Much of Arkansas is forecast to see storms with damaging winds and some winter weather the rest of the week, with a chance of snow and single-digit or negative temperatures in parts of the state early next week, the National Weather Service said Wednesday.
The first system is set to move into Arkansas on today and Friday, according to a winter weather briefing from the weather service Wednesday.
Central and northeast sections of the state are expected to see the highest rainfall totals, while central and southern Arkansas may see isolated severe storms, according to the weather service.
Winds of up to 60 mph, hail as large as a quarter-inch and tornadoes are possible, according to the release, but the potential for tornadoes today is low, the weather service said.
Much of central and southern Arkansas, including Little Rock, Hot Springs, Pine Bluff and El Dorado, are at a slight risk for severe weather. A slight risk for severe weather means scattered, severe storms are possible. The storms could be short-lived or isolated, according to the weather service.
Northern Arkansas, including Harrison, Fort Smith, Batesville and Fayetteville, are at a marginal risk for severe weather, with isolated severe storms possible.
Some parts of Northwest Arkansas, including Fayetteville, Fort Smith and Harrison, could see as much as an inch of snow Friday, according to the weather service.
Meteorologist Justin Condry with the National Weather Service in North Little Rock said a primary concern with the system could be damaging straight-line winds late Friday morning with sustained speeds of 20-30 mph and gusts of more than 40 mph.
"The wind gusts could be stronger and could cause damage," Condry said.
Precipitation is expected to exit the state by Friday evening, and winds are expected to settle down by then, too.
Arkansas Department of Transportation officials said Wednesday they plan to use a break between storms on Saturday and Sunday to prepare for potential wintry weather.
"We have moved up our game plan a little bit, meaning we're going to be pretreating here in Central Arkansas starting on Saturday as opposed to Sunday," said Dave Parker, a spokesman for the highway department. "It looks like the storm is moving up timing-wise, speed-wise, a little bit. It's going to come in a little earlier on Sunday than first predicted."
Parker noted that forecasts call for relatively dry conditions Saturday in central Arkansas, which should help the department with its preparations for wintry weather.
"It should all be in place once the precipitation gets here Sunday morning, Sunday night," Parker said. "We're already in full force in terms of winter weather coordination, calls, planning, that sort of thing. All 10 districts are involved in that. Since this storm is supposed to affect the system coming in on Sunday, Monday is supposed to impact at least 90% of the state if not all of it."
Starting Sunday night and early Monday, arctic air will move into Arkansas and the storm systems will continue to move from the west and southwest.
Condry said it's too soon to know how much or what type of precipitation the state will see.
"We're not sure if it would be snow, ice, sleet or just rain yet," he said. "We're constantly monitoring the data and looking at new models."
Condry also encourages preparing in advance.
" Our confidence is increasing that several locations in Arkansas on Sunday into Monday will see accumulating snowfall," Condry said. "It never hurts to be prepared."
Condry said more important could be the cold temperatures forecast across the state. Most of Arkansas can expect to see temperatures in the low 20s over the weekend. By early next week, temperatures could be in the single digits, even in southern Arkansas, and below zero in parts of northern Arkansas.
"Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills will follow Sunday night," the weather service said Wednesday afternoon in a post on X.
Little Rock is forecast to see a low of 10 degrees Monday and a low of six degrees on Tuesday.
"And that does not include the wind chill," Condry said. "It could easily feel as cold as 1, 2 or 3 degrees in the metro area."
WARMING CENTERS
City of Little Rock spokesperson Aaron Sadler said the city will make a call early next week about whether it will open warming centers.
"Our team is actively monitoring the weather forecast, and we are prepared to implement our sheltering plan as necessary," Sadler said Wednesday.
"The city of Little Rock will most likely activate its warming centers during instances where [a] Wind Chill Warning issued by the National Weather Service are forecasted to last for three days; or if there is a combination of freezing temperatures and/or precipitation that is deemed extremely dangerous to the health and safety of unsheltered residents," Sadler said in an email to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Saline County plans to open a warming center at 5 p.m. Sunday, dependent on the weather, according to a news release Wednesday.
The warming center will be at Northside Church of Christ, 917 E. St., in Benton, next to Saline Memorial Hospital, the release said. Pets will be allowed on case-by-case basis and will be kept in kennels at the center.
Trevor Villines, a Saline County spokesman, said the Benton Animal Services facility also will offer kennel space as an option.
"The city of Benton Animal Services will also offer to take some pets to a facility with kennel space from the center," Villines said Wednesday afternoon. "They've got a shelter space to keep them warm."
Those interested in volunteering at the warming center can call (501) 528-9668 or email.
North Little Rock plans to open a warming center at the North Little Rock Community Center from 4 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday, and from 4 p.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Sunday, according to Shara Hutchcraft, a spokesperson for the city. North Little Rock Community Center is at 2700 Willow St., and pets are welcome.
Hutchcraft said the city will consider extending the hours of the warming center from 5 p.m. Sunday until 7 a.m. Wednesday. The hours are subject to change depending on the forecast, she said.
Conway will open three warming centers, city spokesman Bobby Kelly said Wednesday afternoon.
"As temperatures drop, Conway is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all our residents," Kelly said. "We encourage those in need to utilize these facilities and remind everyone to look out for their neighbors during the challenging time ahead."
Don Owens Sports Center, 10 Lower Ridge Road, will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The center can be reached by calling (501) 450-6186.
The McGee Center, 3800 College Ave., will be open during the same hours as the sports center, except for Monday, when the center will be closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The center can be reached at (501) 513-3586.
Conway Emergency Shelter,t 1116 Gum St., will be open 24/7 with check-in from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Kelly said. Anyone 18 or older will be served on a first come, first-served basis.
No pets are allowed at any of the three warming centers in Conway.
PROTECTING PETS
The cold also could affect Arkansas' indoor and outdoor pets.
Craig Allen, Poinsett County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said Arkansans should consider preparing a warm, insulated place for outdoor pets to stay.
"Outdoor pets need a sheltered place that is well-bedded with dry straw, shavings, blanket strips or other insulating material that traps warm air," Allen said in a news release Wednesday afternoon. "Check it often and change it whenever it gets wet."
Owners should limit the time indoor pets spend in extreme temperatures, and some breeds may need a sweater or a coat, the release said.
"Cats left outdoors will often crawl into a warm car engine compartment to get warm," Allen said in the release. "The cat can be seriously injured or killed by the fan blade or fan belt the next time the car is started. Be sure to check for cats or other animals that might have sought out the warmth of your car."
Information for this article was contributed by Daniel McFadin of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
This graphic from the National Weather Service highlights the forecast cold temperatures including the wind chill for Sunday night. (National Weather Service/X)CORRECTION: A previous version of this article did not properly identify Arkansas Department of Transportation spokesman Dave Parker.