Storm system blankets area with ice, sleet
Frigid temperatures settling in over Eastern Arkansas through weekend
More sleet than freezing rain fell across the area overnight, resulting in fewer power outages than utility companies were anticipating.
Woodruff Electric today is reporting about 60 customers suffered power outages overnight, and Entergy officials said about 275 of their St. Francis County customers lost power.
The National Weather Service in Memphis this morning said reports from St. Francis County showed the area received about a quarter of an inch of sleet and freezing rain overnight.
“We had two groups of outages overnight with approximately 30 members each, said Woodruff spokesperson Anna Howton. “Our crews were able to quickly restore power to those members.”
Howton added that Woodruff crews remain on standby, although statewide, electric cooperatives did not receive much damage. “We’re watching the weather today. If the wind picks up much throughout the day, it could cause outages.”
Entergy spokesperson Brandi Hinkle said more sleet than freezing rain was a “lesser burden on power lines and tree limbs, so we had fewer outages than expected.”
Hinkle said Entergy is planning for sub- freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow Sunday into Monday. “Heavy snow poses some dangers, but not as much as ice,” she said.
The dangers associated with the ice will remain, with forecasters saying the precipitation that fell overnight is unlikely to dissipate over the next several days as temperatures fall into the teens, with wind chills in the single digits.
NWS Meteorologist Jim Belles said the storm system was not one that will be remembered for years to come, but is noteworthy because of the impact it is having on travel.
ArDOT District 1 Engineer Cannon Callicott said this morning that most roads across the district were impacted by the storm.
“Most every route is covered with slush and/ or ice, getting progressively worse from west to east,” said Callicott. “We received some significant sleet and freezing rain across the area between 3 and 5 a.m.”
Highway department workers began pretreating bridges on Tuesday and expanded to the roadways on Wednesday, beginning with interstates and major highways before moving to lower- volume routes, according to Callicott.
“We are currently plowing and applying bulk salt and/or a brine solution as de- icing agents. We expect to make progress today, but with the temperatures remaining at or near freezing, we anticipate continuing operations throughout the night,” said Callicott. “We will continue operating 24 hours until all routes are clear, which will likely be late Friday or into Saturday.”
Callicott urges motorists who have to be on the roadways to travel slowly and be careful.
“Drivers are urged to reduce speeds during this time, even if the majority of the roadway appears to be clear. Ice patches will still be present,” said Callicott. “With the extremely cold temperatures that are forecast and the chance of another round of wintry mix Sunday night and Monday,
driving conditions may remain hazardous for several more days.”
“We’ve not really had anything like this for some time,” said Belles. “The winter weather here has been sparse the last two or three winters, but we’re in a week where the threats are going to continue. This is not one of those situations where everything is going to be okay and melted by 4 o’clock. This is going to hang around because the temperatures are going to be so low We .“have some teens in the forecast, and we’re forecasting some pretty bitter wind chills. We really haven’t had that in a while. The last two winters were not very prolonged with any kind of winter problems,” said Belles. “We have a better shot of snow on Monday with a storm system moving in then.”