A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for Crittenden County and the surrounding region, with significant snowfall expected Sunday.
According to NWS, precipitation in the form of rain should start falling Saturday night but it will likely turn to snow either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. The bulk of the accumulating snowfall will come Sunday morning and into early Sunday afternoon. Anywhere from 4 to 8 inches has been predicted for the area.
Compacting the sting of the winter storm with be extremely low temperatures and high winds to follow the precipitation. The mercury is expected dip into the single digits Sunday night and then drop below 0. Wind chills could dip as low as minus 25 degrees. The high for Monday is forecast to be 1 degree with the high Tuesday reaching only into the low teens
Crittenden County Emergency Management Director David Travis, monitoring the situation through teleconferences with NWS, said significant drifting of snow could be possible Sunday with high winds and light, powdery snow.
Travel will be extremely hazardous during this period. Because of the extremely low temperatures, salt will have little to no melting effect on the roadways.
As usual, the courthouse will be open as a warming center for those in need of shelter from the frigid temperatures. Billy Arflack, deputy emergency management director, said the courthouse is currently open and will remain so as long as necessary. Travis said if the need outgrows the courthouse, a shelter will be set up for the community.
Arflack, also chief of Crittenden County Volunteer Fire Department, warns residents to be very careful with the use of supplemental heaters of all types during this period. Because of the extreme cold, he said, firefighting becomes almost impossible, and the smallest fire can turn into a disaster.
