Snow to blanket southern Missouri, northern Arkansas through midweek
By
Ryan Adamson, AccuWeather meteorologist
Updated Jan 7, 2021 4:39 PM EDT
The Denver and Buffalo zoos respectively released videos of animals within their premises either chilling out or happily playing in the snow during the winter season.
Snow began breaking out across parts of the central United States on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning in association with a ripple in the upper levels of the atmosphere. As a storm system will continue to gather steam into Thursday, snow is expected to spread southeastward and disrupt travel across parts of the Mississippi Valley. On the southern edge of the storm, rainfall and locally gusty thunderstorms could cause some issues.
In general, since temperatures were near or just above freezing and precipitation intensity was fairly light, snowfall totals in the Dakotas were 3 inches or less on Wednesday and Wednesday evening.
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Wednesday night, a disturbance moved through northeastern Texas and southern Arkansas. As colder air moved southward on the northern side of this system, rain changed to snow in cities such as Joplin, Missouri and Bentonville in far northwestern Arkansas. While temperatures were initially too high to support much in the way of snow accumulation in these cities, the air did get cold enough for accumulating snow in the Ozark Mountains.
Witts Springs, Arkansas, received 6.5 inches of snow as of 8 a.m. CST Thursday. Point Peter, Arkansas, picked up 5.5 inches of snow from the storm thus far Thursday morning.
Colder air will continue to funnel southward on Thursday. This has already allowed rain to change to snow in Harrison and Fayetteville, Arkansas. Even though accumulations will dwindle in locations farther south, motorists will still need to exercise caution.
Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings were issued for portions of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas in advance of the wintry precipitation and remained in effect as rain changed to snow.
"Even outside of where significant accumulations are expected in the Mississippi Valley, even a thin coating of snow on the roadways can lead to slick, hazardous conditions," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert said.
In locations where temperatures are lower and snow falls for a longer period of time, major interstates could have adverse impacts.
"Any snow that accumulates across southern Missouri and northern Arkansas may lead to significant travel issues for the area. Motorists on interstates 44, 49 and 55 will need to keep an eye to the sky for rapidly changing conditions," said Gilbert.
Even over short distances, conditions can vary drastically. This is especially true given that snow is expected to fall over a portion of the Ozark Mountains. Therefore, snowfall accumulations are likely to be greater in the highest elevations.
Any lingering flurries will come to an end by early Thursday evening. With temperatures expected to fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday night, any slush or standing water will have the potential to freeze. The snow will then move farther to the east on Thursday night and Friday.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Winter Weather
Snow to blanket southern Missouri, northern Arkansas through midweek
By Ryan Adamson, AccuWeather meteorologist
Updated Jan 7, 2021 4:39 PM EDT
The Denver and Buffalo zoos respectively released videos of animals within their premises either chilling out or happily playing in the snow during the winter season.
Snow began breaking out across parts of the central United States on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning in association with a ripple in the upper levels of the atmosphere. As a storm system will continue to gather steam into Thursday, snow is expected to spread southeastward and disrupt travel across parts of the Mississippi Valley. On the southern edge of the storm, rainfall and locally gusty thunderstorms could cause some issues.
In general, since temperatures were near or just above freezing and precipitation intensity was fairly light, snowfall totals in the Dakotas were 3 inches or less on Wednesday and Wednesday evening.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Wednesday night, a disturbance moved through northeastern Texas and southern Arkansas. As colder air moved southward on the northern side of this system, rain changed to snow in cities such as Joplin, Missouri and Bentonville in far northwestern Arkansas. While temperatures were initially too high to support much in the way of snow accumulation in these cities, the air did get cold enough for accumulating snow in the Ozark Mountains.
Witts Springs, Arkansas, received 6.5 inches of snow as of 8 a.m. CST Thursday. Point Peter, Arkansas, picked up 5.5 inches of snow from the storm thus far Thursday morning.
Colder air will continue to funnel southward on Thursday. This has already allowed rain to change to snow in Harrison and Fayetteville, Arkansas. Even though accumulations will dwindle in locations farther south, motorists will still need to exercise caution.
Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings were issued for portions of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas in advance of the wintry precipitation and remained in effect as rain changed to snow.
"Even outside of where significant accumulations are expected in the Mississippi Valley, even a thin coating of snow on the roadways can lead to slick, hazardous conditions," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert said.
In locations where temperatures are lower and snow falls for a longer period of time, major interstates could have adverse impacts.
"Any snow that accumulates across southern Missouri and northern Arkansas may lead to significant travel issues for the area. Motorists on interstates 44, 49 and 55 will need to keep an eye to the sky for rapidly changing conditions," said Gilbert.
Even over short distances, conditions can vary drastically. This is especially true given that snow is expected to fall over a portion of the Ozark Mountains. Therefore, snowfall accumulations are likely to be greater in the highest elevations.
Any lingering flurries will come to an end by early Thursday evening. With temperatures expected to fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday night, any slush or standing water will have the potential to freeze. The snow will then move farther to the east on Thursday night and Friday.
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Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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