State to see ice, sleet, snow, near-record lows; 'significant accumulations' expected

Travel, utility issues likely in latest round of wintry weather, forecaster says

This National Weather Service graphic shows in pink the counties that will go under a winter storm warning on Wednesday.
This National Weather Service graphic shows in pink the counties that will go under a winter storm warning on Wednesday.

Much of Arkansas was set to go under winter storm warnings Wednesday for a system that's expected to drop "significant accumulations" of sleet and snow over a large swath of the state, the National Weather Service said.

Chris Buonanno, a meteorologist with the weather service in North Little Rock, said wintry precipitation should begin after a cold front sends temperatures plummeting during the day Wednesday.

Precipitation will transition to sleet and then snow in the north between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., Buonanno said in an email. Central Arkansas is expected to see a transition to wintry weather between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and southern Arkansas is likely to see it after 3 p.m. Those areas may see some freezing rain, Buonanno wrote, before it turns to sleet and snow.

"This winter storm is expected to produce measurable sleet and snowfall in all areas, with the highest amounts from north central into eastern Arkansas," Buonanno wrote, noting that it was still possible for the forecast to shift if the speed of the incoming system changes. "At this point, it looks as though the highest amounts could exceed five inches. The central portion will see a longer period of sleet, with possibly a half inch to an inch or so before transitioning to snow. This is including the Little Rock metropolitan area."

A winter storm warning for central Arkansas, which is to begin at noon Wednesday, says the central third of the state could see less than a tenth of an inch of freezing rain and snow totals of 2 to 4 inches.

In northern Arkansas, where the warning begins at 6 a.m. Wednesday, the accompanying forecast calls for less than a tenth of an inch of freezing rain and 3 to 6 inches of snow.

Freezing rain chances are greatest in the southeastern third of the state, where the weather service says a tenth to a quarter-inch could fall.

The winter storm warnings note that "the majority of the state will see snow and sleet with significant accumulations likely."

Buonanno said the storm will likely disrupt travel and utilities.

"This will be especially true in areas that receive higher ice accumulations, and sleet and snow on top of that," he wrote. "Another thing that will increase the likelihood of utility issues will be the winds behind the front, which will be rather gusty through Thursday morning. Winds will be strongest in eastern and southeast Arkansas."

The precipitation should taper off Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, but chilly air will stick around. Some parts of the state may not reach the freezing mark on Thursday and Thursday into Friday temperatures may approach record nightly lows and come "within a few degrees of all-time record lows for March," Buonanno said.

Check ArkansasOnline on Wednesday for a list of closings and delays, which can be found here.

Reader poll

What should school districts do if expected wintry weather hasn't started Wednesday morning?

  • Open schools as normal. 17%
  • Schedule a half-day or early dismissal so students can get home before conditions deteriorate. 42%
  • Delay opening for a few hours to see how the storm plays out. 4%
  • Go ahead and cancel because of the chance for slick conditions. Better safe than sorry. 37%

405 total votes.

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