01/09/2025
Looks like we may get some actual accumulation this time. Stay safe out there.
Enjoy the snow, take the kids sledding, build the snowman, have snowball fights, build a fire in your fireplace and enjoy the peaceful quiet that the snow brings.
10pm UPDATED SNOW MAP:
Folks, this system appears to be in the process of strengthening a little more and reaching a little closer to it's full potential.
So, given the data that's come in so far, it seems reasonable to increase snow totals across the board. This will be a BIG TIME event for Arkansas as whole, and for a large section of Oklahoma. Our area will be in the thick of it. Highest totals still look to be S of Ft. Smith. But, a pretty thick layer of snow now seems more likely in NWA as well (below snow map could still require future edits).
4-7" amounts seem pretty likely across all of NWA now, isolated higher totals can't be entirely ruled out.
6-9" totals now look possible across the River Valley, and totals in the 8-10" range now look likely S of Ft. Smith.
This could be a crippling amount of snow, particularly for rural areas. But, even within urban corridors, very tough. Helps that it will be largely all snow for our area (a little sleet may mix in early on, along with some graupel, but, mostly snow). But, of course, cold ground temps will allow for very quick accumulation once things start.
Still looks like snow arrives in the River Valley first, in the morning, between 8am-noon. Then it gets into NWA between 1pm & 4pm (a touch earlier than prior forecasts, given the first burst of moisture now looks a little more impressive due to this system's strengthening, overpowering the dry air a little faster).
We all know driving around in such conditions is potentially dangerous. But, some of us have work! I do! Just be as careful as possible, give road crews the best opportunity to do their job. And try to enjoy it from home.
