An early season winter storm blanketed much of Arkansas last night (December 5) leaving behind several inches of snow and ice all across the area. Several spots along highway 71 between Greenwood and Fort Smith were shut down for hours due to downed power lines and trees but have since reopened.
The heavy snow and ice caused major problems for drivers coming home during rush hour Friday night (December 5). Officials say power lines began gathering ice around midnight. Authorities say the weight of the ice eventually caused uprooted some power lines and caused others to sag, bringing traffic to a standstill. Road crews due warn drivers that snow and ice covered roads will continue to be an issue throughout the weekend. The Arkansas Highway Department says it will be working around the clock to clean streets and salt roads.