Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Arkansas, March 4, 2008

Name: Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Arkansas, March 4, 2008
Start: 2008-03-04T02:00
End: 2008-03-04T10:00
Location: Arkansas

March 4, 2008 · NWS LZK · 34 events in 34 counties and zones

A cold front approached the region from the Plains during the evening of the 2nd. Behind the front, colder air and moisture wrapped around the system, causing snow to fall over much of the state during the morning of the 4th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 24 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 34

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LZK wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Little Rock, AR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 3, 11:03 PM CST, 2 hours 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 3, 11:03 PM CST, 2 hours 57 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1103 PM CST MON MAR 3 2008

.AVIATION...
UPR LOW OVR NERN TX IS PROGGED TO BEGIN TURNING NEWD OVERNIGHT.
PRECIP ASSOCD WITH THIS FEATURE ALREADY HAS DVLPD OVR WRN AR AND
EXPECT THIS TREND TO CONT DURG THE OVERNIGHT HRS. WL SEE A
WINTRY MIX ACRS NRN AND WRN AR...EVENTUALLY CHANGING OVR TO ALL
SNOW LATER TNGT. A RAIN/SNOW MIX IS EXPECTED ELSEWHERE LATER TNGT
INTO TUE MRNG. EXPECT MAINLY MVFR CIGS AND VSBYS THRU TUE MRNG...
WITH OCNL IFR CONDS WHERE HEAVIER PRECIP FALLS. PRECIP WL BEGIN TO
TAPER OFF FM THE W TUE MRNG AS UPR LOW MOVES AWAY FM THE FA. WL
SEE LOW CLOUDS BEGIN TO LIFT AND SCT OUT LATER IN THE DAY...WITH
VFR CONDS EXPECTED AREAWIDE BY LATE TUE AFTN/EARLY EVENING. /44/
&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 333 PM CST MON MAR 3 2008/

SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT
OBSERVATIONAL DATA INDICATES A FEW AREAS OF STRONG CONVECTION
ACROSS THE EXTREME SOUTHEAST PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. THIS
AREA WILL EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA BY 22Z...AS THE COLD FRONT THAT
HAS HELPED TO FOCUS THIS ACTIVITY MOVES TO THE SOUTHEAST.

UPPER LOW NOW ENTERING WESTERN NORTH TEXAS WILL CONTINUE EASTWARD
OVERNIGHT...AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE PRECIPITATION
DEVELOPMENT. FORECAST SOUNDINGS SUPPORT A TRANSITION TO SNOW ACROSS
THE NORTH AND WEST BY LATE EVENING. SOME MIX OR BRIEF CHANGE OVER
TO SNOW WILL OCCUR ACROSS CENTRAL PORTIONS LATE TONIGHT...HOWEVER
THE LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER LOW SHOULD DIMINISH QUICKLY
AS THE CHANGE TAKES PLACE.

LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY
RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO MIX WITH...THEN CHANGE TO SNOW DURING THE
EVENING HOURS. AS COLD AIR FILTERS THROUGH STATE. TOTAL SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF THREE TO FIVE INCHES ARE POSSIBLE...BEFORE THE
PRECIPITATION ENDS TUESDAY MORNING.
&&

.LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM CST TUESDAY FOR ARKANSAS-CLEBURNE-
FAULKNER-INDEPENDENCE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-LINCOLN-LONOKE-MONROE-
PRAIRIE-PULASKI-WHITE-WOODRUFF.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM CST TUESDAY FOR CLEBURNE-
CONWAY-FAULKNER-GARLAND-INDEPENDENCE-JACKSON-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
POLK-PULASKI-SALINE-VAN BUREN-WHITE.

WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 AM CST TUESDAY FOR BAXTER-BOONE-
FULTON-IZARD-JOHNSON-LOGAN-MARION-NEWTON-POPE-SCOTT-SEARCY-SHARP-
STONE-YELL.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 3, 6:50 PM CST, 7 hours 10 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
650 PM CST MON MAR 3 2008

ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-041100-
ARKANSAS-BAXTER-BOONE-BRADLEY-CALHOUN-CLARK-CLEBURNE-CLEVELAND-
CONWAY-DALLAS-DESHA-DREW-FAULKNER-FULTON-GARLAND-GRANT-HOT SPRING-
INDEPENDENCE-IZARD-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-LINCOLN-LOGAN-LONOKE-
MARION-MONROE-MONTGOMERY-NEWTON-OUACHITA-PERRY-PIKE-POLK-POPE-
PRAIRIE-PULASKI-SALINE-SCOTT-SEARCY-SHARP-STONE-VAN
BUREN-WHITE-WOODRUFF-YELL-
650 PM CST MON MAR 3 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR A LARGE PART OF ARKANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE TO TAPER OFF FROM ACROSS
THE EASTERN HALF OF ARKANSAS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING
HOURS. WHILE THE HEAVIEST OF THE RAIN HAS ENDED...RUNOFF FROM THE
HEAVIER RAINS EARLIER IN THE DAY ON MONDAY COULD STILL PRODUCE
PONDING ON AREA ROADWAYS.

MEANWHILE...AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL LIFT NORTHEASTWARD OUT OF TEXAS
LATER THIS EVENING AND MOVE INTO SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS LATE TONIGHT.
ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION WILL MOVE INTO NORTHERN AND WESTERN
ARKANSAS OVERNIGHT. AS COLDER AIR CONTINUES TO FILTER INTO THE
REGION...THE PRECIPITATION WILL START OFF AS A MIXTURE OF RAIN AND
SNOW...BUT WILL QUICKLY TURN OVER TO ALL SNOW.

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO THREE INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE PARTS OF
WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS...WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS
AREAS ALONG AND TO THE NORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM WALDRON...TO SALEM.
WHERE THREE TO FIVE INCHES OF SNOW COULD FALL BY TUESDAY MORNING.

ACROSS THE REST OF ARKANSAS...A MIXTURE OF RAIN AND SNOW IS EXPECTED
LATER TONIGHT. PARTS OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS MAY TURN COLD ENOUGH FOR A
PERIOD OF SNOW TO OCCUR LATE TONIGHT...WITH UP TO AN INCH OF SNOW
ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

PRECIPITATION WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH FROM THE SOUTHWEST TUESDAY
MORNING. LITTLE IN THE WAY OF ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION IS
EXPECTED OVER THE STATE. HOWEVER...TRAVEL TUESDAY MORNING WILL BE
HAZARDOUS ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN ARKANSAS...ESPECIALLY
IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. AS TEMPERATURES RISE DURING THE
AFTERNOON...CONDITIONS WILL SLOWLY IMPROVE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

&&

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENT CAN
BE FOUND AT HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LZK/HTML/RAIN0308.HTM

VISIT NWS LITTLE ROCK ON THE WEB. GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV AND
CLICK ON CENTRAL ARKANSAS.

44

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 winter weather, 16 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Boone

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Independence

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Independence forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 35.742, -91.570 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Logan

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.947, -92.931 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Faulkner

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Faulkner forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 35.147, -92.332 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Garland

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Garland forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.577, -93.150 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Jackson

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 35.599, -91.215 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Woodruff

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Woodruff forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 35.186, -91.243 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Monroe

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.678, -91.204 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Prairie

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Prairie forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.830, -91.553 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Lonoke

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Lonoke forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.754, -91.889 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.770, -92.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county. 2.5 inches were reported in Maumelle. 2.2 inches were reported northwest of Little Rock.

Winter Weather, Saline

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Saline forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.647, -92.677 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county. Three accidents were reported in the county. One was on Interstate 30 in front of the Bullock's Shell Station.

Winter Weather, Hot Spring

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Hot Spring forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.318, -92.946 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Grant

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.290, -92.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Jefferson

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.269, -91.931 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Winter Weather, Arkansas

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Arkansas forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.291, -91.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county.

Heavy Snow, Yell

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Yell forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The county emergency manager reported some outbuildings damaged by the heavy snow. Arkansas Highway 7 between Centerville and Ola was blocked by a fallen tree. Numerous accidents had occurred in that area. Arkansas Highway 27 outside of Danville was blocked by a tractor trailer. About 10 inches of snow was reported at Dardanelle. About 9 inches was reported at Danville.

Heavy Snow, Conway

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Conway forecast zone
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.262, -92.701 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four inches of snow were reported in Morrilton.

Heavy Snow, Scott

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Reported by: Public

In Waldron, 8.8 inches of snow were reported.

Heavy Snow, Pope

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The state police reported 8 to 12 inches of snow in the Russellville area. Interstate 40 was blocked in both directions by jackknifed tractor trailers at the 88 and 84 mile markers. An amount of 13.0 inches was reported on a bluff overlooking the Arkansas River near Russellville. The weather contributed to 10 motor vehicle accidents. Five reports of property damage caused by snow were received. A semi-truck got stuck trying to make it up Skyline Drive. The Arkansas River bridge on Arkansas Highway 7 was closed temporarily. About 2000 people lost power.

Heavy Snow, Izard

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Izard forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.095, -91.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four inches of snow were reported in Oxford. In Calico Rock, 5.5 inches were reported.

Heavy Snow, Polk

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Between 8 and 10 inches of snow was on the ground in the area around the lodge at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. Two tractor trailers were stuck on U.S. Highway 71 in Cove due to slick conditions. The highway was completely blocked.

Heavy Snow, Marion

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 36.268, -92.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A report of 4.5 inches of snow was received.

Heavy Snow, Fulton

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.382, -91.818 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The media relayed a report of 9 inches of snow in Glencoe. Other snowfall totals included 7 inches at Viola and 6 inches at Salem. A 16 mile stretch of United States Highway 63 from Hardy to Mammoth Spring was closed.

Heavy Snow, Baxter

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Baxter forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.287, -92.337 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A report of 6 to 7 inches of snow was received from Mountain Home.

Heavy Snow, Sharp

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Sharp forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 36.161, -91.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A report of 6 inches of snow was received from Ash Flat and Evening Shade.

Heavy Snow, Newton

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Newton forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Snow was reported across the county. In Bass, 3.5 inches were reported.

Heavy Snow, Stone

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Stone forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 35.860, -92.157 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A report of 6 inches of snow was received from Mountain View.

Heavy Snow, Montgomery

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A report of 6 inches of snow was received from Pine Ridge.

Heavy Snow, Van Buren

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Van Buren forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A report of 5 inches of snow was received from Chimes.

Heavy Snow, Searcy

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Searcy forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A report of 5 inches of snow was received from Marshall.

Heavy Snow, Cleburne

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Cleburne forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 35.538, -92.027 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow was reported across the county. Three to four inches of snow were reported across most of the county.

Winter Weather, White

When: March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: White forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.256, -91.745 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow fell across the county.

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arkansas in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Arkansas, March 2008

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 75856, 75867, 75868, 75871, 75873, 75876, 75877, 75878, 75879, 75880, 75881, 75882, 75883, 75884, 75885, 75886, 75887, 75905, 75907, 75908, 75909, 75910, 77464, 77465, 77466, 78321, 78326, 78327, 78328, 78329, 78330, 78331, 78333, 90509.