It’s no secret that Arkansas typically has mild winters, however, some years can get absolutely crazy! Some years are unforgettable, and not in the good way. Here are our picks for some of those crazy times when we got totally walloped – some of the worst winter storms in Arkansas history did exactly that: they made history, and not always positively. Here’s a few infamous Arkansas winter storms in all their ferocious glory:

1. Arkansas sees its coldest day in history, 1905:
Uppper Snake River Valley Historical Society/Flickr
On February 13th, 1905, Pond, Arkansas, recorded a low temperature of an incredible -29 degrees Fahrenheit. At temperatures that low, warm water thrown into the air with a cup or bowl will instantly turn to vapor. It's also quite painful to breathe! We can't imagine that this frigid day was very much fun for anyone.
2. The Ice Storm of 1983
RiverFrozen.mov/Todd Yakoubian/YouTube
This arctic outbreak froze the Arkansas River on December 12th, 1983! The temperature didn't get above freezing for 10 days. Ice. Coated. Everything.

To see some archive footage from this event, you can watch a video: here.
3. A Freak May Snowstorm
uacescomm/Flickr
This may not be one of the worst winter storms in Arkansas, per se, but it's certainly worth mentioning! No snow had ever been recorded in Arkansas during the month of May for as long as record-keeping began, which was in 1819. In May 2013, that changed when snow fell across northwest Arkansas. Decatur reached five inches of snowfall!
4. The most snowfall in (recent) Arkansas history:
Dave Thomas/Flickr
Siloam Springs hit a new record for most snowfall in a day at more than two feet! 24.5 inches were recorded February 9th, 2011 which is four times the average of the expected snowfall for the area.

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5. The ice storm of 1998:
Kim Hess/Flickr
Not the worst in Arkansas history, either, but a significant ice storm did hit the southern part of the state in December 1998. Along with the ice, Pine Bluff was also coated in snow. Brrr!
6. January Tornadoes
Flickr/Jason Swihart
You read that right. Tornadoes in January! Between January 21st and January 23rd, 1999, Arkansas experienced something quite strange: the state underwent a tornado outbreak, along with the rest of the Midwestern and southern US. It was the largest tornado outbreak to occur in January, and Arkansas saw more than 50 tornadoes during this time.
7. The Ice Storm of 2009
Dan/Flickr
This was the worst ice storm in recent Arkansas history, second only to the dreadful ice storm of 2000. The grip of the ice caused $80 million in damage throughout the state, and life ground to a halt for a short time.
8. The Ice Storm of 2000
Jonathan Ball/Flickr
We definitely couldn't discuss the ice storm of 2009 without giving respect to the one of 2000. The absolute worst ice storm that ever happened in Arkansas history occurred in December 2000. Up to three inches of ice knocked 600,000 Arkansans out of power for upwards of three weeks.

To learn more about the storm’s devastation, you can read our article about the event here.

Arkansas has had some bizarre and intense winter weather, what do you think this season will have for us? Share your predictions in the comments below!

For more wacky weather, check out these times the weather was too weird for words.

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Worst Winter Storms in Arkansas

Tori Jane | February 17, 2021

What is winter in Arkansas like?

Winters in Arkansas are generally mild, with an average high temperature in the 50s and lows occasionally dipping into freezing, or below 32 degrees, at night. Typically, the coldest month in Arkansas is January, when the overnight low is usually around 30 degrees in many places.

What was the most snow in Arkansas?

In January 1918, Corning, Arkansas saw an amazing 25 inches of snowfall in a 24-hour period. This record amount was only challenged in 2011, when a fierce winter storm brought 24.5 (so close!) inches of snow to parts of Arkansas. It's not common to see severe winter storms as far south as Arkansas, but it does happen occasionally!

How much snow does Arkansas get?

Arkansas usually gets more rain than snow; while we may see 50 inches of rainfall in a year, we may only see up to five inches or so of snow. Occasionally, we'll have a doozy of a winter storm that surprises us, but usually, we remain fairly cozy in terms of winter-weather severity.

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