Fort Smith, Arkansas Weather
Fort Smith, Arkansas — live current conditions, hourly and 7-day forecasts, NWS alerts, radar and satellite imagery for Fort Smith, Sebastian County.
Full aviation weather for Fort Smith is published on the Fort Smith Regional Airport (KFSM) page, 6 km away. It carries the current METAR decoded into plain language — surface wind, visibility, cloud layers and ceiling, temperature and dewpoint, and altimeter setting — alongside the raw observation as transmitted. 5 airfields within reach of Fort Smith have their own pages, listed below.
The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) is shown across its full validity period, with each change group broken out so you can see when conditions are expected to shift. Flight category is derived automatically — VFR, MVFR, IFR or LIFR — from reported ceiling and visibility, with runway details and field elevation alongside. Observations update roughly hourly and forecasts several times a day.
Other airports near Fort Smith: Arrowhead Assault Strip (KAZU) 20 km · Sallisaw Municipal Airport (KJSV) 37 km · Robert S Kerr Airport (KRKR) 45 km · Ozark Franklin County Airport (K7M5) 52 km
Conditions reported at KFSM describe the airfield itself. Weather 6 km away can differ, particularly in terrain or near the coast. For conditions at Fort Smith specifically, see the current conditions and forecast above.
About Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith commands a position at the confluence of rivers, where the Arkansas River meets the Poteau. It lies 48.7 miles south-south-west of Fayetteville, AR (from Fayetteville, AR: bearing 196°T), and is situated 4.5 miles south-west of Van Buren. This geographical marriage has shaped its destiny, from its early days as a frontier military post to its present-day economic landscape. The city's terrain, a gentle rolling plain transitioning towards the Ouachita Mountains in the distance, offers a backdrop of subtle, earthbound beauty, especially as the sun descends, painting the sky in hues of ochre and rose. Historically, Fort Smith served as a gateway to the West, a vital hub for trade and transportation, its very name a testament to its strategic military importance. The economy, once heavily reliant on manufacturing and agriculture, now embraces a diversified approach, with logistics and service industries playing an increasingly prominent role, echoing the constant flow of the nearby waterways. The cultural character of Fort Smith is one of resilience and quiet pride, a blend of Southern hospitality and a pragmatic frontier spirit. The city boasts notable landmarks such as the historic Fort Smith National Historic Site, a tangible link to its storied past, and the charming Belle Grove Historic District, where architectural echoes of bygone eras still resonate. While not home to a major university, its educational offerings are robust, contributing to the intellectual life of the region. The rhythm of life in Fort Smith is often described as unhurried, a steady beat that allows for contemplation and connection, much like the lingering scent of honeysuckle on a warm evening. Although no single sports team commands national attention, the community finds joy in local contests and gatherings, celebrating shared passions. The city has been touched by the lives of individuals who have left their mark on American culture, their stories interwoven into the narrative of this Arkansas city.
Live animated radar for Fort Smith and surroundings — RainViewer.
NOAA GOES-16 GEOCOLOR — live animated loop updated every 10 minutes. Shows cloud cover, storm systems and weather patterns across the continental US.
Source: NOAA/NESDIS GOES-East · Public domain · Auto-updates on page reload
| Location | Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 35.385924°N, 94.398548°W |
| Timezone | Central Time (America/Chicago) |
| ZIP Code(s) | 72904, 72908, 72901, 72902, 72903 |
| Area Code | 479 |
| Page generated | September 2026 |
| Weather data | Open-Meteo (open-source), NOAA National Weather Service |
About This Fort Smith, Arkansas Weather Page
This page provides live weather conditions and forecasts for Fort Smith, Arkansas, including current conditions, a 24-hour hourly forecast, 7-day outlook, NWS extended text forecast, precipitation radar and NOAA GOES-16 satellite imagery. Aviation weather — live METAR observations and TAF forecasts — is published separately on the pages for the nearest reporting airports, linked from the aviation section above. Additional sections may include tide predictions, wave height, wave direction and sea-surface temperature, a barometric pressure trend, and a solunar-based fishing forecast with a fishing-conditions rating for coastal localities, and soil temperature, crop weather and live USGS river gauge data for agricultural areas near a monitored waterway. All data updates automatically on every page visit.
Location data for Fort Smith includes coordinates 35.385924°N, 94.398548°W, situated in Sebastian County. ZIP code 72904, 72908, 72901, 72902, 72903. Telephone area code: 479. Timezone: Central Time (America/Chicago).
Weather data is sourced from the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) and the open-source Open-Meteo API. River and stream data is sourced from the USGS National Water Information System. Tide predictions are sourced from NOAA CO-OPS; marine and solunar data are modeled from Open-Meteo and public sunrise/moon calculations and should be treated as a general guide alongside on-the-water conditions. Radar is provided by RainViewer. Satellite imagery is sourced from NOAA/NESDIS GOES-East and is public domain.
