The National Weather Service is forecasting the coldest weather of the season for Arkansas and Pine Bluff today, leading meteorologists to advise residents to take precautions to avoid frozen plumbing and protect outdoor pets.
The Salvation Army of Pine Bluff at 501 E. 12th St. will be open to people who need a place to stay warm. The station, located a few blocks south of the Pine Bluff Convention Center, allows people to stay for up to three nights.
“Any time the temperature drops below freezing, 32 degrees, anyone can come to the Salvation Army, we’ll have a warming station,” Salvation Army Lt. Bradley Hargis said. “We’ll have things like snacks, hot chocolate, coffee provided for anyone who needs any.”
Lows in Pine Bluff are expected to be in the lower 20s, about 12 to 13 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year, according to meteorologist Dan Koch with the National Weather Service’s North Little Rock Weather Office. The weather should be sunny, with a northerly wind, but highs may not exceed 40 degrees, he said.
“What’s significant about this is this is the coldest this season,” Koch said. “I tell people, if they have any plumbing that’s sensitive to freezing, if you have any outdoor pets… make sure there’s a place your animals can be warm and safe.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The record low for Pine Bluff on December 9 was 10 degrees in 1917, according to the NWS.
Lows tonight will range from the low 20s to the teens. Saturday is expected to warm up to a high in the mid-40s, followed by an increase in the chances for rain Saturday night and Sunday. Koch said he expected highs in the mid-50s and lows in the mid-30s by Tuesday, which is normal for early December, although much can change.
“There will probably be another cold front come down in the middle of next week, which will cool us down again,” Koch said. “This season has been pretty mild. We’re starting to get into the cold air now.”
When water freezes, it expands and can break containers such as metal and plastic pipes. Pipes in exposed areas, such as under houses and especially in mobile homes, are particularly vulnerable.
The American Red Cross recommends several precautions to prevent frozen water pipes. They include: keeping garage doors closed if water supply lines are located in the garage; opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing; letting cold water drip from the faucet that is served by the exposed pipes; keeping the thermostat set to the same temperature during both day and night; and setting the indoor heat no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hargis said the Salvation Army family shelter has seen an influx of people coming in since the cold weather began. Eight people slept at the shelter Wednesday night, he said, an increase from recent months. The shelter will take people in throughout the winter during cold weather, he said.