Ice Storm — Lonoke, Arkansas

2014-02-04 · Lonoke, Arkansas

Wider weather episode

Arctic air was over Arkansas on the 4th, and an area of low pressure aloft moved in from the southwest. As a result, widespread precipitation developed. Freezing rain and sleet began moving into western Arkansas before dawn on the 4th. A swath of counties from west central Arkansas through the central part of the state into northeast Arkansas experience an ice storm, with accruals of 1/4 to 1/2 inch common. Trees, power lines, and power poles were brought down by the ice. About 45,000 electric customers lost power. In a few instances, it took three and a half days to restore power. Several counties opened warming shelters for those who had no electricity. The extreme northern counties had snow and sleet with some freezing rain mixed in; snow and sleet accumulations totaled 1 to 2 inches. The extreme southern part of the state had only a cold rain.

There were two indirect fatalities and one indirect injury. At 6:57 AM, a 36-year-old man driving on Interstate 40 near Lonoke in Lonoke County lost control on an icy bridge, left the highway, and ran into some trees. At 3:15 PM, a 4-year-old girl was seriously injured when the car in which she was riding slid off U.S. 62 about 7 miles west of Yellville in Marion County and overturned into a creek bed. The girl passed away on the 11th. The driver of the car, the girl's grandmother, was injured.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 487075. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.