Frigid Weather Alert: Arkansas Braces for Sleet, Snow, and Dangerous Chill

Arkansas is in for a rough ride as a winter storm system takes over the central U. S. Starting Friday evening and lasting through Sunday, the state is expected to see a mix of snow, sleet, and ice. The cold is not playing around, with temperatures dropping to near zero degrees Fahrenheit at night. Earlier predictions suggested a heavy snowfall for Central Arkansas, but things have shifted. Now, sleet is more likely, though freezing rain could still make an appearance, especially in the southern counties. Up north, snow is the main event, with forecasts calling for 6 to 10 inches or more. In Little Rock, the icy mix could start falling as early as late Friday afternoon. Travel is going to be tricky, if not downright dangerous, across most of the state. The cold is no joke, posing risks to people, pets, and even pipes. The forecast for Friday night is a chilly 11 degrees, with temperatures staying below freezing until Tuesday. Sunday and Monday nights are looking especially harsh, with lows in the single digits.Little Rock is stepping up with a warming center at the Dunbar Community Center, open 24/7 starting Friday evening. The city is also pre-treating roads and has plows ready to tackle the major thoroughfares. North Little Rock is doing the same, opening a shelter at the NLR Community Center. Governor Sarah Sanders has declared a state of emergency, deploying National Guard members to assist with winter weather response teams. Schools are canceling afterschool activities but are waiting to decide on next week's classes. The tricky part of this storm is the warm pocket of air sandwiched between colder layers. This "warm nose" is causing uncertainty about whether precipitation will fall as freezing rain or sleet. As the warm air dissipates, snow becomes more likely, but the weather could still surprise us.