Another winter storm expected in state’s NW

A sunny day Monday helped melt Sunday’s snowfall from roadways in west and northwest Arkansas but officials were uncertain about another weather system that threatens to bring sleet and freezing rain today.

“It’s been a really difficult winter. I hope it starts to turn our way,” said Danny Short, chief of staff for Washington County Judge Marilyn Edwards.

The National Weather Service forecast occasional freezing rain and sleet before noon today with chances of sleet or snow in the afternoon and diminishing to drizzle in the late afternoon. High temperatures are expected to be at or just above freezing.

Meteorologist Mark Plate in the National Weather Service office in Tulsa said he did not believe ice accumulations will be enough to weigh down trees or bring down power lines.

“This will not be a major ice storm,” he said.

Still, city, county and state road departments throughout the area had crews on standby to plow and treat roads when they become icy or snow covered

Snow removal equipment was being staged in strategic locations, salt, sand and gravel chips were being stockpiled for spreading on roads and crews were on stand-by to swing into action when needed.

Some officials were beginning to worry there could be a shortage of salt to put on the roads, said Steve Lawrence, district engineer for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department’s District 9, which takes in the northwest edge of the state.

The severe winter weather throughout the United States this year has increased the demand for salt and salt has become unavailable from some suppliers.

He said he normally has 5,000 yards of salt on hand for his district’s winter needs but is now down to 3,500 yards with two winter weather systems expected to move into the state this week.

Lawrence said he is having to consider curtailing the use of salt on some lesser traveled highways in the district if his supply falls short. But he also said he hopes that salt put down on the main highways in the district Sunday will remain on the roads to help melt any new snow or ice that hits them and stretch his dwindling supply.

Highway department spokesman Danny Straesslesaid Monday that the state still has a good supply of salt on hand despite the high demand nationwide. If a particular district runs low because of an extended winter storm, salt from a district that is not affected by the storm can be transferred where needed, he said.

Sunday’s snow storm dumped varying amounts on the area. The area that got the highest amount, according to the weather service, was six inches three miles east of Lincoln in Washington County.

In other areas, Rogers got 5.7 inches, Elkins received 5.5 inches, Fayetteville got five inches, Fort Smith got four inches, Van Buren and Springdale reported receiving three inches and Lowell got two inches.

Franklin County Office of Emergency Management coordinator Fred Mullen said Monday that the county receivedthree inches of snow.

Church and the Super Bowl temporarily hampered snow cleanup efforts Sunday, highway department District 4 engineer Chad Adams in Fort Smith said. The snow began falling about 9 a.m. and by noon, when worshipers from many church services were heading home, snow removal crews were just beginning to take to the streets. Football fans on their way to Super Bowl watch parties later Sunday afternoon caused snow crews and motorists to compete for the streets.

Adams and others urged motorists to refrain from getting out on the snowy or icy roads.

“Use your personal responsibility on getting out in these conditions,” he said.

The Arkansas State Police in Springdale said 22 accidents, all minor, were reported Sunday and Monday in the four-county Troop L district of Northwest Arkansas with 30 being reported in the five-county Troop H district based in Fort Smith.

The state police reported one fatality Sunday in Marion County. According to an accident report, Thomas Seay, 89, of Harriet was driving a 1999 Chevrolet south on Arkansas 14 at the Buffalo River Bridge at 1:10 p.m. when he lost control on the snow covered road, crossed the center line and collided head on with a 2012 GMC vehicle driven by Amanda Patterson, 39, of Garfield. Patterson was not hurt in the accident, the report stated.

The heavy snow prompted school officials throughout northwest and western Arkansas to cancel classes Monday. The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville opened its campus at 12:30 p.m. Monday.

School officials had not decided Monday whether to cancel classes today. Rick Schaeffer, spokesman for Springdale schools, said Monday that officials don’t make decisions on closing schools based on what the weather might be.

He said because of the amount of school that students have missed so far this year, “every effort will be made” to hold classes today.

Front Section, Pages 1 on 02/04/2014

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