Arkansans bundled up, bought coffee and spirits to stay warm and braced themselves for the deep chill brought on by an arctic cold front that blasted the state Wednesday and will drop temperatures below freezing for several days.
As the arctic front slid into the state from the northern Plains, strong winds accompanied the blast, sending wind chills to 5 below zero or lower across the northern tier of Arkansas. Wind chill is the calculation that describes the combined effect of wind and low temperatures on exposed skin.
Temperatures plunged to the teens in much of Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday afternoon, and National Weather Service meteorologists said it could dip to near zero or even below overnight in some higher elevations.
"It's been the coldest temperatures so far, easily hands down," said National Weather Service meteorologist Julie Lesko of North Little Rock.
Several municipalities reported light snow flurries Wednesday, including Jonesboro, Pine Bluff, Lead Hill, Gravette and Harrison.
In Mountain Home, Tina Gregory, an office manager for the city, said the snow sneaked up on her when it dusted the ground and roadways early Wednesday morning.
"I got up at 6 a.m., and it wasn't snowing," she said. "At 6:30 a.m., I saw light snow covering everything. It was a real surprise."
"We had to bring out the big coats," she said.
Winds topping 20 mph blew much of the snow away by noon, she said.
The mercury fell to 15 degrees by midafternoon in Rogers. Fayetteville's reading of 19 degrees, recorded early Wednesday morning, was the high mark for the day.
Little Rock hovered around freezing for most of the day, but temperatures were expected to fall in the area to 10 degrees overnight.
The cold weather caused the Deer-Mount Judea School District to send students home early Wednesday afternoon and open an hour later today.
In Jonesboro, the Dairy Queen Grill and Chill restaurant -- known for its Blizzard ice cream and other frozen desserts -- closed two hours earlier than normal Wednesday evening.
"We're doing it for employee safety," manager Posh Patel said of the store's 8 p.m. closure. "We have youngsters working here at night. We saw a lot of ice on the road this afternoon, and you never know what the Arkansas weather will do."
Customers loaded up on bundles of wood for their fireplaces and chugged down steaming coffee at the White Station No. 23 in Pea Ridge on Wednesday, manager Jay Schuman said.
"Everyone is preparing for the cold," he said. "I don't mind the cold as long as the freezing rain and snow stays away."
The cold kept business slower than usual at the Lead Hill House of Spirits, manager Jeff Dell said.
"I think more people are listening to the weather forecasts," Dell said. "I think we have a smarter clientele. Yesterday was above average with people coming in. At 30 degrees, you go out and get your stuff," he said. "At 10 degrees, you stay inside and throw another log on the fire."
He said vodka sales were up a "tick," but many people bought beer despite the chill.
"Our regulars drink the same thing all year," he said. "Weather doesn't make a difference."
The northern third of the state and the Arkansas Delta remained under a wind-chill advisory through 6 a.m. today, meaning the chill values will drop to zero to 5 below. Meteorologists warned residents to dress warmly and avoid staying outside for extended periods of time.
The southwestern and southeastern corners of the state are under a hard-freeze warning until 6 p.m. today, meaning homeowners should cover exposed water pipes, take pets indoors and protect sensitive vegetation.
Temperatures should gradually warm, reaching 35 degrees in Little Rock by Saturday, the weather service's Lesko said. But with the warmer air comes moisture. Most of the state is expected to see a chance of a wintry mix of sleet, snow and freezing rain Saturday evening and Sunday.
State Desk on 01/08/2015