The sunshine that chased clouds away from the Pine Bluff skies could also turn the city’s layer of snow into glistening ice, posing a hazard to those who dare to traverse the covered roads.
While many bask in the annual event of snowfall and fill their days with friendly snow fights, Tuesday’s sunshine led to a high of 22 and created a more picturesque atmosphere than the cloudy weather that produced snow showers earlier this week.
“The melting process is well underway, if you just look at the lows,” said Joe Goudsward, meteorologist with the National Weather Service North Little Rock office, Tuesday afternoon. “Even though the temperature’s well below freezing — the sunshine is definitely helping the stuff on the roads to melt — however, temperatures [Tuesday night], once you lose that sunshine, temperatures are going to drop once again.”
The NWS forecast the mercury to drop down to 7 degrees Tuesday night. Another sunny, clear day is expected for Wednesday with a high of 36, with clouds to increase at night and a low of 23.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Unfortunately, a lot of water on the roadways is going to freeze, so I think there will be icy traveling conditions tonight and tomorrow morning for the rush hour,” Goudsward said.
That confirmed the fear Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington expressed when she confirmed all city offices would remain closed Wednesday.
“I think what’s going to happen, the roads that are melting, they’re going to glaze over,” she said, adding the untraveled roads are fully covered in snow. “Main Street is completely covered, and it’s going to glisten over.”
Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson confirmed the Courthouse and all county offices would be closed as well Wednesday.
Many of the county’s highway conditions improved throughout the day. The Arkansas Department of Transportation’s iDriveArkansas.com indicated U.S. 79 between Humphrey and Martha Mitchell Expressway was clear as of 3:25 p.m., a vast improvement from the highway between Altheimer and the expressway being slushy more than an hour earlier.
Interstate 530 from Little Rock and around the southern portion of Pine Bluff was clear, with U.S. 79 heading into Cleveland County, U.S. 425 heading into Lincoln County and the expressway still icy. Ice patches were reported on U.S. 65 heading into Lincoln County.
Despite the expected re-freezing of melted snow and ice, Goudsward said NWS forecasters do not expect the weather to produce “real impactful conditions” in the Pine Bluff area.
“Maybe a glazing is all that we’re expecting, but temperatures are going to warm up in the afternoon to above freezing, so whatever does glaze over will melt quickly,” he said.
Still, Jefferson County’s three school districts — Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel and White Hall — announced their campuses would remain closed Wednesday.
Southeast Arkansas College offices will be open Wednesday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. to assist students who need to enroll for the spring semester. All in-person and online classes, however, are canceled.
“As of now, normal campus operations including classes will resume Thursday, Jan. 18,” the college said in a statement.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and UA-Monticello will pivot to virtual learning and business operations on Wednesday, but all campuses and offices will be closed. Both campuses plan to reopen Thursday.
Critical personnel at UAM should report for duty, the university announced.
The Westside Loop neighborhood in Pine Bluff is pictured with the road covered in snow but basking in the sunshine Tuesday. (Special to The Commercial/Mychal A. Lever)
Avery Martin, 9, and Travis Martin Jr., 4, enjoy a quick outing to play in the snow outside their home in Pine Bluff on Monday. (Special to The Commercial/Travis D. Martin)