Winter Storm Warning for Arkansas

Winter weather in the form of snowfall and a few days of brutally cold temperatures will soon be upon us. Make needed preparations immediately and have a way to get the latest weather info. Do not wait until the first snowflakes fall or you feel the temperature is cold enough to be a concern, at that point it is too late to begin thinking about preparing. Act now and be ahead of the storm!

Widespread accumulating snow is expected to overspread the state Sunday through Monday. Over a large part of Arkansas, amounts of 2 to 3 inches or less are expected. There could be a narrow corridor of heavier snow which could produce 4 to 6 plus inches. As it stands now, this band is positioned over east-central Arkansas, but could still shift south with time. There is a chance some of the precipitation over southern Arkansas could mix with sleet, if this scenario plays out, actual amounts will be lower. Changes to forecast snow totals are still possible.

Low temperatures are expected to drop overnight and remain well below average for the next several days. Low temperatures are expected to be in the teens to near zero degrees across the state with wind chills feeling much colder.

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM
CST MONDAY...

* WHAT...For the Wind Chill Advisory, very cold wind chills
  expected. Wind chills as low as 5 below zero. For the Winter
  Storm Warning, heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow
  accumulations of 1 to 2 inches and ice accumulations of a light
  glaze with locally higher amounts possible.

* WHERE...Portions of southwest Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma.

* WHEN...For the Wind Chill Advisory, from 9 PM this evening to
  noon CST Sunday. For the Winter Storm Warning, from noon
  Sunday to 6 PM CST Monday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous
  conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. The
  cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions
  are not taken.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a
hat, and gloves.

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Arctic Cold Front Heading to Arkansas

Dangerous cold air is coming to Arkansas this week.

Areas of light snow are expected on Thursday, especially from northern into central Arkansas. Advisory criteria accumulations are possible. There could be some travel issues as temperatures turn sharply colder.

Arctic air will be in place at the end of the week, with well below normal temperatures in the forecast. Breezy northwest winds will create wind chill index values below zero across much of the region Thursday night and Friday morning. Temperatures will fall below zero in parts of the Ozark Mountains Friday morning, with readings below freezing statewide during the day.

National Weather Service Winter Weather Briefing for Arkansas

We are still on track to seeing some wintry weather over parts of northern and western Arkansas late today and tonight. Rain will mix with and eventually changeover to all snow by early this evening, across the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. Snow accumulations of one to two inches remain possible, especially in the highest elevations.

While this will be a quick hitting event, there may be minor travel impacts. Roads in some areas may become snow/slush covered, with icy patches on bridges and overpasses.

Click on picture above the Winter Weather Briefing PDF

Arkansas Utilities Call For People To Conserve Energy Or Face Planned Outages

By ALEXANDRIA BROWN & MICHAEL HIBBLEN

Arkansas utility companies are asking people to conserve electricity usage as the state braces for another round of winter weather. Companies say heavy snowfall and unusually cold temperatures have prompted many consumers to use a substantial amount of natural gas and electricity to stay warm in their homes.

Melody Daniel, a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management, says lowering thermostats to within the 60 to 65 degree temperature range will help conserve power.

"Heating sources are the biggest draw during these extended cold weather events," Daniel said. "So, if you’re able to reduce that by about five degrees or so, and then bundle up, wear a few extra layers and maybe have a blanket with you, that is just one simple step that most Arkansans can take that will drastically reduce the load on the power grid and help our electricity stay on."

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-utilities-call-people-conserve-energy-or-face-planned-outages

Entergy Arkansas worker Jason Penny addresses a problem on a power line Sunday in west Little Rock.

CREDIT ENTERGY ARKANSAS

Winter Storm Warning On The Way For Tonight Through Thursday Noon

...Next winter storm will push into our area tonight and
continue through Thursday morning...

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING
TO NOON CST THURSDAY...
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...A wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Snow and
  sleet accumulations will range from less than 2 inches south of
  the I-20 corridor to 5 to 8 inches north of the I-30 corridor.
  Ice accumulations of a quarter of an inch to a half of an inch
  with localized higher amounts will be possible from Deep East
  Texas across northwestern Louisiana, central Louisiana, and into
  south- central Arkansas.

* WHERE...Portions of north central and northwest Louisiana,
  southeast Oklahoma, south central and southwest Arkansas and
  east and northeast Texas.

* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to noon CST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Treacherous road conditions will continue across the
  region. Locations with over a quarter inch of ice will see
  downed limbs and powerlines which will lead to the possibility
  of widespread power outages. Cold temperatures will continue to
  make extended time outdoors dangerous with the risk of
  hypothermia.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Tonight

Snow, mainly after 9pm. Low around 18. Wind chill values as low as 10. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Wednesday

Snow before noon, then snow, freezing rain, and sleet. High near 28. Wind chill values as low as 9. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Wednesday Night

A slight chance of snow showers and freezing rain before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 21. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 11.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 38.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Sunday

A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.

Winter Weather Advisory for SW AR, SE OK and NE TX Sunday Night and Monday

...Accumulating snowfall will be possible across portions of the
area this evening through Monday morning...

.A strong winter storm will be moving through the region today
and continue into Monday morning. Rain during the day today will
transition to all snow or a wintry mix this evening and continue
into early monday morning. Accumulating snow will be possible
across the entire area with the greatest amounts across portions
of north central and northwest Louisiana, south central Arkansas
and east and northeast Texas.

ARZ050-051-059>061-070>072-LAZ020-022-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108>112-
101700-
/O.NEW.KSHV.WW.Y.0001.210110T2000Z-210111T1400Z/
Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-Miller-Lafayette-
Columbia-Grant-La Salle-McCurtain-Red River-Bowie-Franklin-Titus-
Camp-Morris-Cass-
Including the cities of De Queen, Nashville, Mineral Springs,
Dierks, Ashdown, Hope, Prescott, Texarkana, Stamps, Lewisville,
Bradley, Magnolia, Colfax, Montgomery, Dry Prong, Jena, Midway,
Olla, Idabel, Broken Bow, Clarksville, Bogata, Mount Vernon,
Mount Pleasant, Pittsburg, Daingerfield, Lone Star, Naples,
Omaha, Atlanta, Linden, Hughes Springs, and Queen City
255 AM CST Sun Jan 10 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 AM CST MONDAY...

* WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of
  up to two inches possible.

* WHERE...Portions of north central Louisiana, southeast
  Oklahoma, southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas.

* WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon to 8 AM CST Monday.

* IMPACTS...Difficult travel conditions are possible as roads may
  become slick, especially on bridges and elevated roadways. The
  hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

A strong winter storm will move into the region this afternoon
bringing widespread snow to the area during the evening through
Monday morning. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for this time
period. Snow accumulations 2 to 4 inches will be possible through
Monday morning. The potential for icing on bridges, overpasses
and elevated roadways will be of most concern by the Monday
morning commute as the air temperature will be below freezing.

Conditions will improve across the area by Monday afternoon.
Highs temperatures will approach near 40 degrees allowing for some
melting to occur. Areas that get the higher amounts of snow will
possibly see some refreezing Monday night into Tuesday morning.
Exercise caution on Tuesday morning due to the potential for slick
spots, especially on bridges and overpasses.