Snow fell in the north and west mainly in the higher elevations.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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 LZK wrote it up.
Snow fell in the north and west mainly in the higher elevations.
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 Dec 13, 5:06 AM CST, 5 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 506 AM CST Sun Dec 13 2020 .DISCUSSION... Updated to include the 12Z aviation discussion below... && .AVIATION... Expect CIGS to remain MVFR at the NRN terminals this morning...with other sites seeing VFR CIGs initially. However...as precip lifts NE...these conditions will decrease considerably throughout the day. Initially...some rain/sleet mix could be seen...then expect mainly rain all day for all but the NRN terminals. A wintry mix will be seen by later this morning and especially this afternoon at the NRN terminals as colder air moves in. A mix may be seen briefly at the central sites this evening into the early overnight hrs. By after midnight and especially the end of this TAF period...expect improving conditions for most if not all terminals. && .PREV DISCUSSION...(ISSUED 238 AM CST Sun Dec 13 2020) SHORT TERM...Today Through Monday Night The primary forecast concern in the short term period will the potential for significant winter weather for portions of the CWA today and tonight... An upper level shortwave trough is dropping SE from the Four-Corners region of the SW CONUS into the TX Panhandle region of the SRN Plains this morning...with SFC low pressure developing SW of AR over central TX. This positively tilted trough will shift east towards AR by this afternoon...becoming more neutrally tilted to slightly negatively tilted by tonight into early Mon morning. As this happens...the SFC low will translate east...south of AR...gradually strengthening by the time this SFC low is SE of AR. Moisture will surge north up and over the cool dry air in place over AR throughout the day...with precip developing across NWRN and extreme WRN portions of the CWA by noon. This precip will spread further east by this afternoon...then gradually exit the state by late tonight into early Mon morning. Over NWRN/WRN portions of the CWA...precip may start off a wintry mix in the morning due to the moisture falling into dry air near the SFC before the vertical thermal profile cools sufficiently to see all snow. This transition to all snow could happen as early as late morning for the NWRN counties...and a bit later across the west. Expect the rain/mix to snow transition to slowly shift east across the Ozarks during the afternoon hrs. Further south...expect all rain for most...if not all of this event. However...there will be some potential for a brief wintry mix late this evening into the early morning hrs on Mon before the precip exits. The confidence in the overall strength...and placement of the synoptic scale features seems reasonably high as of early this morning. What has been a bit more uncertain has been the SFC temps and to some lesser extent the vertical thermal profile. Some of these uncertainties are becoming more clear as of this morning...at least for portions of the CWA. Comparing recent forecasts with the observed SFC temps in the past several hrs suggest the cooler solutions may be on to something...at least with the near-term guidance (HRRR/RAP and to some extent the NAM/NAMNest) as they have been better at resolving the colder observed temps early this Mon morning compared the larger scale model guidance (ECMWF/GFS). So...have biased the SFC temp/vertical profile forecast blend for precip type on these near-term guidance a bit more than yesterday's forecast. As a result...the latest near-term forecast guidance is continuing to suggest confidence in accumulating snowfall in the higher terrain of the Ozarks in our NWRN CWA...or generally within the current Winter Wx Adv region. SREF Ensemble data...along with model certainty guidance within AWIPS comparing multiple forecast guidance solutions...have been focusing on increased snowfall accumulations in the last few runs in this area. As a result...this latest guidance has increased the confidence is higher snowfall totals than in previous forecasts for those far NWRN counties in the highest terrain. So...have bumped snowfall forecasts storm totals from 1 to 4 inches...to 3 to 6 inches for Boone and Newton counties...with locally higher amounts possible (some ensemble members are suggesting amounts exceeding 6 inches for some locations). The highest amounts look to remain SW of HRO in the SWRN portion of Boone Co...and a good portion of Newton Co. As a result...have upgraded the Winter Wx Adv to a Winter Storm Warning for these two counties. The same data has also shown increased potential for some Adv level snowfall further east of the current Adv later on Sun evening. Have added some counties further east to the Winter Wx Adv as a result. There is still concern for accumulating snowfall in the higher terrain of the Ouachita Mountains of WRN AR...but the coverage of snowfall exceeding 1 inch should be more isolated in nature. As a result...have not posted any Winter Wx headlines in these areas for now. Even so...expect some impacts in the higher terrain of the Ouachitas. As for central AR...confidence remains fairly low for seeing any impactful wintry wx. However...wouldn't be surprised to see some wintry precip in the form of a rain/sleet/snow mix...with maybe a brief window of all snow right before the moisture exits to the east. At this time though...temps should remain above freezing most of the time...at least until the moisture exits and clouds clear by sunrise Mon. As a result...no impacts are expected in central to SRN/SERN AR...and with more isolated impacts for WRN AR. Keep in mind this forecast can still change for much of the area due to any variation in SFC temps and minor differences in vertical temp profiles that can occur. With temps starting off above freezing...evaporative cooling and snowfall rates will be crucial in seeing the heavier snowfall and resulting impacts. If sufficient cooling doesn't happen...or the snowfall rates are not significant enough...snowfall accumulations will decrease. The opposite will also be possible...with snowfall amounts possibly higher than forecast. This storm system will exit the region to the east during the daytime on Mon...with a dry forecast expect Mon and Mon night. LONG TERM...Tuesday Through Saturday No sig chgs were made to the going fcst later this week. Progressive upr lvl wl bring several storm systems/reinforcing shots of colder air to the FA. The first system wl move acrs the Mid-South later Tue into Wed, with small precip chcs accompanying this feature. Most of the precip wl be rain, but as CAA takes place Tue ngt, the rain wl mix with snow, eventually ending late as light snow acrs the NW half of the FA. As for now, is still looks like N AR could see up to half an inch of snow. Benign weather conds return Wed as high pres settles into the region. Temps wl sloly moderate by late in the week as the high shifts to the E and S/SE sfc winds return. Yet another storm sys wl apch fm the W later Fri, with precip chances returning for the start of next weekend. && .LZK Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Winter Weather Advisory from 9 AM this morning to midnight CST tonight FOR Baxter-Johnson-Marion-Pope-Searcy-Stone-Van Buren. Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 3 AM CST Monday FOR Cleburne-Fulton-Independence-Izard-Sharp. Winter Storm Warning from 9 AM this morning to midnight CST tonight FOR Boone-Newton. && Aviation...62
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Little Rock AR 316 AM CST Sun Dec 13 2020 ARZ003>008-012>017-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-141100- Boone-Marion-Baxter-Fulton-Sharp-Randolph-Newton-Searcy-Stone- Izard-Independence-Lawrence-Johnson-Pope-Van Buren-Cleburne- Jackson-Logan-Conway-Faulkner-White-Woodruff-Scott-Yell-Perry- Polk-Montgomery-Garland-Saline-Pulaski-Lonoke-Prairie-Monroe-Pike- Clark-Hot Spring-Grant-Jefferson-Arkansas-Dallas-Cleveland- Lincoln-Desha-Ouachita-Calhoun-Bradley-Drew- 316 AM CST Sun Dec 13 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Accumulating snowfall is expected for portions of northern and portions of western Arkansas through tonight. The latest data indicates snowfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches are expected from midday into early this evening...with the best chances for seeing the heaviest snow will be in the higher terrain of Boone and Newton counties. These areas could see locally higher amounts exceeding 6 inches. Elsewhere in the northern half of the area...snowfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected...with locally higher amounts possible. The higher terrain of the western Arkansas Ouachita Mountains could also see some accumulating snowfall...with snowfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches forecast...along with locally higher amounts possible. However...these areas will see more limited impacts due to the higher snowfall amounts being more isolated. Hazardous travel conditions will be possible as a result of this wintry weather...especially where the heaviest accumulations are forecast. Once the wintry weather ends tonight...temperatures will drop below freezing...with any melted snow expected to refreeze. This forecast does still remain somewhat uncertain though...with changes in the forecast snowfall accumulations possible. There could also be some lighter wintry weather further south and east...and in lower terrain this evening into the overnight hours. However...the confidence for seeing travel impacts in these areas is lower. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday Through Saturday Another storm system will bring some light snow to portions of the area late Tuesday into Tuesday night. Parts of north Arkansas could see a light dusting of snow before ending. However...no major impacts are expected at this time but later forecasts should be monitored. .Spotter Information Statement... Reports of snowfall accumulations will be appreciated. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk. 62/44
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
15 winter weather, 2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The NWS office in NLR measured 0.1 inches of snow.
The CoCoRaHS station at AR-NW-13 Jasper 3.8 SE measured 5.1 inches of snow.
An estimated 2.5 inches of snow was observed in Ohama.
An estimated 2.5 inches of snow was observed in Lakeview.
An estimated 5.0 inches of snow was observed at Welcome Home.
Public estimated 1.0 inches of snow in Viola.
The CoCoRaHS station at AR-IZ-7 Melbourne 10.0 SW measured 0.1 inches of snow.
The CO-OP station at MTVA4 1.9 SE Mountain View measured 1.1 inches of snow.
Snowfall of 3.0 inches was measured 4 N Bryan via social media.
The CoCoRaHS station at AR-SH-19 Ash Flat 1.3 NE measured 0.3 inches of snow.
Park staff at Mount Magazine State Park measured 6.0 inches of snow.
Park staff at Queen Wilhelmina State Park estimated 2.0 inches of snow.
The CO-OP observer at BOGA4 Bogg Springs measured 2.0 inches of snow.
The CO-OP observer at OZOA4 OZone measured 2.0 inches of snow.
An estimated 2.0 inches of snow was observed at Mount Nebo.
The CoCoRaHS station at AR-CW-7 Morrilton 9.4 WSW measured 0.5 inches of snow.
An estimated 0.3 inches of snow was observed at Delight.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, December 2020
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: 933863, 931851, 933876, 933860, 933867, 933871, 933861, 933862, 933873, 933868, 933874, 933866, 933869, 933865, 933872, 933864, 933875.