ARKANSAS, USA — Our Friday started off slick with some leftover drizzles of rain that quickly transitioned into morning flurries. Snow dropped across 5COUNTRY with limited accumulation. Roads across the region will stay slick today as temperatures remain below freezing. Wind advisories remain active across the area this afternoon with strong wind gusts up to 40+ mph.
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Stratospheric warming over the North Pole has allowed deep cold air pockets to dip south across the Northern Hemisphere, including here in Arkansas and Oklahoma, helping to stir the atmosphere and drop temperatures throughout the weekend. Wind chill values are low for the coming days as windy conditions remain.
Skies are clearing this afternoon, but snow chances will return over the weekend.
How much snow fell?
Our snowflakes started to fall this morning around 7 am, dumping snow across much of Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Accumulation, on the other hand, was limited with most spots receiving little more than a dusting. Other places, mainly in Northwest Arkansas, snow totals were up to .50". Snow continues as a light flurry for the early parts of the afternoon until clouds begin to clear.
Even with limited snowfall totals, damp roads and bitter cold temperatures made for a few slippery spots on the road.
How are the roads impacted?
As we switched from rain to snow showers early this morning, slick spots started to develop. Some heavier bursts of snow created a little slush in spots on the roads. The majority of the snow that has stuck around is on grass and elevated surfaces.
A number of schools across the region cancelled classes for today, but for those who are still heading out and about, be aware that some slick spots are sticking around. Cold air is stopping the ice on the roads from melting for the later half of the day so be on the look out for slick patches of road throughout the rest of the day.
Re-freezing threat
After rain and storms, then snow chances, temperatures plummeted to the 20s by and will stay mostly in the 20s across western Arkansas, which may quickly re-freeze melting snow. Northwest winds between 20 and 30 mph make it feel like the teens. There is a chance for some bridges to get a flash freeze in NWA. In the River Valley, the coldest air is taking a bit longer to arrive.
Watch for slick spots for the rest of the day after the snow. Black ice may be possible, especially in Northwest Arkansas.
Last minute thoughts
- Although this was not a major winter storm, it has a high impact on us due to the cold air. Now that the snow showers have cleared, the first round of Arctic cold heads our way. We will drop to the teens Friday night with wind chills in the single digits. This cold air will lay the foundation for a handful of inches of snow on Sunday as a new system passes through.
-5NEWS Meteorologist Bella Grace
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