Winter Storm, Randolph
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Randolph forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.342, -91.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Three to seven inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm in Arkansas, February 9, 2011
A low pressure system tracked along the Gulf Coast during the day on February 9th, 2011. Cold arctic air was already in place across the Mid-South thus the precipitation fell in the form of snow.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 12
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 MEG wrote it up.
A low pressure system tracked along the Gulf Coast during the day on February 9th, 2011. Cold arctic air was already in place across the Mid-South thus the precipitation fell in the form of snow. The snow intensified during the afternoon into the early evening hours before tapering off. Snow accumulations varied across Eastern Arkansas. Amounts ranged from 6 to 8 inches south of Interstate 40 while accumulations were generally between 1 to 3 inches across East-Central Arkansas and portions of Northeast Arkansas. Another band of higher snow amounts occurred across Randolph and Lawrence Counties where 4 to 7 inches fell. The snow caused hazardous weather conditions as a result numerous accidents were reported.
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 Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 9, 5:58 AM CST, 2 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 9, 5:58 AM CST, 2 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
558 AM CST WED FEB 9 2011
.UPDATE...AVIATION DISCUSSION.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 326 AM CST WED FEB 9 2011/
DISCUSSION...
..SNOW WILL SPREAD INTO THE MIDSOUTH TODAY...
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP OFF THE TEXAS GULF COAST TODAY
AND MOVE EASTWARD INTO CENTRAL FLORIDA BY THURSDAY MORNING. ARCTIC
AIR IS ALREADY IN PLACE ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH AS A RESULT
PRECIPITATION WILL FALL IN THE FORM OF SNOW. SNOW WILL BEGIN TO MOVE
INTO EASTERN ARKANSAS THIS MORNING AND WILL THEN MOVE INTO THE
MEMPHIS METRO AREA AROUND NOON TIME. COLD AIR ALOFT WILL YIELD
HIGHER SNOW RATIOS RESULTING IN HIGHER ACCUMULATIONS. BEST CHANCES
FOR RECEIVING AT LEAST 3 INCHES OF SNOW WILL OCCUR SOUTH AND WEST OF
A LINE FROM HARRISBURG ARKANSAS TO MEMPHIS TENNESSEE TO TUPELO MISSISSIPPI
WITH HIGHEST ACCUMULATIONS OF 3-6 INCHES EXPECTED TO OCCUR FROM
MARIANNA ARKANSAS TO CLARKSDALE MISSISSIPPI TO COFFEEVILLE
MISSISSIPPI. SNOW WILL BEGIN TAPERING OFF ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH FROM
WEST TO EAST THIS EVENING. HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM THE MID 20S TO
THE MID 30S. LOWS WILL MAINLY BE IN THE TEENS TONIGHT. STRONG
WINDS MAY ALLOW WIND CHILL VALUES TO REACH NEAR ZERO LATE TONIGHT.
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MAY NEED TO BE ISSUED LATER TODAY.
THURSDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO BUILD INTO THE AREA BEHIND
THE DEPARTING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. SKIES SHOULD BEGIN TO CLEAR BUT
WITH SNOW COVER ON THE GROUND EXPECT MOST LOCATIONS WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF PORTIONS OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI TO REMAIN BELOW FREEZING
FOR HIGHS.
THURSDAY NIGHT...HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES INTO THE MIDSOUTH AND WITH
CLEAR SKIES AND SNOW COVER...TEMPERATURES SHOULD PLUMMET INTO THE
UPPER SINGLE DIGITS TO THE MID TEENS. EVEN WITH LIGHT WINDS...WIND
CHILL VALUES AGAIN COULD APPROACH ZERO.
FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND...A GRADUAL WARMING TREND IS EXPECTED AS
HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS EAST. WILL GO BELOW GUIDANCE ON FRIDAY DUE TO
MELTING SNOW COVER THUS READINGS WILL STILL BE BELOW NORMAL WITH
HIGHS IN THE MID 30S TO LOWER 40S. HOWEVER BY SUNDAY READINGS WILL
RETURN TO NEAR NORMAL WITH HIGHS IN THE 50S.
MONDAY...A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE CWA. THE FRONT SHOULD
COME THROUGH DRY. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 50S INTO THE LOWER 60S.
MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE MIDSOUTH.
ONLY EXPECT SLIGHT COOLER TEMPERATURES BEHIND THE FRONT THUS
READINGS WILL STILL REMAIN NEAR NORMAL WITH HIGHS IN THE 50S AND
LOWS IN THE 30S.
KRM
.AVIATION...12Z TAF CYCLE
CEILINGS WILL GRADUALLY LOWER TODAY AHEAD OF A WINTER STORM THAT
WILL LIKELY RESULT IN AT LEAST 2 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION AT ALL
STIES. SNOWFALL COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN ONE MILE AT
TIMES...BUT PREVAILING CONDITIONS SHOULD REMAIN AT OR ABOVE ONE
MILE. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL LIKELY OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 2-3
HOURS AFTER SNOW BEGINS AT ALL TAF SITES...AND SLOWLY DIMINISH
IN INTENSITY WITH TIME. IFR CEILINGS CAN BE EXPECTED FOR MOST OF
THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. SNOW SHOULD COME TO AN END AT JBR
BY 03Z...04Z AT MEM...06Z AT MKL AND 07Z AT TUP. CEILINGS WILL
RISE TO AROUND 2000 TO 2500 FEET AFTER THE SNOW COMES TO AN END.
MORE SUBSTANTIAL CLEARING IS EXPECTED AT JBR BY SUNRISE.
WINDS WILL BE NORTHEAST 10 15 KNOTS.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM 30 18 30 14 / 100 100 10 0
MKL 29 18 29 10 / 90 90 0 0
JBR 23 13 26 13 / 100 80 0 0
TUP 37 24 34 13 / 90 100 10 0
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR CLAY-
CRAIGHEAD-GREENE-LAWRENCE-MISSISSIPPI-RANDOLPH.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR CRITTENDEN-
CROSS-LEE AR-PHILLIPS-POINSETT-ST. FRANCIS.
MO...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR DUNKLIN-
PEMISCOT.
MS...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR
CALHOUN-CHICKASAW-COAHOMA-DESOTO-ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LEE MS-
MARSHALL-MONROE-PANOLA-PONTOTOC-QUITMAN-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-
TUNICA-UNION-YALOBUSHA.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT
FOR ALCORN-BENTON MS-PRENTISS-TIPPAH-TISHOMINGO.
TN...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR
SHELBY.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT
FOR CARROLL-CHESTER-CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-
HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-
MADISON-MCNAIRY-OBION-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.
&&Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 9, 4:10 AM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 410 AM CST WED FEB 9 2011 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-101215- ALCORN-BENTON MS-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CHESTER-CHICKASAW-CLAY-COAHOMA- CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROCKETT-CROSS-DESOTO-DECATUR-DUNKLIN-DYER- FAYETTE-GIBSON-GREENE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY- ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-LEE MS-MADISON- MARSHALL-MCNAIRY-MISSISSIPPI-MONROE-OBION-PANOLA-PEMISCOT- PHILLIPS-POINSETT-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN-RANDOLPH-SHELBY- ST. FRANCIS-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TIPTON-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA- UNION-WEAKLEY-YALOBUSHA- 410 AM CST WED FEB 9 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY INTO THIS EVENING FOR AREAS GENERALLY ALONG AND TO THE SOUTHWEST OF A LINE FROM HARRISBURG ARKANSAS TO MILLINGTON TENNESSEE TO FULTON MISSISSIPPI. THE WARNING INCLUDES THE CITIES OF MEMPHIS AND TUPELO. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE REST OF THE MIDSOUTH INCLUDING THE CITIES OF JONESBORO AND JACKSON. PLEASE CONSULT THE WINTER WEATHER HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND BITTER COLD TEMPERATURES MAY ALLOW WIND CHILL VALUES TO DROP TO NEAR ZERO TONIGHT OVER PORTIONS OF THE MIDSOUTH. A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE COMBINATION OF LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TO THE MID TEENS AND LIGHT WINDS MAY ALLOW WIND CHILL VALUES TO DROP TO NEAR ZERO AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...IT IS ENCOURAGED THAT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS BE REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN MEMPHIS. KRM
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
12 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Storm, St. Francis
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- St. Francis forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.022, -90.748 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Three to seven inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm, Lee
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Lee forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 34.781, -90.782 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Seven to eight inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm, Phillips
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Phillips forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 34.428, -90.848 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Seven to eight inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm, Crittenden
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Crittenden forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.208, -90.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two to six inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm, Lawrence
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Lawrence forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.041, -91.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two to five inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm, Clay
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Clay forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.368, -90.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two to five inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm, Cross
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Cross forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.296, -90.771 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two to five inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm, Poinsett
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Poinsett forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.574, -90.663 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two to three inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm, Mississippi
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Mississippi forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.764, -90.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two to three inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm, Craighead
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Craighead forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.831, -90.633 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
One to three inches fell across the county.
Winter Storm, Greene
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Greene forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.118, -90.559 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
One to three inches fell across the county.
What these are
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Tennessee, February 9, 2011
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 9 to 10, 2011
- Winter Weather in Illinois, February 9, 2011
- Heavy Snow in Mississippi, February 9 to 10, 2011
- Cold in New Mexico, February 9, 2011
- Heavy Snow in Arkansas, February 9, 2011
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 9 to 10, 2011
- Heavy Snow in Louisiana, February 9, 2011
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Georgia, February 9 to 10, 2011
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, February 9 to 10, 2011
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Missouri, February 9, 2011
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Arkansas, February 9 to 10, 2011
More
Every storm in Arkansas in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 287215, 287216, 287217, 287218, 287219, 287220, 287221, 287222, 287223, 287224, 287225, 287226.