Snow was largely absent in the Pine Bluff area before 5:30 p.m. despite winter storm warnings that led to numerous closures across the city and Jefferson County.
A light wintry mix could be seen falling on the northside of town at 3 p.m. The moisture on the ground turned out to be that of rainwater, rather than the sticking snow winter weather lovers hoped for as temperatures were still higher than the freezing point of 32 degrees. The high Thursday was 38, with a 40% chance of snow and sleet still in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.
Chuck Rickard, a meteorologist with the NWS North Little Rock office, said Pine Bluff is in a “transition zone” where rain and sleet would be most visible Thursday evening, although Little Rock was snowing heavily at the time. Pine Bluff could expect 2-4 inches of snow by Friday night, however, he added.
“You go north of town and you could have more accumulating snow,” Rickard said Thursday. “You go south of town and it’s not much at all before all is said and done. We run into that with these types of storms where there’s a transition area between winter precip(itation) and liquid precip. That’s kind of where you guys are, as far as (where Pine Bluff is) situated.”
Pine Bluff was projected to receive anywhere from 4-8 inches of snow earlier in the week, but Rickard said the track of the storm system from the West Coast – the same system that has impacted the wind and deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area, he specified – has altered the potential for snowfall here.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“We tell people this every winter; it’s like a shift in the track, kind of like a hurricane that deviates 25, 50 miles north or south and the colder air is in the area, that can make all the difference in the world as far as seeing heavy snow and seeing mixed precip and who sees rain,” Rickard said. “That amount of distance can make all the difference in the world.”
A 100% chance of snow and sleet was expected Thursday night with a low of 30. For Friday, a 100% chance of a wintry mix will likely be followed by a 20% chance of snow with a high of 35. The winter storm warning, which went into effect at 4:23 p.m. Thursday, was set to expire at 6 p.m. Friday.
More sunshine is in the weekend forecast, with highs of 39 Saturday and 43 Sunday. This could keep roads clear for the upcoming school and work week.
Major thoroughfares in Pine Bluff have been prepared with salt to minimize any icing, although it is recommended for drivers to stay home if they do not need to travel.
Some entities in southeast Arkansas did not cease operations until midday Thursday as the snow had yet to fall:
- The Jefferson County Courthouse closed at noon and will remain closed Friday. The courthouse will resume normal business hours Monday.
- All city of Pine Bluff offices were closed all day Thursday and will remain so Friday. Pine Bluff Transit provided service until noon Thursday.
- All Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Library System locations closed at 3:30 p.m.
- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff closed at noon and move-in is delayed until Monday, according to a spokesperson.
- Southeast Arkansas College closed at noon and would remain closed through Friday. Classes are scheduled to begin Monday.
- All campuses in the Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel and White Hall school districts were closed Thursday and will remain so today. All athletic events and activities are either canceled or postponed.
Pine Bluff has opened a warming center at the Opportunity House, 1305 E. Sixth Ave. The site is open from 6:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily until further notice.
WM, or Waste Management, suspended solid waste, residential recycling and landfill services in central Arkansas on Thursday. Service for residential customers will be suspended Friday, and the Jefferson County Landfill and Two-Pine Landfill will be closed Friday as well. The Jefferson County Landfill will remain closed Saturday.
Delays will impact residential curbside recycling customers in Little Rock, as well as customers in Pine Bluff, Altheimer, Gillett and unincorporated Pulaski County. WM said it would resume picking up carts from residents in unincorporated Jefferson County on Monday and Tuesday.