A large portion of western and northern Arkansas is expected to be impacted by a strong storm system Tuesday as it moves across the region from the southwest, bringing widespread snowfall and other wintry precipitation.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect from noon on Tuesday to 6 a.m. on Wednesday for the area. A Winter Storm Warning means there is a potential for significant snow, sleet, or ice accumulations that may affect travel. Dangerous travel conditions and possible power outages could occur within the affected area.
On Monday afternoon, the NWS said possible snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches between Tuesday and Wednesday were forecast for cities including Cave City, Ash Flat, Hardy, Batesville, and Heber Springs. The weather service said accumulations of 4 to 8 inches were possible for the cities of Mountain View, Calico Rock, Marshall, Melbourne, and Horseshoe Bend.
Justin Condry of the National Weather Service told White River Now’s Gary Bridgman on Monday that the heavier snow should start arriving sometime Tuesday night, but the line of snow should reach as west as Mountain View.
“We are seeing a line of rain and snow mix setting up somewhere in that area, so if you are south and east of that line, you’re gonna get more rain. If you’re north and west of that line, you’ll get more snow,” Condry told Bridgman. “I would say if you’re in the northwestern part of Independence County, you have a better chance of seeing accumulative snowfall of about an inch or two…but as you get towards Batesville and definitely the southeastern part of the county, we’re mainly looking at rain for the most part.”
The NWS said mixed wintry precip might fall over portions of central Arkansas as well, but no accumulations or impacts are expected.
Wet and heavy snow is expected with this system and will likely lead to rapidly deteriorating road conditions, making travel extremely hazardous across much of northwestern Arkansas and portions of Western Arkansas Tuesday evening through early Wednesday morning, the NWS said.
In the Independence County area, rain should start around noon on Tuesday. and the wintry precipitation is forecast to begin between midnight and 3 a.m. on Wednesday. The overnight low is expected to be in the low-to-mid-30s.
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