Snow, rain in state forecast

LITTLE ROCK — National Weather Service forecasters are calling for snow tonight, a reminder that despite recent warm temperatures, winter is still here.

Northwest Arkansas is predicted to see 1 to 3 inches of snowfall, and areas of the north-central part of the state from Harrison to Hardy could receive up to an inch of snow, forecasters said.

The rest of the state north of Interstate 40 may get a light dusting of snow, said National Weather Service meteorologist John Lewis of North Little Rock.

A front that brought rain to the state last weekend stalled over the Gulf of Mexico and is drawing moisture back over Arkansas today, Lewis said.

Rain is forecast to fall over the state during the day, but as colder air moves in from the southern Plains in the evening, the rain will likely turn to snow, Lewis said.

Temperatures will remain above freezing south of Interstate 40, and rain is forecast through Wednesday afternoon.

“Washington County seems to have a bull’s-eye on it for snowfall accumulation this time,” National Weather Service meteorologist Amy Jankowski of Tulsa said. “They’ll get up to 3 inches.”

She said areas northwest of Tulsa will also see 1 to 3 inches of snow.

Forecasters are also calling for a slight chance of snow Friday night and Saturday as more cool air collides with moisture.

“We’ve had quite a few warm days lately,” Jankowski said. “People look at that and think we’re going to have an early spring. But we still have a ways to go before winter is over.”