Winter Weather — Izard, Arkansas

2021-02-11 · Izard, Arkansas

Event narrative

A CoCoRaHS observer estimated that between one hundredth and one tenth of an inch of freezing rain/ice accumulation fell at 36.14N, -92.12W.

Wider weather episode

The atmosphere continued to cool on the 10th, especially in the lowest 2,000 to 3,000 feet. Above the subfreezing layer, warmth and moisture increased as another storm system tracked along the Gulf Coast after dark and early on the 11th.

At least a half inch of sleet piled up southeast of Conway (Faulkner County), at Des Arc (Prairie County), the Little Rock Air Force Base (Pulaski County), Sherwood (Pulaski County), and near Vilonia (Faulkner County). Accruals of ice (due to freezing rain) were at least a quarter inch at Pine Bluff (Jefferson County). There was an inch of snow southeast of Smithville (Lawrence County).

Roads became hazardous from about Little Rock (Pulaski County) eastward. A semi truck jackknifed along Interstate 30 near Otter Creek (Pulaski County) during the morning of the 11th, and partially blocked the highway. There were some power outages, but nothing outrageous (less than 10,000 households).

This situation could have been much worse, with a lot more freezing rain and buildup of ice. The presence of sleet and some snow kept freezing rain to a minimum, and spared trees and power lines of added weight (and damage).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 946379. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.