Cool July air sets records across state

Many Arkansans are turning off their air conditioners and opening windows in the evenings to let the cool air inside.

In July.

At least 13 Arkansas cities set record low temperatures Tuesday, and the mercury is expected to climb only to the upper 80s in most of the state Thursday - usually a time when triple digits are common.

“When you think of the Fourth of July, you think of it being hot and dry,” said Darriel Knapp, owner of the One Stop convenience store in Prim on the northern edge of Cleburne County.“This year, I love it. Everybody is talking about how cool it is.”

In nearby Mountain View, the 56-degree low Tuesday set the Stone County town’s lowest temperature for July 2 since 1962 when weather records were first tallied there. Calico Rock’s 53 degrees broke the previous low record of 57 degrees set in 1950. Little Rock’s 59 degrees broke a 28-year-old record and Stuttgart’s 62 degrees broke its record low set in 1995.

Fayetteville saw the coldest reading in the state Tuesday morning with 52 degrees. That broke the Washington County town’s previous July 2 record of 57 degrees set in 1985.

“People are saying it’s actually kind of chilly today,” said Noel Ward, manager of the Harps Food Store in Fayetteville. “It’s a lot more pleasant this year than the last few years.”

A year ago on July 2, temperatures were much higher as the state was mired in a drought.

Fayetteville reached 99 degrees on July 2, 2012, North Little Rock saw 101 degrees then, Batesville climbed to 104 degrees and Russellville - which was in the middle of a 15-day stretch of 100-degree or above days - reached 105 degrees.

It was so hot two years ago that Ward made ruts in the asphalt at her store when she drove a forklift across a loading area. “I was worried I ruined it,” she said. “But I was able to step on the ruts and push them back in. The asphalt was so soft from the heat.”

This year’s temperatures are 8 to 15 degrees cooler than the average for July 2, according to the National Weather Service. Fayetteville’s 52 degrees was a far cry from the average low of 68.4 degrees for the day and Cabot’s 58 degrees Tuesday was 10 degrees below average.

“The record lows were scattered throughout the state today,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Smith of North Little Rock. “There’s not just one area.”

Arkansas’ cool weather is caused by a strong upper level low-pressure system to the north. That system, which is also causing record high temperatures in the southwest part of the country, is bringing cool northern air into the state, he said.

Combine that with the springtime rains that soaked much of the state, and temperatures have remained somewhat cooler than normal for much of the year.

“This should last for a few more days,” Smith said of the pleasant weather.

A gradual warming trend will approach by the end of the week, but forecasted rainfall could keep temperatures still in the mid 90s into next week, he said.

The cool temperatures are a welcome reprieve for Fourth of July revelers.

Ward said she’s seen an increase in sales at her Harps Food Store on West Mountain Street in Fayetteville over last year at this time. People tended to forgo outdoor activities, such as picnics and fireworks viewing, last year because of the heat.

“It’s been a lot more this year,” she said of sales. “People are buying the typical things - charcoal, lighter fluid, meat.”

Oddly, ice sales have also picked up during the cool snap, said Wayne Sanders, owner of Spa City Ice in Hot Springs National Park.

“This is our biggest week,” he said. “We’ve been very busy. Once it gets over 100 degrees, people won’t get out and they don’t need ice.”

Sales of fireworks have skyrocketed this year as well.

Last year, 69 of the state’s 75 counties were under burn bans because of the dry conditions. Several cities and counties also prohibited fireworks, fearing fires could start easily.

This year, no county is under a burn ban.

The Arkansas Forestry Commission classified 16 counties in central and southeastern Arkansas as “moderate” for wildfire danger. The other 59 counties were deemed as “low” danger.

“It’s been great this year,” Lela Hawks, officer manager of A-1 Fireworks in Ola, said of firecracker sales.

“We’re selling everything from little sparklers to artillery shells,” she said. “We’ve had a lot more sales than the previous year. I guess people are trying to make up for missing last year.”

Front Section, Pages 1 on 07/03/2013

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