Winter Storm — Poinsett, Arkansas

2014-03-02 to 2014-03-03 · Poinsett, Arkansas

Event narrative

Two to three inches of sleet/snow fell on top of a quarter to a half inch of ice in Poinsett County. One fatality and one injury occurred from a car accident as a result of the ice.

Wider weather episode

An arctic cold front pushed into the Mid-South during the day on March 2nd, 2014. Overrunning precipitation fell through a shallow arctic airmass which produced freezing rain, sleet and snow. Precipitation was slow to move out as the front stalled just east of the Mississippi River. Thunder also occurred at times with the precipitation. As a result, major ice accumulations of a quarter to three quarters of an inch of ice fell across East-Central Arkansas. Up to an inch of sleet fell on top of the ice. Meanwhile, further north across Northeast Arkansas, the fast intruding airmass changed freezing rain over to sleet and snow. Between two to five inches of sleet and snow fell across the area on top of a tenth to a quarter inch of ice. The winter precipitation tapered off during the early morning hours of March 3rd. The ice, sleet, and snow accumulations produced hazardous roads resulting in numerous accidents. One fatality and one injury occurred from one accident. Power lines and trees fell due to heavy ice accumulations as well resulting in major power outages. A few roofs collapsed due to the heavy accumulations as well including one gas station awning that injured three people.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 507405. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.