ARKANSAS, USA — The last winter storm of February 2022 will bring ice and sleet to Arkansas starting Wednesday, lasting into Thursday evening.
(scroll down for ice forecast and impacts)
WEDNESDAY | Ice/sleet arriving by midday
THURSDAY | Ice/sleet ending in the afternoon
There will be two waves of precipitation, one Wednesday (11a-8p), followed by another on Thursday (4a-3p). The first one looks colder with sleet and ice area-wide, while the second looks warmer with more rain inching north, with ice north of the mountains.
Northwest Arkansas: 0.25-0.5" ice, 1" sleet
River Valley: 0.25-0.5" ice, 0.5" sleet, 1" rain
Northeast Arkansas: 0.25"-0.5" ice, 1" rain
WINTER WEATHER ALERTS
Winter storm warnings (heavy ice/sleet) are in effect from eastern Oklahoma into northern Arkansas. Winter weather advisories (light ice/sleet) are likely in central Arkansas, just north of Little Rock.
TWO WAVES ARE MOVING IN
Precipitation will not be constant, but expect breaks in the ice. The first wave will be colder across Arkansas for Wednesday. The second wave will be a touch warmer for Thursday.
Northwest Arkansas: 10a-8p (Wednesday), 4a-3p (Thursday)
River Valley: 19a-7p (Wednesday), 3a-2p (Thursday)
Northeast Arkansas 3p-11p (Wednesday), 2a-4p (Thursday)
HOW MUCH ICE TO EXPECT
The heaviest ice will be in the mountains, stretching into northern Arkansas. Up to a half inch of ice can be expected in the northern third of the state. A quarter inch of ice is possible throughout much of the River Valley.
As of now, this ice should be less than the 2000 or 20009 ice storm. We are still expecting scattered power outages for a day or so across northern Arkansas. Roads will be very slick.
HOW MUCH SLEET TO EXPECT
Some ice totals may be reduced as colder air brings in higher sleet totals in far Northwest Arkansas into Missouri. Sleet bounces, like little hail stones, while ice glazes.
TRAVEL CONDITIONS
Driving will not be easy Wednesday afternoon into Thursday afternoon. Expect the roads to become slick. Bridges and overpasses will ice first.
-5NEWS Weather Team
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