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Arctic blast hits Arkansas, but temperatures expected to rise | What to expect this week

Tuesday night was the coldest in three years.

ARKANSAS, USA — Arkansas broke a low-temperature record for Monday, Jan. 15, with temperatures reaching -3 degrees. Even colder weather is possible later on in the week. Pipe-bursting cold has been across our area for days, but the coldest night was Tuesday going into Wednesday night, with record-breaking temperatures being the lowest they've been in three years. 

It's been cold the past few nights too, but we'll take this one up a notch (or down a notch?).

Tap here for our interactive radar and temperature map.

The last time Arkansas saw well below zero degrees was back in 2021 during a record-breaking cold blast. That's when Fayetteville hit a record low of -20 degrees. We won't be that cold, but we will be below zero. Keep dripping the faucets tonight.

How cold will it get this week?

On Monday morning, we broke a record with a low of -3 degrees in Fayetteville. We did not break the temperature in Fort Smith. But throughout the week locations may set new records.

Credit: 5NEWS

Tuesday minimum temperature records (Jan. 16):

  • Fayetteville:  0 degrees
  • Fort Smith:  6 degrees

No matter what the temperature falls to, expect very cold weather throughout the week in Arkansas. We should finally break above freezing on Wednesday afternoon with mostly sunny skies.

Wind chills Tuesday night

Factoring in 10-20 mph winds, it felt like -5 to -15 degrees across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. A wind chill advisory remained in effect until noon on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Credit: 5NEWS

How much longer will this cold air last?

We are almost done! Tuesday stays cold where the highs will be below freezing, but then temperatures around the 40s should return by Wednesday, Jan. 17. Another cold front Thursday, Jan. 18, will drop us to the 20s and 30s again for Friday, Jan. 19. That will be a very temporary cool down.

How much snow did we get?

This map shows the 1 to 6 inches of snow Arkansas got over the past few days (Sunday and Monday combined). Three to six inches fell north of I-40, but many in the River Valley picked up 3 or 4 inches too. It was a cold, dry, dusty snow that will remain on the ground until Thursday.

Credit: 5NEWS

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