While some snow and ice melted from Northwest Arkansas streets Saturday, residents can expect roads to refreeze overnight for the next couple days.
Pete Snyder, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Okla., said temperatures aren’t expected to reach freezing until Tuesday.
“The snow you had was very dry with a low water content,” he said. “The amount of snow on the ground will decrease pretty rapidly because of compacting. There’s not going to be a fast meltoff until maybe Wednesday when it’s sunny and 39 degrees.”
Snyder said drivers should beware of black ice, which is a thin layer of ice that forms when water refreezes on roads overnight.
Residents can expect a chance of freezing drizzle this morning with no accumulation. Temperatures will reach near freezing today before dropping down to about 23 degrees overnight. On Monday, the high will be 31 degrees.
Terry Nalley, Benton County’s administrator of public services, said crews continue working to sand and salt roads. Nalley said they pulled the plows because the snow is so hard and packed with ice.
“We are putting out sand and salt and hopefully the sun will do a little work,” Nalley said.
Nalley said he’s not sure they’ll have county roads clear of ice by Monday, but crews are working toward that goal.
Terry Gulley, Fayetteville transportation director, said crews will continue to work today to clear primary and secondary streets.
He said roads were slicker Saturday because of refreezing. Gulley said he expects similar street conditions today.
“We’re treating the streets with salt brine and grit; and we’re starting to plow,” he sad. “We’ve gotten off some of the main streets and into some main residential areas, but we’re nowhere near getting into every street. We’re having a hard time getting it to melt because it’s so cold.”
Frankie Guyll, Rogers street superintendent, said crews have plowed and treated main streets and many secondary roads.
“They’re slick, but passable,” he said. “We’ve put out everything we have.”
Guyll said the streets are covered with three-quarters of an inch packed snow and ice.
“The snow is so hard we can’t chisel it loose,” he said.
Brenda DeShields, Benton County’s circuit clerk, had to cancel jury orientation Friday because the courthouse was closed. The orientation was moved to Dec. 13 and people will appear at the original times, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The orientation is held in Circuit Judge Robin Green’s courtroom at the Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville.
No weather-related power outages were reported across Northwest Arkansas Friday or Saturday, according to AEP-Southwest Electric Power Company and Ozarks Electric Cooperative.
“We feel like we’re in the clear now because there’s not a lot of build up on trees and lines,” said Penny Storms of Ozarks Electric Cooperative. “The next round that’s supposed to come through tomorrow isn’t supposed to be severe.”
Area first-responders continued to work several minor accidents Friday and Saturday.
Kelly Cantrell of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said deputies worked 25 accidents Thursday, Friday and Saturday. No major injuries were reported. Deputies also assisted 18 stranded motorists Saturday and were called to seven weather-related traffic complaints.
Keshia Guyll of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said there were no major accidents and deputies assisted pulling some people out of ditches.
Guyll said the middle of the roof to the Buss Stop in Garfield collapsed Friday. She said the owner requested deputies do extra patrols to ensure no looting happens.
Robert McGowen, Benton County emergency management director, said the roof collapse was likely caused by snow.
Officers in Springdale, Rogers and Fayetteville didn’t work any serious accidents overnight Friday or Saturday afternoon.
“We’ve had a handful of stalled vehicles, but the roads are getting better,” said Derek Wright, a sergeant with the Springdale Police Department.
John Luther, Washington County emergency management director, said he went to a car fire near Wedington Woods on Friday night, but no one was injured. Luther said a driver overheated his car while trying to get “unstuck” from the snow.
“Other than people getting stuck on the side of the road, there haven’t been any major incidents or fires related to the weather,” he said. “It’s going to continue to get cold and people need to be diligent.”
Luther said drivers should stay off the roads over the weekend as much as possible.
“I know cabin fever may start to set in, but we encourage people not to drive unless it’s absolutely necessary,” he said. “If we get some melting, it will refreeze and there will be lots of ice.”