Winter Storm in Arkansas, February 2 to 4, 2022

Name: Winter Storm in Arkansas, February 2 to 4, 2022
Start: 2022-02-02T18:00
End: 2022-02-04T08:00
Location: Arkansas

February 2 to 4, 2022 · NWS TSA · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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Wind
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Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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 TSA wrote it up.

Arctic air spread into the region during the evening of the 1st through the morning of the 2nd, as a strong upper level disturbance translated from the Pacific Northwest into the Southern Rockies. Light wintry precipitation developed across northwestern Arkansas during the morning hours of the 2nd, as this system approached, with light freezing rain and light sleet. Patchy freezing drizzle developed during the day of the 2nd, with more widespread precipitation developing across the area during the afternoon and evening. The precipitation continued through the morning of the 3rd. Heavy amounts of ice occurred across west-central Arkansas, where up to a half inch of glaze occurred, with heavy snow falling across much of northwest Arkansas, where up to eight inches of snow fell. There was a swath between the heavy snow and heavy ice that received heavy amounts of sleet up to one and a half inches, with some ice and snow. A final round of snow developed into northwestern Arkansas during the evening of the 3rd, and that produced another one to three inches of snow through the early morning hours of the 4th. Storm total snowfall amounts were generally four to eight inches across much of northwestern Arkansas, with locally up to twelve inches 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 Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 2, 5:28 PM CST, 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 2, 5:28 PM CST, 32 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
528 PM CST Wed Feb 2 2022

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Through tonight )
Issued at 214 PM CST Wed Feb 2 2022

Cold air continues to deepen across the forecast area with 1953z
ACARS sounding at KTUL sampling a very small warm nose area while
the 18z KOUN sounding sampled a persist but shallow warm layer
which has gradually eroded over the past 6hrs. This trend is
generally handled well within short term guidance, however any
small modeling errors within this warm layer complicates precip
type forecasts. The sfc freezing line currently extents from far
SE OK into west central AR and has slowed its southward progression
this afternoon. A more substantial push southward is expected
this evening and likely faster than short term guidance suggests
given observed trends earlier today. Precip continues to expand
across north TX with periodic lightning detected supportive of
modeled trends of a broad region of heavier precip rates. This
precip will expand north and eastward overnight interacting with
the aforementioned warm layer to produce the entire range of
winter precip types across the forecast area. A corridor of heavy
snow is likely across NE OK into far NW AR with gusty winds
combining to produce near blizzard conditions overnight. Further
south a transition to sleet and eventually freezing rain is
expected with significant and likely damaging ice accumulations
expected into portions of far southeast Oklahoma. The forecast ice
accumulations along with gusty winds will stress the local power
grid and power outages should be anticipated across southeast
Oklahoma. Precip will begin to taper off from west to east later
tonight but measurable amounts will linger into Thursday for many
locations.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tomorrow through Wednesday)
Issued at 214 PM CST Wed Feb 2 2022

A final transition to all snow will occur as precip ends from west
to east by early Thursday afternoon. A secondary area of light
snow will likely develop by mid to late afternoon and track across
the region before diminishing late Thursday night. Precip amounts
will be light however thermal profiles will be very cold and high
ratios will allow even light liquid amounts to yield an additional
one half to one inch of snow across portions of the area before
the snow diminishes. Very cold temperatures will continue and
forecast wind chills ranging from minus 5 degrees to 10 degrees
will be common by Friday morning.

The forecast remains dry from Friday into mid next week.
Temperatures will be largely influenced by the snow/sleet cover
and adjustments downward in temps were made, however the extent
and duration of this cooling influence will be revised in later
forecasts. Eventually a sustained warming trend is expected with
temps above normal by mid next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 525 PM CST Wed Feb 2 2022

IFR with occasional LIFR conditions expected through the night
with areas of mostly snow and sleet. Some improvement possible
tomorrow morning as the primary area of snow shifts east, although
additional light snow likely into the afternoon.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TUL   14  22  11  29 / 100  60  30   0
FSM   20  24  18  34 / 100  80  20   0
MLC   16  22  15  31 / 100  70  30   0
BVO   11  20   5  30 / 100  50  30   0
FYV   13  21  11  30 / 100  80  30   0
BYV   13  21  10  31 / 100  80  30   0
MKO   15  22  13  29 / 100  70  30   0
MIO   12  22   7  28 / 100  70  30   0
F10   14  21  12  30 / 100  70  40   0
HHW   22  24  18  33 / 100  90  20   0

&&

.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST Thursday night for
     OKZ049-053>076.

AR...Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST Thursday night for
     ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029.

&&

SHORT TERM...07
LONG TERM....07
AVIATION...18

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 2, 5:08 PM CST, 52 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
508 PM CST Wed Feb 2 2022

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-031145-
Adair OK-Benton AR-Carroll AR-Cherokee OK-Choctaw OK-Craig OK-
Crawford AR-Creek OK-Delaware OK-Franklin AR-Haskell OK-Latimer OK-
Le Flore OK-Madison AR-Mayes OK-McIntosh OK-Muskogee OK-Nowata OK-
Okfuskee OK-Okmulgee OK-Osage OK-Ottawa OK-Pawnee OK-Pittsburg OK-
Pushmataha OK-Rogers OK-Sebastian AR-Sequoyah OK-Tulsa OK-Wagoner OK-
Washington OK-Washington AR-
508 PM CST Wed Feb 2 2022

...Significant Winter Weather Impacts Through Friday...

This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as
much of Eastern Oklahoma.

.DAY ONE...This Evening and Tonight.

WINTER WEATHER.
	SNOW ACCUMULATION.
	RISK...Elevated.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas.
	ONSET...Ongoing.

	Additional Accumulations Thursday and Thursday Night.

	ICE ACCUMULATION.
	RISK...Significant.
	AREA...Southeast Oklahoma into West Central Arkansas.
	ONSET...Ongoing.

	WIND CHILL.
	RISK...Elevated.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.
	ONSET...Ongoing.

SIGNIFICANT WINDS.
	RISK...Limited.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.
	ONSET...Ongoing.

DISCUSSION...
Widespread wintry precipitation will continue to spread across
eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas this evening and continue
overnight tonight as a significant winter storm moves through the
region. Snow and sleet becoming all snow is expected across much
of eastern Oklahoma and far northwest Arkansas. Across far
southeast Oklahoma into west central Arkansas, a mix of freezing
rain and sleet is expected into the overnight hours before
transitioning over to snow and sleet early Thursday morning.

Significant accumulations of snow, sleet and ice are anticipated
during this time. The transition line is expected across
southeast Oklahoma into west central Arkansas. Locations near
this transition will see significant amounts of ice accumulation
into the overnight hours. Meanwhile, moderate to heavy snow will
move over northeast Oklahoma and far northwest Arkansas. Snowfall
rates of 1 inch per hour will be common with rates briefly
reaching 2 inches per hour at times. You can find information in
regards to snow and ice totals on our web page.

Dangerous wind chills are also expected tonight into early
Thursday morning as northerly winds gust 20 to 35 miles per hour
and temperatures drop into the lower teens. Wind chills, as a
result, are expected to be single digits for most locations along
and south of Interstate 40. Locations along and north of
Interstate 40, wind chills between zero and 10 degrees below zero
are forecast.

SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
Spotter Activation Not Expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.
THURSDAY...Winter Weather Potential...High Wind
		   Potential...Dangerous Wind Chill Potential.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...Dangerous Wind Chill Potential.
SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...No Hazards.

EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
Light snow will continue into Thursday morning with minor
accumulations possible across the area. Another round of snow
will be possible across portions of the area Thursday night into
Friday morning. Dangerous wind chills will once again impact the
area Friday morning with most locations across northeast Oklahoma
and far northwest Arkansas dropping into the range of around 5
degrees below zero to single digits above zero. Saturday morning
will also be very cold with air temperatures dropping into the
single digits thanks to clearing skies and light winds. Wind
chills may be just below zero in parts of northeast Oklahoma and
far northwest Arkansas.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING STATEMENT...
Travel is expected to become hazardous tonight into Thursday.
Power outages are possible, especially across southeast Oklahoma
into western Arkansas where the heaviest ice accumulations are
expected.

weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 2, 3:07 PM CST, 2 hours 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
307 PM CST WED FEB 2 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 AM     SNOW             5 S BARTLESVILLE        36.68N 95.99W
02/02/2022  M0.2 INCH        WASHINGTON         OK   COCORAHS

            COCORAHS STATION OK-WS-4 OCHELATA 5.6 N.

0700 AM     SNOW             2 WNW BARTLESVILLE      36.76N 96.02W
02/02/2022  M0.1 INCH        OSAGE              OK   CO-OP OBSERVER

            CO-OP OBSERVER STATION BVOO2 2.2 W
            BARTLESVILLE.

0700 AM     SNOW             3 SSE PRYOR             36.27N 95.30W
02/02/2022  M0.1 INCH        MAYES              OK   COCORAHS

            COCORAHS STATION OK-MY-10 PRYOR 2.2 SE.

&&

Local storm report, Feb 2, 5:27 PM CST, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
527 PM CST WED FEB 2 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0423 PM     SNOW             5 NW TULSA              36.17N 96.00W
02/02/2022  U0.1 INCH        TULSA              OK   PUBLIC

&&

Local storm report, Feb 2, 5:28 PM CST, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
528 PM CST WED FEB 2 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0523 PM     FREEZING RAIN    1 W WILBURTON           34.92N 95.32W
02/02/2022  E0.01 INCH       LATIMER            OK   PUBLIC

&&

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Washington

When: February 2, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 35.979, -94.216 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Crawford

When: February 2, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Winter Storm, Benton

When: February 2, 7:00 PM CST to February 4, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 36.339, -94.256 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Carroll

When: February 2, 7:00 PM CST to February 4, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 36.341, -93.538 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Madison

When: February 2, 7:00 PM CST to February 4, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 36.011, -93.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Franklin

When: February 2, 7:00 PM CST to February 4, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Winter Storm, Sebastian

When: February 2, 7:00 PM CST to February 4, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Sebastian forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

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

Every storm in Arkansas in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Arkansas, February 2022

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: 1006240, 1006242, 1006238, 1006239, 1006241, 1006243, 1006244.