Winter Storm — Sharp, Arkansas

2013-12-05 to 2013-12-06 · Sharp, Arkansas

Event narrative

Snow and sleet totaled 7.5 inches 1 mile north-northeast of Evening Shade (cooperative observer), 6.7 inches 8 miles south-southwest of Hardy (CoCoRaHS), 6.5 inches 11 miles south of Hardy (CoCoRaHS), 6 inches at Calamine (cooperative observer), 5.1 inches at Hardy (cooperative observer), and 4.2 inches 2.7 miles south-southeast of Evening Shade (CoCoRaHS). Several barns and sheds collapsed from the weight of accumulated ice and snow. Roofs of a sawmill and a used-car dealership also collapsed. There was one indirect injury when the canopy at a gas station collapsed in Ash Flat.

Wider weather episode

After Arctic air overspread Arkansas, an area of low pressure aloft moved toward the state from the southwestern United States. As the low pressure approached, moisture moved up over the cold air, resulting in wintry precipitation. In northern Arkansas, freezing rain and sleet began during the morning of the 5th, then gradually changed to sleet, and finally to mainly snow during the wee hours of the 6th. Rain initially fell in central and southern Arkansas on the 5th. On the morning of the 6th, rain changed to freezing rain and sleet. Snow was added to the mix in some places during the afternoon. Late on the morning of the 6th, rain changed over to freezing rain and some sleet in southern Arkansas. All precipitation came to an end in all parts of Arkansas by mid-evening on the 6th. There was one fatality directly related to the winter weather. On the morning of the 6th, a large limb fell into a camping trailer 4 miles north-northwest of Dover in Pope County. The 62-year-old man in the trailer was killed. There was one indirect injury on the 9th when the canopy at a gas station in Ash Flat (Sharp County) collapsed under the weight of ice and snow. Other structural collapses occurred in northern and western Arkansas for several days after the sleet and snow.

Ice storm conditions caused trees and power lines to fall in parts of western Arkansas. About 40,000 electric customers lost power in the Little Rock County Warning Area. Power outages were especially prevalent in Johnson, Pope, Logan, Yell, Polk, Scott, and Montgomery counties. It took six days to restore power to all customers. Arkansas Forestry Commission crews were called out to clear roads in Pope, Logan, Scott, and Polk counties. Most schools and government offices closed due to the winter weather. More than 50 flights were canceled at the Little Rock airport. Numerous events leading up to Christmas, such as city parades, the lighting ceremony for the State Capitol and the state high school football playoffs, were canceled or postponed by the winter weather.

President Barack Obama declared a federal disaster in the following counties: Johnson, Logan, Marion, Newton, Polk, Scott, Searcy, Sharp, and Van Buren.

Total accumulations of snow and sleet reached 8 to 12 inches across much of northwest and north central Arkansas. Accumulations tapered off farther south with only 1 to 2 inches of snow and sleet in parts of west central and central Arkansas.

Freezing rain accruals occurred over the northern three-quarters of the state. Most totals were in the .10 to .50 inch range, but parts of west central Arkansas experienced an ice storm, with accruals exceeding .75 inch.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 480085. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.