Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Arkansas, February 4 to 5, 2011

Name: Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Arkansas, February 4 to 5, 2011
Start: 2011-02-04T02:00
End: 2011-02-05T07:00
Location: Arkansas

February 4 to 5, 2011 · NWS LZK · 45 events in 45 counties and zones

A low pressure system tracked across Arkansas on the 4th and early on the 5th. Heavy snow fell over parts of western and northern Arkansas, where snow accumulations of 4 to 6 inches occurred.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 34 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: 45

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.

A low pressure system tracked across Arkansas on the 4th and early on the 5th. Heavy snow fell over parts of western and northern Arkansas, where snow accumulations of 4 to 6 inches occurred. Totals in most other sections of the state were in the 1 to 3 inch range. As slightly warmer air aloft moved in during the day of the 4th, snow changed over to freezing rain and sleet over southern Arkansas and much of the central part of the state. On the night of the 4th, most precipitation became snow flurries or freezing drizzle and this precipitation continued into the morning of the 5th. Two single fatality accidents occurred on snowy roads on the 4th. A 49 year-old man was killed on U.S. Highway 71 just south of Cove in Polk County and a 72 year-old woman lost her life on Arkansas Highway 5 on the north side of Cabot in Lonoke County. On the 5th, a 35 year-old man was killed on icy Interstate 30 southwest of Benton in Saline County.

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 Feb 3, 11:09 PM CST, 2 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 3, 11:09 PM CST, 2 hours 51 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1109 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011

.AVIATION...
GRADUALLY LOWERING VFR CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT OVER
AR...ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE STATE. A WEATHER SYSTEM
WILL MOVE ACROSS LOUISIANA...AND GRADUALLY SPREAD LOWERING VFR
CEILINGS LATE OVERNIGHT...THEN SOME MVFR CEILINGS TO SOUTHERN AREAS.
ALSO LIGHT SNOW...WITH PATCHY FREEZING DRIZZLE OR SLEET...WILL
DEVELOP LATE NIGHT TO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING OVER SOUTHERN AREAS...
THEN SLOWLY SPREAD TO CENTRAL AR DURING THE MORNING. OVERALL
LIGHT NE TO N WINDS WILL BE NOTED OVERNIGHT. ON FRIDAY...MAINLY
MVFR CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED SOUTH AND CENTRAL...WITH LIGHT
SNOW...AND A MIXTURE OF POSSIBLE SNOW...FREEZING DRIZZLE AND
SLEET. OVER THE NORTH MAINLY MVFR CEILINGS WITH LIGHT SNOW OR
FLURRIES. WINDS ON FRIDAY NW TO NE 5 TO 10 KNOTS.
&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 953 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011/

UPDATE...
MADE SOME SLIGHT CHANGES TO THE FORECAST FOR THIS EVENING. DELAYED
THE ONSET OF PRECIPITATION A BIT AND KEPT CHANCES LIMITED TO THE
SOUTHEAST INITIALLY...WITH LIKELY POPS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF
THE FORECAST AREA BY ROUGHLY 3AM. OVERALL THE FRIDAY FORECAST
REMAINS ON TRACK...WHICH INCLUDES THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.&&

.LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY FOR BRADLEY-DESHA-
DREW.

&&

AVIATION...59/57

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 3, 9:15 PM CST, 4 hours 45 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
915 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011

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-
915 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

LIGHT SNOW WILL GRADUALLY DEVELOP ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHEAST...AHEAD
OF AN APPROACHING STORM SYSTEM. PATCHY LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE OR
SLEET MAY ALSO BE SEEN. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT AFTER
MIDNIGHT FOR PARTS OF FAR SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS. A WINTER STORM WARNING
IS IN EFFECT FOR LATE TONIGHT AND FRIDAY FOR PARTS OF FAR SOUTH
ARKANSAS NEAR THE LOUISIANA STATE LINE FOR MORE SIGNIFICANT WINTER
WEATHER.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE FRIDAY MORNING ACROSS THE
SOUTHEAST. ONE TO TWO INCHES OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THIS
AREA THROUGH AROUND MID DAY FRIDAY. PATCHY FREEZING DRIZZLE AND
SLEET MAY ALSO BE SEEN.

ELSEWHERE...LIGHT SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN
LOCATIONS OF ARKANSAS...AS THE SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. MOST
LOCATIONS WILL RECEIVE JUST A DUSTING...BUT SOME LOCATIONS MAY
RECEIVE UP TO HALF OF AN INCH TO NEAR AN INCH. PATCHY FREEZING
DRIZZLE OR SLEET MAY ALSO BE SEEN ON FRIDAY.

OVER THE WEEKEND...TEMPERATURES WILL WARM WITH HIGHS INTO THE 40S
AND 50S. HOWEVER...THE WARMUP WILL BE SHORT LIVED...AS THE NEXT
SYSTEM APPROACHES THE STATE. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING ANOTHER CHANCE
OF PRECIPITATION LATE SUNDAY...AS WELL AS WINTRY WEATHER...AND A
SHARP TEMPERATURE DROP BEHIND IT INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY IN THE FORECAST BEYOND SATURDAY. KEEP IN
MIND THAT THE FORECAST CAN AND WILL LIKELY CHANGE A BIT BETWEEN NOW
AND THEN. PEOPLE SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST UPDATES...FORECASTS...AND
OUTLOOKS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

&&

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

57/58/59

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

36 winter weather, 7 heavy snow, 2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Drew

When: February 4, 2:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Drew forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 33.589, -91.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Desha

When: February 4, 2:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Desha forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 33.833, -91.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Arkansas

When: February 4, 3:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Arkansas forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.291, -91.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Lincoln

When: February 4, 3:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 33.958, -91.733 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Ouachita

When: February 4, 4:00 AM CST to February 5, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Ouachita forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 33.593, -92.882 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Calhoun

When: February 4, 4:00 AM CST to February 5, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 33.558, -92.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Bradley

When: February 4, 4:00 AM CST to February 5, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Bradley forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.466, -92.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pike

When: February 4, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.164, -93.656 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Polk

When: February 4, 5:00 AM CST to February 5, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather, Montgomery

When: February 4, 5:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather, Clark

When: February 4, 5:00 AM CST to February 5, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Clark forecast zone
Reported by: AWSS
Coordinates: 34.051, -93.176 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Dallas

When: February 4, 5:00 AM CST to February 5, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 33.970, -92.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Jefferson

When: February 4, 6:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.269, -91.931 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Cleveland

When: February 4, 6:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Cleveland forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.898, -92.185 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Scott

When: February 4, 7:00 AM CST to February 5, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather, Hot Spring

When: February 4, 7:00 AM CST to February 5, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Hot Spring forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.318, -92.946 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Grant

When: February 4, 7:00 AM CST to February 5, 12:00 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)

Winter Weather, Yell

When: February 4, 8:00 AM CST to February 5, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Yell forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather, Garland

When: February 4, 8:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Garland forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.577, -93.150 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Logan

When: February 4, 9:00 AM CST to February 5, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather, Perry

When: February 4, 9:00 AM CST to February 5, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.947, -92.931 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Saline

When: February 4, 9:00 AM CST to February 5, 12:00 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)

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: February 4, 9:00 AM CST to February 5, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 34.770, -92.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Johnson

When: February 4, 10:00 AM CST to February 5, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather, Pope

When: February 4, 10:00 AM CST to February 5, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather, Conway

When: February 4, 10:00 AM CST to February 5, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Conway forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.262, -92.701 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Faulkner

When: February 4, 10:00 AM CST to February 5, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Faulkner forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.147, -92.332 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Lonoke

When: February 4, 10:00 AM CST to February 5, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Lonoke forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.754, -91.889 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Newton

When: February 4, 11:00 AM CST to February 5, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Newton forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company

Winter Weather, Van Buren

When: February 4, 11:00 AM CST to February 5, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Van Buren forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy Snow, Boone

When: February 4, 12:00 PM CST to February 5, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy Snow, Searcy

When: February 4, 12:00 PM CST to February 5, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Searcy forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather, Cleburne

When: February 4, 12:00 PM CST to February 5, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Cleburne forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.538, -92.027 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, White

When: February 4, 12:00 PM CST to February 5, 4:00 AM CST
Where: White forecast zone
Reported by: AWSS
Coordinates: 35.256, -91.745 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Prairie

When: February 4, 12:00 PM CST to February 5, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Prairie forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.830, -91.553 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Marion

When: February 4, 1:00 PM CST to February 5, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 36.268, -92.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Izard

When: February 4, 1:00 PM CST to February 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Izard forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 36.095, -91.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Stone

When: February 4, 1:00 PM CST to February 5, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Stone forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.860, -92.157 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Independence

When: February 4, 1:00 PM CST to February 5, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Independence forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.742, -91.570 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Woodruff

When: February 4, 1:00 PM CST to February 5, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Woodruff forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.186, -91.243 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Monroe

When: February 4, 1:00 PM CST to February 5, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.678, -91.204 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Baxter

When: February 4, 2:00 PM CST to February 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Baxter forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 36.287, -92.337 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Fulton

When: February 4, 2:00 PM CST to February 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 36.382, -91.818 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Sharp

When: February 4, 2:00 PM CST to February 5, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Sharp forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 36.161, -91.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Jackson

When: February 4, 2:00 PM CST to February 5, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.599, -91.215 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Arkansas, February 2011

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: 270940, 270941, 270932, 270936, 270937, 270938, 270939, 270942, 270905, 270922, 270933, 270934, 270931, 270935, 270916, 270929, 270930, 270915, 270923, 270914, 270921, 270924, 270925, 270908, 270909, 270917, 270918, 270926, 270902, 270910, 270898, 270903, 270911, 270919, 270927, 270899, 270904, 270906, 270912, 270920, and more.