If you’re driving down I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis, you’ve seen it. Forrest City sits right there on Crowley’s Ridge, that weird geological anomaly that rises up out of the flat Arkansas Delta like a sleeping giant. But here’s the thing about the weather Forrest City AR 72335 deals with: it’s not just "Arkansas weather." It’s a specific, localized headache.
Most people check a generic app, see a sun icon, and assume they’re good. They aren't.
Living here or just passing through means understanding that the Ridge changes the game. It’s a literal bump in the road for storms. When a humid front rolls off the flat farmland to the west and hits that elevation change, things get weird. Fast. Honestly, the microclimate created by the loess hills of Crowley’s Ridge can make a three-mile difference feel like a different state.
The Humidity Trap and Why 72335 Feels Different
St. Francis County is basically a giant sponge. We are surrounded by rice fields and soybean acreage. That’s not just a fun fact for farmers; it’s a recipe for "evapotranspiration." Basically, the plants sweat. All that moisture gets trapped in the air, and because Forrest City has that slight elevation, the air cools just enough to make the humidity feel like a wet wool blanket by 9:00 AM in July.
It’s oppressive.
You’ve probably seen the "Heat Index" on your phone and thought, 105°F isn't that bad. In 72335, that 105°F is often paired with 80% humidity. That’s dangerous. It’s the kind of weather where your sweat doesn't evaporate, so your body can't cool down. National Weather Service (NWS) data out of the Little Rock and Memphis offices—which both keep an eye on this slice of the state—frequently issue heat advisories for this specific corridor because the Delta floor acts like a heat sink.
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When the Sky Turns Green: Tornado Alley’s Eastern Edge
Let’s talk about the scary stuff.
Forrest City isn't in the traditional "Tornado Alley" you see on the Discovery Channel. We’re in Dixie Alley. It’s worse. Why? Because here, the storms move faster, and you can’t see them coming behind the trees.
In April and May, the weather Forrest City AR 72335 experiences is dictated by the battle between Gulf moisture and cold fronts. When those two meet over the Delta, the atmosphere gets "unstable." Meteorologists look at CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) values. If those numbers are high, you’re looking at supercells.
The 2023 tornado season was a massive wake-up call for Eastern Arkansas. While Wynnee took a direct hit, Forrest City was right in the path of those same atmospheric dynamics. The geography matters here. While the Ridge can sometimes disrupt smaller storm cells, it doesn't do a thing to stop an EF-3. You have to have a plan that doesn't involve "watching it from the porch."
Winter is Just a Long Series of Ice Threats
Snow is rare. Ice is the king here.
Because we are so close to the Mississippi River, we get "cold air damming." Cold air sinks into the Delta, but a warm layer of air stays just above it. Rain falls through the warm layer, hits the freezing air near the ground, and turns into glaze.
Remember the 2000 ice storm? Or the 2021 deep freeze? Forrest City became a skating rink. I-40 shuts down. When the weather Forrest City AR 72335 turns icy, the Ridge becomes a nightmare for truckers. The slight incline on the interstate near the Village Creek State Park exit becomes a graveyard for semi-trucks that can’t get traction.
If the forecast says "wintry mix," just stay home. It’s never just "a little bit of snow." It’s almost always power-line-snapping ice.
How to Actually Read a Forrest City Forecast
Don't just look at the high and low. Look at the "Dew Point."
- Under 60: You’re in heaven. This happens for about two weeks in October.
- 60 to 70: It’s getting sticky. Standard summer day.
- Above 72: You will feel like you are breathing through a snorkel.
Also, keep an eye on the "Memphis Radar" versus the "Little Rock Radar." Forrest City sits in a bit of a dead zone between the two. Sometimes the Memphis NEXRAD (WSR-88D) gives a better view of what’s coming up from the south, while Little Rock catches the stuff moving in from the west. Checking both gives you the full picture.
The Flooding Nobody Mentions
We aren't right on the Mississippi, so people think we’re safe from flooding. Wrong.
Flash flooding in Forrest City happens because the drainage systems in older parts of town—and the runoff from the Ridge—can’t handle three inches of rain in an hour. This happens a lot in the spring. If you’re driving near the L’Anguille River or any of the local bayous, the water rises faster than you’d think.
The L'Anguille is a slow-moving, muddy river. It doesn't take much to push it over its banks. When it floods, it stays flooded for weeks, turning the western edge of the 72335 zip code into a swamp.
Real-World Advice for Navigating Forrest City Weather
If you’re living here, get a NOAA Weather Radio. Cell towers go down in big storms. A radio with a battery backup is the only thing that’s going to wake you up at 3:00 AM when a warning is issued.
For the summer, window tinting and heavy curtains are your best friends. The Arkansas sun is relentless, and it will bake your house through those west-facing windows. Honestly, it’ll save you $50 a month on your Entergy bill.
For travelers, if you see a "Wind Advisory" for St. Francis County, take it seriously. I-40 is a wind tunnel. High-profile vehicles like SUVs and vans get pushed around easily when those 40 mph gusts come screaming across the flat fields and hit the Ridge.
Actionable Steps for 72335 Residents
- Download the KAIT or WMC weather apps. They have the most localized radar for the Delta region and better ground-truth reporting than the national apps.
- Check your tires in October. The temperature swings in Forrest City are wild. It can be 80°F on Tuesday and 35°F on Wednesday. That kills your tire pressure, and you don't want to be sliding on a wet bridge when the first frost hits.
- Clean your gutters before March. Spring rains are torrential. If your gutters are clogged with debris from the local oaks and pecans, you’re going to end up with a flooded crawlspace or a leak in your roof.
- Plant for Zone 8a. We used to be 7b, but the USDA updated the plant hardiness zones. Forrest City is getting warmer. If you’re landscaping, choose plants that can handle the extreme "wet-dry" cycles we’ve been having.
The weather here is a paradox. It’s beautiful during those crisp November mornings when the ducks are flying over the flooded fields, but it’s brutal in the dead of August. Understanding the geography of the Ridge is the secret to not being surprised by the next front that rolls through. Stay weather-aware, keep your gas tank at least half full in the winter, and always have a plan for when the sky turns that weird shade of charcoal.