Freezing rain continued into the early portion of February from a system that began in late January. Freezing rain ice accretion was most significant over portions of central and southern Arkansas.
Every event with a place to put it; 25 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.
Freezing rain continued into the early portion of February from a system that began in late January. Freezing rain ice accretion was most significant over portions of central and southern Arkansas.
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 Jan 31, 11:20 PM CST, 40 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Little Rock AR 1120 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Thursday) Issued at 255 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023 An ice storm warning will remain in effect for much of western, central, south-central, eastern, and northeast AR through Thurs afternoon. A winter weather advisory will remain in effect across northern AR through Tues evening, and through Thurs afternoon across far SE portions of the CWA. Winter precipitation types are being reported across much of the CWA this afternoon, with accumulating ice, snow, and sleet. This activity is expected to continue through late tonight, with a break in the precipitation through Wed afternoon. Accumulating ice amounts between one quarter to one half inch are possible across portions of west, central, and eastern AR through Thurs afternoon. Less than one inch of snow/sleet may accumulate across much of the forecast area, with greater chances of accumulating snow across northern AR. An ice storm warning will remain in effect across west-central-south-central-eastern-northeast AR through Thursday afternoon. This does not mean these areas will accumulate ice through this entire period. There is expected to be a lull in the precipitation late Tues night through early Wed afternoon, with the next round expected to occur between Wed afternoon through much of the day Thurs. Slightly warmer temperatures are forecast Wed, though highs will barely exceed freezing. Thurs will slightly warm as well, with low temperatures in the 20s to lower 30s by Thurs morning, and warming to the lower to mid 40s by Thurs afternoon. Warming temperatures through the day may mean higher sleet/snow totals, rather than freezing rain, which will lessen ice accum and its impacts. By late Thurs morning/early afternoon, mostly liquid rain and above freezing temperatures are forecast. The warmer temps and liquid rain will go a long way to melt any accumulated ice. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday Night through next Tuesday) Issued at 255 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023 The long-term forecast begins Thursday night with a complete changeover of all remaining precipitation (mainly across central and southern AR or from I-40 southward) to be rain. Temperatures will begin to rebound from hovering near freezing from earlier in the week to topping out on Friday afternoon in the low 40's statewide which will assist in melting any precipitation that has frozen onto surfaces and remains as well as keeping any additional ice accretion from occurring. Rain will be ending Friday morning as the sfc low moves off to the east of the CWA and a sfc area of high pressure builds into Texas. Throughout the weekend, dry weather will persist as a slight upper lvl ridge builds in across the Natural State ahead of the next upper lvl closed low which will be positioned over Arizona/New Mexico on Tuesday associated with the arrival of a cold front that will bring us our next opportunity for rain. As far as temperatures are considered over the long-term forecast period, this trend of slightly warmer high and low temperatures will continue through next Monday where high temperatures will be in the mid 50's to low 60's statewide. Our next opportunity at precipitation will be next Tuesday into Tuesday night. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1118 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023 MVFR/IFR conds are expected through the TAF cycle with periods of precip moving SW to NE across the state. Over Nrn sites, precip is expected to be in the form of PL/SN mix, while over Cntrl sites mainly -FZRA, and over Srn terminals a mix of -FZRA/-RA. Could be brief lull in precip activity in the morning near daybreak to near 16z/18z before precip returns. Winds will be out of the N at or below 15 knots through the period. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Batesville AR 27 23 33 29 / 80 20 10 60 Camden AR 33 30 34 32 / 80 60 60 90 Harrison AR 23 18 33 29 / 70 0 10 40 Hot Springs AR 30 28 33 31 / 90 40 60 90 Little Rock AR 30 27 32 30 / 80 40 40 90 Monticello AR 32 28 33 32 / 80 60 60 90 Mount Ida AR 30 27 34 32 / 90 30 50 90 Mountain Home AR 26 19 34 29 / 70 0 0 40 Newport AR 27 22 30 29 / 80 40 10 60 Pine Bluff AR 30 27 32 31 / 80 60 50 90 Russellville AR 30 25 34 31 / 80 10 20 70 Searcy AR 28 25 32 30 / 80 40 20 70 Stuttgart AR 29 26 32 30 / 80 60 40 80 && .LZK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Ice Storm Warning until noon CST Thursday for ARZ025-031>034-039- 042>047-052>057-062>069-137-140-141-237-238-240-241-340-341. && SHORT TERM...71 LONG TERM....234 AVIATION...70
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Little Rock AR 300 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023 ARZ004>008-014>017-024-025-031>034-039-042>047-052>057-062>069- 103-112-113-121>123-130-137-138-140-141-203-212-213-221>223-230- 237-238-240-241-313-340-341-011100- Marion-Baxter-Fulton-Sharp-Randolph-Stone-Izard-Independence- Lawrence-Cleburne-Jackson-Conway-Faulkner-White-Woodruff-Perry- Garland-Saline-Pulaski-Lonoke-Prairie-Monroe-Pike-Clark- Hot Spring-Grant-Jefferson-Arkansas-Dallas-Cleveland-Lincoln- Desha-Ouachita-Calhoun-Bradley-Drew-Boone County Except Southwest- Newton County Higher Elevations-Searcy County Lower Elevations- Southern Johnson County-Southern Pope County- Southeast Van Buren County-Western and Northern Logan County- Northern Scott County-Northwest Yell County- Polk County Lower Elevations- Central and Eastern Montgomery County- Boone County Higher Elevations-Newton County Lower Elevations- Northwest Searcy County Higher Elevations- Johnson County Higher Elevations-Pope County Higher Elevations- Van Buren County Higher Elevations- Southern and Eastern Logan County- Central and Southern Scott County-Yell Excluding Northwest- Northern Polk County Higher Elevations- Northern Montgomery County Higher Elevations- Eastern, Central, and Southern Searcy County Higher Elevations- Southeast Polk County Higher Elevations- Southwest Montgomery County Higher Elevations- 300 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for a Large Part of Arkansas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Wintry precipitation is occurring across much of the state this afternoon, with freezing rain reported across much of central and southern AR. Ice accumulating between one-quarter and one-half inch are expected for much of west, central, south-central, east, and northeast AR. An ice storm warning is in effect for these areas through Thursday afternoon. Lesser ice accumulations, along with snow/sleet accumulations, are forecast elsewhere in the state. Hazardous road conditions are expected for much of the day, especially by this afternoon and evening. Please stay off roads if possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday An additional round of wintry precipitation is possible Wednesday night into Thursday as another disturbance moves in from the west. Many areas could start out as freezing rain and/or sleet. However, as the freezing temperatures move northward Thursday, many areas could begin to change over to a cold rain. Because this is a complex winter weather situation, the forecast may change. Please continue to monitor the latest forecast concerning sleet and ice accumulations as well as potential impacts. .Spotter Information Statement... Spotter activation will not be needed. && Visit NWS Little Rock on the web. Go to http://weather.gov/lzk. 71/234
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
659 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM FREEZING RAIN HOT SPRINGS AIRPORT 34.48N 93.10W
01/31/2023 M0.07 INCH GARLAND AR ASOS
&&
TRSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
701 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM SLEET MARSHALL 35.91N 92.64W
01/31/2023 M0.6 INCH SEARCY AR PUBLIC
&&
72PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
702 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM FREEZING RAIN PINEBLUFF REGIONAL AIRP 34.17N 91.94W
01/31/2023 M0.11 INCH JEFFERSON AR ASOS
&&
TRSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
703 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM FREEZING RAIN MONTICELLO MUNICIPAL AI 33.64N 91.75W
01/31/2023 M0.18 INCH DREW AR ASOS
&&
TRSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
947 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0946 PM SLEET 2 NNE MOUNTAIN HOME 36.36N 92.37W
01/31/2023 E1.8 INCH BAXTER AR PUBLIC
&&
72PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1119 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM FREEZING RAIN 4 NNE PINE RIDGE 34.63N 93.88W
01/31/2023 E0.50 INCH MONTGOMERY AR CO-OP OBSERVER
NEARBY CO-OP OBSERVER REPORTS HEAVY ICING IN
THE HIGHER TERRAIN CAUSING PINE TREES TO
BREAK.
&&
TEJThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
22 ice storm, 3 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Freezing rain was estimated at 0.30 of an inch ice accretion in Cabot. Storm total dating back to late January was 0.40 of an inch ice accretion.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.30 of an inch ice accretion in Fordyce. Total ice accretion was measured at 0.40 of an inch.
A tree was down across Highway 229 due to the weight of freezing rain accumulation.
A tree was down across U.S. Highway 278, just east of State Highway 57, due to freezing rain.
Freezing rain was estimated at 0.25 of an inch ice accretion in Rison. Total ice accumulation was estimated at 0.50 of an inch at Rison.
A large tree fell onto a home near Kingsland, causing significant damage to the roof. The tree was brought down due to the weight of ice buildup on the tree. Additionally, another tree fee on a natural gas line with no significant impacts. Multiple trees and powerlines were down across several county roads due to ice accretion, these roads were impassable.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.35 of an inch ice accretion at Pine Bluff and White Hall. Storm total ice dating back to late January was 0.45 of an inch ice accretion.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.25 of an inch ice accretion in Gillett. Total ice accumulation was measured at 0.50 of an inch.
Trees and powerlines were down across Highway 169 due to the weight of freezing rain accumulation.
A power line was knocked down across Highway 278 in Warren due to the weight of freezing rain ice accretion.
Freezing rain was estimated at 0.25 of inch ice accretion in Sheridan. Storm total ice accretion was estimated at 0.50 of an inch.
Multiple county roads were blocked due to downed trees from the weight of freezing rain. A tree was also down across Highway 270 in Sheridan from ice accretion.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.25 of an inch ice accretion at the Monticello Airport. Storm total ice including what accumulated in late January amounted to 0.43 of an inch ice accretion.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.13 of an inch ice accretion in Delight.
Sleet was measured at 0.4 of an inch near Shady Grove.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.25 of an inch ice accretion at Gurdon. Storm total ice accretion was measured at 0.50 of an inch.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.25 of an inch ice accretion in Lono.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.25 of an inch ice accretion at the North Little Rock Airport. Storm total dating back to late January resulted in 0.50 inch total ice accretion.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.25 of an inch ice accretion near Springhill.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.25 of an inch at the Hot Springs National Park. Freezing rain storm total including late January ice amounts to 0.30 of an inch ice accretion.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.25 of an inch ice accretion near Pine Ridge. Total ice including ice from late January amounted to 0.50 of an inch ice accretion.
Freezing rain was estimated at 0.05 of an inch ice accretion in Mena. Storm total ice included from late January amounted to 0.30 of an inch ice accretion.
Freezing rain was estimated at 0.35 inch ice accretion near Vilonia.
Freezing rain was measured at 0.25 of an inch ice accretion near Big Fork. Storm total ice was measured at 0.30 of an inch ice accretion.
Multiple trees and powerlines were downed due to freezing rain from the Monticello to the Lincoln County line. Freezing rain also knocked a tree down across Highway 83.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, February 2023
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: 1080652, 1084186, 1084187, 1084173, 1084197, 1084198, 1080685, 1084199, 1084200, 1084174, 1084176, 1084178, 1080706, 1084170, 1080704, 1084171, 1084172, 1080647, 1080657, 1080672, 1080698, 1080700, 1080642, 1080702, 1080708.