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| Storm Reports |
| Are you interested in what happened during a recent event? Check out the report below. |
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Turning Much Colder/Light Snow on December 22-23, 2022 |
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| In the picture: A blast of Arctic air arrived from the Plains on 12/22/2022. This was due to a blocking pattern, with a strongly negative Arctic Oscillation (AO) Index serving as an indicator. By blocking, it is meant that cold air did not flow as freely across Canada (i.e. blocked), and was forced to the south. There were areas of light snow, especially in northern Arkansas. |
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After above average temperatures during the first half of December, there were signs that Arctic air would visit Arkansas before Christmas. That promise was realized on the 22nd, and in a big way!
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| In the picture: Subfreezing air surged all the way to the Gulf Coast by the late evening of 12/22/2022. |
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The day started with temperatures in the 30s and 40s, but that changed in a hurry. Dangerously cold air poured into Arkansas, and readings plummeted more than thirty degrees at many locations in less than six hours.
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| Not the First Time in December |
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Back in 1983, an historic Arctic blast kept temperatures below freezing in Little Rock (Pulaski County) for a record 308 hours from December 18th through the 31st. The Arkansas River froze over as a result. In 1989, another round of Arctic air dropped the temperature below zero (-1 degree) without snow on the ground on the 23rd. There were four straight mornings (21st through the 24th) with readings below 10 degrees.
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| In the picture: Temperatures dropped like a stone (thirty four degrees in six hours) at Clinton (Van Buren County) during the afternoon of 12/22/2022. By 600 pm CST, the thermometer showed 9 degrees, with a wind chill index value of -11 degrees. |
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As temperatures plunged, northwest winds picked up markedly. Gusts from 35 to 45 mph were common across the region. This created wind chill index values not often witnessed this far south.
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| In the picture: Wind chill index values were below zero in much of northern and central Arkansas by 700 pm CST on 12/22/2022. |
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Wind chill indices from 15 to 30 below zero were felt in much of northern and central Arkansas. These conditions continued through the overnight hours of the 22nd and early on the 23rd.
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| In the picture: Snow was accumulating along Highway 65 near Omaha (Boone County) as observed by a traffic camera during the afternoon of 12/22/2022. The video is courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Transportation. |
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There was some moisture available, with patchy light rain occurring before air from Canada arrived. Once it was cold enough for frozen precipitation, areas of light snow developed. Snow accumulated mainly across the northern counties.
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| In the picture: One to more than two inches of snow was reported in northern/eastern Arkansas on 12/22/2022. |
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Two to three inches of snow piled up near Berryville (Carroll County), Biggers (Randolph County), Lead Hill (Boone County), Marshall (Searcy County), a few miles north of Mountain Home (Baxter County), Omaha (Boone County), and Paragould (Greene County). One to two inches of snow was measured at Alicia (Lawrence County), Bruno (Marion County), Elm Springs (Benton County), Hoxie (Lawrence County), Jasper (Newton County), Jonesboro (Craighead County), Kingston (Madison County), Mammoth Spring (Fulton County), Mountain View (Stone County), and Pocahontas (Randolph County).
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| In the picture: Snow and ice covered roads in northern and central Arkansas at 530 pm CST on 12/22/2022. The information is courtesy of IDriveArkansas. |
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Well below freezing temperatures during the afternoon/evening of the 22nd allowed snow and ice to form on area roadways. Travel was hazardous mainly across the northern and central counties.
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| A Horrible Situation in Buffalo, NY |
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A blizzard hit Buffalo on December 23rd/24th. Just over forty inches of snow was measured in a two day period, along with a 72 mph gust and whiteout conditions. Tragically, the storm was responsible for close to forty fatalities in the city and surrounding areas.
While it is surprising that so many deaths occurred in a location known for massive snow events, sources have cited several reasons for such a high death toll. First and foremost, the storm was so fierce that local officials were limited in what they could do to help those in need. Bare-bone holiday staffing did not help, with fewer officials available to offer assistance. Also, the timing of the event put people in harm's way trying to run last minute holiday errands. Others were on their way to work because a travel ban had yet to be declared. Finally, some folks viewed this as just another storm, and underestimated what turned out to be a life threatening situation.
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| In the picture: Temperatures were below zero in northern Arkansas and in the single digits farther south at 600 am CST on 12/23/2022. |
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By the morning of the 23rd, low temperatures were below zero in northern Arkansas, and in the single digits farther south. Some of the coldest readings included -10 degrees at Compton (Newton County), -9 degrees at Jasper (Newton County), -8 degrees at Devils Knob (Johnson County), -6 degrees at Harrison (Boone County) and Rogers (Benton County), and -5 degrees at Lead Hill and Omaha (both in Boone County).
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