The combination of abundant moisture, a low pressure system moving through the region, and cold air at the surface caused an ice storm to occur over Northeast Arkansas. Most of the precipitation fell in the form of freezing rain.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS MEG wrote it up.
The combination of abundant moisture, a low pressure system moving through the region, and cold air at the surface caused an ice storm to occur over Northeast Arkansas. Most of the precipitation fell in the form of freezing rain. Toward the end of the event, precipitation changed briefly to sleet and snow. Significant ice accumulations occurred with Randolph and Clay Counties being hardest hit. One to two inches of ice fell across Northeast Arkansas in addition to one inch of snow. A quarter of an inch of ice fell across East-Central Arkansas. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down from the ice storm. Some counties lost anywhere from seventy to one hundred percent of their power during the peak of the storm. This occurred mainly across Northeast Arkansas. Emergency shelters were opened for storm victims. Roads were very hazardous to travel and many accidents occurred as a result. Five deaths occurred from the storm. One was a result of hypothermia. Two deaths occurred from falling trees.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Two inches of ice fell across Greene County along with an additional inch of snow. Widespread power outages occurred. One shelter was opened in Marmaduke and another in Paragould.
Two inches of ice fell across Clay County along with an additional inch of snow. Widespread power outages occurred. One shelter was opened in Piggott. Roads impassable.
One to two inches of ice fell across Randolph County along with an additional inch of snow. Some sleet accumulations occurred initally as the storm began. Thunder sleet produced a half inch of sleet accumulation near Biggers. Total sleet accumulations ranged from an inch to one and half inches. Widespread power outages occurred. Roads impassable.
One inch of ice fell across Lawrence County along with an additional inch of snow. Widespread power outages occurred. A shelter was opened in Walnut Ridge. Roads impassable.
A half inch to an inch of ice fell across Cross County. The heaviest accumulations occurred over the northern third of the county especially near Hickory Ridge and Cherry Valley. Widespread power outages occurred. Roads impassable.
A half inch to an inch of ice fell across Craighead County. Widespread power outages occurred. Three shelters were opened. Roads impassable.
A half inch of ice fell across Mississippi County. Widespread power outages occurred. Three shelters were opened. Roads impassable.
A half inch of ice fell across northern portions Crittenden County along with one to two inches of snow. Widespread power outages occurred. Three shelters were opened. Roads impassable.
A half inch of ice fell across Poinsett County. Widespread power outages occurred. Three shelters were opened. Roads impassable.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm, Clay | 2009-01-29 | 84 | Female | Permanent Structure | Direct |
| Ice Storm, Craighead | 2009-01-29 | 63 | Male | Under Tree | Direct |
| Ice Storm, Mississippi | 2009-01-31 | Unknown | Indirect | ||
| Ice Storm, Mississippi | 2009-01-31 | Unknown | Indirect | ||
| Ice Storm, Poinsett | 2009-01-27 | 40 | Male | Under Tree | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, January 2009
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 148726, 148727, 148728, 148729, 148730, 148731, 148732, 148734, 148735.