Pine Bluff hit with sleet, snow, cold temps
On Monday morning, the low was around 13 degrees in Pine Bluff and along with that bitter cold came about 2 inches of sleet and snow in what was the first such weather event of the year.
The city could have gotten as much as 5 inches of snow, but the National Weather Service had said on Saturday that the amount could fluctuate and would depend on how much warmer air there was aloft.
“That was the determining factor,” said Joe Goudsward, a meteorologist at the service’s office in North Little Rock.
He said Pine Bluff would likely experience a record low for a high temperature — the high was predicted to be 18 on Monday but at mid-afternoon, the mercury was still at 13 — but that he wouldn’t know that until later in the day.
As far as traffic went, there might not have been a better day for the storm given that it was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national holiday, with most local, state and federal operations already shut down.
At the Detective Collins Center in the Pine Bluff Civic Center, the city had a warming center in operation starting Sunday night, with cots and tables set up for visitors to use. Mayor Shirley Washington spent the night with about 10 others, mainly to see how things went.
“This is year eight for a warming center,” Washington said. “We have normally had it at the Convention Center, but sometimes we only have four or five and have to heat up those huge areas. This is the first time we’ve had it at the Collins Center so I wanted to make sure it all went well.”
On Monday afternoon, those taking advantage of the center were occupying their time by watching TV or playing cards — either Uno or spades — and thanks to a donation from Rice Catering, there was plenty of food to eat.
“They have been amazing,” said Veronica Pettit, Washington’s executive assistant. “They brought big trays of food, meat and vegetables; the peach cobbler has been a hit.”
Washington said she also wanted to see how the temperature was in the center. The thermostat in the city offices automatically turns the heat off at 5 p.m. and turns it back on at 7 a.m. To change those settings requires a call to the company that monitors the equipment. Washington said that because the space is so well insulated, the warming center stayed cozy throughout the night, but she was not initially sure that would be the case.
“It was nice,” she said. “And everyone was very appreciative. People would get up and go to the bathroom and say, ‘I just want to say how thankful I am that you did this.’ I told them we were here for them and that it was an honor.”
Washington said the center would be open through Wednesday morning but would remain open longer if the temperatures stayed below freezing. For information on the warming center or to volunteer, call Group Violence Intervention at (870) 730-2152.
The highways in and around the city were covered with the sleet and snow mix. Arkansas State Police have cautioned drivers to consider staying off highways in the event of severe weather, adding those who must drive should reduce speed, create more distance from the vehicle in front of them and brake earlier than normal.
As of 11:07 a.m. Interstate 530 toward Little Rock and Martha Mitchell Expressway were covered in ice. Roads covered in snow were U.S. 79 and U.S. 79 Business heading east of Pine Bluff, U.S. 65 Business, the Interstate 530 loop south of Pine Bluff and Arkansas 530 toward Star City.
Within Pine Bluff, road conditions have not improved and are expected to worsen overnight, according to police.
“In many places, underneath the snow, our streets are plagued by frozen ice,” police said in an update on road conditions. “Once again, if you do not have to be out in this winter storm, please stay inside.”
Road crews are helping minimize the amount of ice and snow on Pine Bluff’s streets, according to police. The police also offer these tips to those who must be on the road:
■ Let your vehicle warm up for a considerable amount of time to defrost all windows.
■ If you have de-icer or a window scraper, put them inside your vehicle.
■ Charge your phone before leaving home.
■ Take a flashlight with you while traveling.
■ Take food, water and extra blankets in case you are stranded or your vehicle shuts down.
■ Tell a friend or family member which route you plan on taking.
■ Reduce speed in all areas to allow extra precautions on the road.
Veronica Insley of Insley’s Towing on Dollarway Road said her company had received four or five calls before 6 p.m. Sunday, as the area had received just a dust of flurries, but despite the weather, none before noon Monday. Kelli Ross of Foster’s Towing in White Hall also said it had received no calls due to the weather.
State police say motorists in need may dial *ASP, or *277, for nonemergency calls to be connected to the nearest state police troop. In Pine Bluff, anyone who needs assistance may dial 911 for an emergency or (870) 541-5300 for a nonemergency.
“If you see anyone out and about who could use assistance, please report it,” Pine Bluff police said. “There are others within our city who are down on their luck and have no place to turn. Let’s be helpers one to another during this storm.”
The weather had already put a pause on activities in Pine Bluff related to the federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was Monday. The Original KingFest Marade, a parade honoring the legacy of the slain civil rights champion, is now scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday in downtown Pine Bluff, and the Original KingFest commemorative church program is now scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 717 W. 32nd Ave.
All three Jefferson County school districts and traditional higher-education institutions, which observed the holiday, will remain closed today due to inclement weather. Scholastic athletic events scheduled for today have been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and University of Arkansas at Monticello will transition to virtual business operations and academic instruction today. Both universities indicated they will resume normal operations Wednesday.
UAPB’s women’s and men’s basketball games at Prairie View A&M University in Texas have been postponed. The teams played at Texas Southern University on Saturday.
All on-campus, hybrid and online classes and all activities at Southeast Arkansas College are canceled today, President Steven Bloomberg announced.
Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson said all county offices would be closed today. Washington said city offices and the city’s transit system would also be closed, adding that the City Council meeting set for today would be available on Zoom starting at 5 p.m. Information on how to get connected to Zoom will be on the city’s social media pages and website.