Winter Storm in Arkansas, January 1 to 2, 1999

Summary of winter weather on January 1-2 1999:A major winter storm was in its infancy as it moved across the south-central part of the nation on January 1. In advance of the developing storm, freezing rain developed over Carroll County on the evening of January 1, with rain changing to freezing rain across other northwest Arkansas counties as temperatures dropped during the early morning of January 2. Carroll County was especially hard-hit by ice with the NWS Cooperative Observers at Eureka Springs and Berryville both reporting 1/2 inch of ice. The thick ice resulted in the loss of power to several hundred Carroll Electric Cooperative customers in Carroll and Benton Counties. Travel in Carroll County was impossible. There was widely scattered tree damage. The Governor of Arkansas named Carroll County one of six counties across northern Arkansas eligible for disaster relief funds due to damage caused by the icing.By early morning on January 2, enough cold air moved in behind the strengthening winter storm to cause a changeover from freezing rain to sleet and then to snow. All four of the counties listed in this entry received from one to two inches of snow, causing slick and hazardous driving conditions.