A blast of arctic air moved into Arkansas on Sunday into Monday, sending temperatures plunging in many places into the single digits and bringing wind chills below zero.
The National Weather Service in Little Rock warned that the dangerously-low temperatures could lead to frost bite or hypothermia.
"If you must venture outdoors, make sure you wear a hat and gloves," the agency said in a statement early Monday.
The weather service in Little Rock extended a wind chill advisory for much of central Arkansas through 6 a.m. Tuesday. It said wind chills through that time could hover between minus 5 and minus 15.
By 6 a.m. Monday, the whole state was dealing with extreme cold. In Little Rock, it was 13 degrees with a wind chill of zero. Farther north, Fayetteville and Harrison had temperatures of just 1 degree with wind chills of minus 15 and minus 17 respectively, the weather service reported.
A number of schools canceled class in Northwest Arkansas, including the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. UA said on its website that the cancellation was due to "hazardous road conditions and historically low temperatures."
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department on Monday showed some slick conditions over highways in Northwest and north-central Arkansas after wintry weather there Sunday.
It was a little warmer farther south, but not by much. El Dorado at 6 a.m. was 16 degrees with a wind chill of 7.
In Little Rock, a high of only 19 degrees is forecast Monday, with the temperatures expected to dip back into the single digits overnight into Tuesday.
IN THE NATION
- http://www.arkansas…">Extreme cold gripping U.S. to set records