7 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 1,280 millimeters (50.4 inches) per year.
The
winter, from December to February, is quite cold, however, different situations arise. There are mild periods, in which subtropical air masses prevail, and the temperature can even exceed 20 °C (68 °F).
On the other hand, there can be intense
cold waves, during which the temperature can drop to -11/-12 °C (10/12 °F) or even below.
In recent decades, the record is -19 °C (-2 °F), recorded in January 1985. In December 1983, in December 1989 and in February 2021, the temperature dropped to -18 °C (0 °F).
Snow occurs every year or so, even though you have to wait several years to see a heavy snowfall. On average, 9.5 centimeters (4 inches) of snow fall per year. The most abundant snowfall in one day was 29 cm (11.3 in), in January 1960 and in February 2021.
Sometimes the dangerous phenomenon of freezing rain can also occur.
The
summer, from June to August, is hot and muggy, with an often unpleasant combination of temperature and humidity. The sun shines often, although cloud coverings can form, which can produce thunderstorms.
Little Rock is a particularly hot city. There are long periods with temperatures of 36/37 °C (97/99 °F), sometimes even in September. The record is 45.5 °C (114 °F), recorded in August 2011.
In
spring and autumn, from March to May and from September to November, the weather is variable. The rains are quite frequent, although there can be rainless periods of a week. However, spring is rainier than autumn. At times, due to particularly heavy rains, the Arkansas River can overflow, flooding certain areas of the city.
In March and November, there can be cold air outbreaks, while in April and October they are rare. In May and September, there can be hot periods, with summer-like temperatures.
In spring, and more rarely in autumn,
tornadoes can form.
Best Time
It is difficult to find a certainly favorable period in Little Rock. Summer is the driest season, but it is very hot and muggy. During the rest of the year, severe thunderstorms and heavy rains are possible. In winter, cold spells are possible.
You can therefore choose the months of April and October, with a preference for the second, and also the beginning of November, being a less unstable period.
Little Rock - Climate data
In Little Rock, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of
4.8 °C, that of the warmest month (July) is of
27.5 °C. Here are the average temperatures.
Little Rock - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | -0.6 | 10.3 | 4.8 |
|---|
| February | 1.2 | 12.9 | 7.1 |
|---|
| March | 5.4 | 17.6 | 11.5 |
|---|
| April | 10.1 | 22.7 | 16.4 |
|---|
| May | 15.2 | 26.9 | 21.1 |
|---|
| June | 19.8 | 31.2 | 25.5 |
|---|
| July | 21.8 | 33.2 | 27.5 |
|---|
| August | 21.2 | 33.1 | 27.1 |
|---|
| September | 17.2 | 29.5 | 23.3 |
|---|
| October | 10.5 | 23.4 | 17 |
|---|
| November | 4.6 | 16.6 | 10.6 |
|---|
| December | 0.7 | 11.4 | 6.1 |
|---|
| Year | 10.6 | 22.5 | 16.5 |
|---|
amounts to
1280 millimeters per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from
75 millimeters in the driest month (September) to
140 millimeters in the wettest one (April). Here is the average precipitation.
Little Rock - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 90 | 9 |
|---|
| February | 100 | 9 |
|---|
| March | 125 | 10 |
|---|
| April | 140 | 9 |
|---|
| May | 130 | 11 |
|---|
| June | 90 | 8 |
|---|
| July | 85 | 9 |
|---|
| August | 80 | 7 |
|---|
| September | 75 | 7 |
|---|
| October | 115 | 8 |
|---|
| November | 120 | 8 |
|---|
| December | 130 | 10 |
|---|
| Year | 1280 | 106 |
|---|
There are on average around 3100
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Little Rock - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
| January | 6 | 180 |
|---|
| February | 6.5 | 190 |
|---|
| March | 8 | 245 |
|---|
| April | 9 | 275 |
|---|
| May | 10.5 | 325 |
|---|
| June | 11.5 | 345 |
|---|
| July | 11.5 | 350 |
|---|
| August | 10.5 | 325 |
|---|
| September | 9 | 270 |
|---|
| October | 8 | 250 |
|---|
| November | 6 | 175 |
|---|
| December | 5.5 | 165 |
|---|
| Year | 8.5 | 3100 |
|---|
Little Rock - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.8 °C, with a minimum of
-0.6 °C and a maximum of
10.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-13.9 °C in January 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
26.7 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
February is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.1 °C, with a minimum of 1.2 °C and a maximum of 12.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C. However, it dropped to -15 °C in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C. However, it reached 27.8 °C in February 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of 12.9 kph.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.5 °C, with a minimum of 5.4 °C and a maximum of 17.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C. However, it dropped to -9.4 °C in March 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C. However, it reached 31.1 °C in March 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 125 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of 13.9 kph.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.4 °C, with a minimum of 10.1 °C and a maximum of 22.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C. However, it dropped to -2.2 °C in April 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C. However, it reached 34.4 °C in April 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of 13.6 kph.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.1 °C, with a minimum of 15.2 °C and a maximum of 26.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C. However, it dropped to 3.3 °C in May 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C. However, it reached 36.1 °C in May 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 11.5 kph.
June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 25.5 °C, with a minimum of 19.8 °C and a maximum of 31.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C. However, it dropped to 11.1 °C in June 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C. However, it reached 41.7 °C in June 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 10.3 kph.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 27.5 °C, with a minimum of 21.8 °C and a maximum of 33.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18.5 °C. However, it dropped to 15.6 °C in July 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C. However, it reached 43.9 °C in July 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 9.9 kph.
August is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 27.1 °C, with a minimum of 21.2 °C and a maximum of 33.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18 °C. However, it dropped to 12.2 °C in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C. However, it reached 45.6 °C in August 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of 9.1 kph.
September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.3 °C, with a minimum of 17.2 °C and a maximum of 29.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C. However, it dropped to 6.6 °C in September 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C. However, it reached 40 °C in September 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of 9.6 kph.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17 °C, with a minimum of 10.5 °C and a maximum of 23.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C. However, it dropped to -2.2 °C in October 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C. However, it reached 36.7 °C in October 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of 10 kph.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.6 °C, with a minimum of 4.6 °C and a maximum of 16.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C. However, it dropped to -8.3 °C in November 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C. However, it reached 29.4 °C in November 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of 11.2 kph.
December is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.1 °C, with a minimum of 0.7 °C and a maximum of 11.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C. However, it dropped to -12 °C in December 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C. However, it reached 27.2 °C in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 11.9 kph.