LITTLE ROCK — Up to a foot of snow was forecast Monday for parts of northern Arkansas as wintery precipitation fell over more than half of the state, clogging roads and resulting in a round of school closings.
Roads were slushy and bridges were icy over much of Arkansas, and a winter storm warning was posted for the northern third of the state. A band of central Arkansas counties including Pulaski, Saline and Garland, was under a winter weather advisory.
Central Arkansas, including Little Rock, was in the “transition zone,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Smith said. Little Rock residents awoke to an inch or more of snow and another two to four inches were in the forecast through Monday night.
Some freezing rain fell in central Arkansas but it wasn’t expected to last, Smith said.
“There’s probably a lot of sleet in that. As it gets in the colder air, it’ll mostly fall as sleet,” Smith said.
Hot Springs had a mix of rain and snow Monday morning. Rain was possible in Little Rock, but Smith said it looked like rain would be minimal.
“I would think it would mostly be sleet or snow, Smith said.
Between eight and 10 inches of snow was forecast in northern Arkansas.
Authorities reported numerous traffic accidents, but no serious injuries. Interstate 40 eastbound into Little Rock was tied up for a time, as were other routes in and around the capital, where roads were slushy.
No serious injuries were initially reported.
Gov. Mike Beebe put the state’s inclement weather policy into effect, giving state workers an extra two hours to get to their offices. The Arkansas General Assembly was to convene at noon for a fiscal session to determine the state budget for the coming year. Legislative events were to proceed without delay.
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