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Ice storm to hit Arkansas | What to expect

Significant ice and sleet accumulations are expected for northern Arkansas Wednesday into Thursday, creating slick roads and isolated power outages.
Credit: KFSM

ARKANSAS, USA — The last winter storm of February 2022 will bring ice and sleet to Arkansas starting Wednesday, lasting into Thursday evening. 

(scroll down for ice forecast and impacts)

WEDNESDAY | Ice/sleet arriving by midday

THURSDAY | Ice/sleet ending in the afternoon

There will be two waves of precipitation, one Wednesday (11a-8p), followed by another on Thursday (4a-3p). The first one looks colder with sleet and ice area-wide, while the second looks warmer with more rain inching north, with ice north of the mountains.

Northwest Arkansas:  0.25-0.5" ice, 1" sleet

River Valley:  0.25-0.5" ice, 0.5" sleet, 1" rain

Northeast Arkansas:  0.25"-0.5" ice, 1" rain

Credit: KFSM

WINTER WEATHER ALERTS

Winter storm warnings (heavy ice/sleet) are in effect from eastern Oklahoma into northern Arkansas. Winter weather advisories (light ice/sleet) are likely in central Arkansas, just north of Little Rock.

Credit: KFSM

TWO WAVES ARE MOVING IN

Precipitation will not be constant, but expect breaks in the ice. The first wave will be colder across Arkansas for Wednesday. The second wave will be a touch warmer for Thursday.

Northwest Arkansas:  10a-8p (Wednesday), 4a-3p (Thursday)

River Valley:  19a-7p (Wednesday), 3a-2p (Thursday)

Northeast Arkansas 3p-11p (Wednesday), 2a-4p (Thursday)

Credit: KFSM

HOW MUCH ICE TO EXPECT

The heaviest ice will be in the mountains, stretching into northern Arkansas. Up to a half inch of ice can be expected in the northern third of the state. A quarter inch of ice is possible throughout much of the River Valley.

Credit: KFSM

As of now, this ice should be less than the 2000 or 20009 ice storm. We are still expecting scattered power outages for a day or so across northern Arkansas. Roads will be very slick.

Credit: KFSM

HOW MUCH SLEET TO EXPECT

Some ice totals may be reduced as colder air brings in higher sleet totals in far Northwest Arkansas into Missouri. Sleet bounces, like little hail stones, while ice glazes.

Credit: KFSM

TRAVEL CONDITIONS

Driving will not be easy Wednesday afternoon into Thursday afternoon. Expect the roads to become slick. Bridges and overpasses will ice first.

Credit: KFSM

-5NEWS Weather Team

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