Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Winter weather expected today
Overnight low could be 7 degrees
Northwest Arkansas residents could see 1 to 2 inches of snow this morning as part of a weather system that will barrel across Kansas and Missouri as it heads toward the east coast, a weather official said Saturday.
Pete Snyder, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Okla., said the snow should be out of Benton and Washington counties around noon. But before that, there will be rain that will later mix with sleet and snow followed by just snowfall. Northwest Arkansas is on the southern fringe of the storm, Snyder said. Kansas City and St. Louis could see as much as 5 inches of snow, he said.
“The last few systems have been to the north of us, but we still got the cold air from them,” Snyder said. “This one will be no different.”
The high is expected to be about 30 degrees, but temperatures could plunge to 7 tonight, Snyder said.
Caleb Jones of Bella Vista was at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in north Bentonville about noon
Saturday buying what he called the “basics.” Jones said he was getting items before the weather changed.
“My main thing was chili,” he said. “It’s going to be cold outside, and it’s good for leftovers.”
Road departments are ready to tackle the snow if it arrives, officials said.
Jay Frasier, who oversees the Benton County Road Department, said crews put down magnesium chloride Friday because it stays on roads when it rains. Bridges and hills were priorities, Frasier said.
“We hope whatever comes through will be out quick so we can get it cleaned up before it turns cold,” Frasier said. “We hope we don’t have anything come, but we will be ready if it does.”
Terry Gulley, Fayetteville Transportation Services director, said city road crews would begin to check bridges and other potential slick spots about 3 a.m. The city will have about 20 people working in shifts and have 11 to 12 trucks on the road.
“We’ll be prepared for when it switches over from rain to snow,” Gulley said.
Charles Ward, Washington County’s road superintendent, said his plans are based on experience, with trucks being designated to spread gravel on rural roads. Washington County doesn’t use salt or other methods to melt snow and ice, Ward said.
Ward said he has employees on call for weather emergencies. He said it takes about 15 minutes to put a gravel spreader on a truck bed. The county typically has six chip trucks and another nine fitted with snowplows. Road graders are also used.
Frankie Guyll, street supervisor for the city of Rogers, was taking the weather in stride.
“So far, it has been a pretty good winter temperature wise,” he said. “There’s been no snow to speak of. But it’s still winter. If we can get past March, we should be alright.”
The cold will linger across the two-county area on Monday and Tuesday, Snyder said. Monday’s high will be in the lower 20s, and Tuesday’s high will be the low 30s.
“There’s been no snow to speak of. But it’s still winter. If we can get past March, we should be alright.”
— Frankie Guyll, street supervisor for the Rogers