JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri received more snow in the past three days than they have in the last several years combined.
Meteorologist Bryan McCormick said Thursday morning early estimates indicate some areas of Region 8 received as much as a foot of snow.
The last of the snow moved out Thursday morning.
For the first time in days, viewers reported seeing an unusual sight: blue skies.
This second Winter Storm Warning, which was issued around noon Tuesday, is expected to last through 6 p.m. Thursday.
It comes on the heels of Monday’s winter storm which dumped heavy snow and set new records for cold temperatures.
The winter weather forced many area businesses, clinics, and government offices to close.
Blytheville
- Sanitation services suspended until further notice.
Jonesboro
- City of Jonesboro: Business offices closed Thursday, Feb. 18. JET bus and sanitation services not available. Weather permitting, garbage pickup will resume Friday with normal routes; Thursday routes will run Saturday.
- St. Bernards Healthcare: All clinics, except Red Wolf and Parker Road urgent care clinics, closed Thursday.
- Craighead County offices will close at 4 p.m. Thursday to allow county employees to get home safely. The offices will open at regular hours Friday and no winter inclement weather policy will be in effect.
- All criminal cases scheduled in Craighead County Circuit Court for the week of Feb. 15-19 and not disposed of through Zoom will be rescheduled. Anyone who missed a court date is to report to the Craighead County Courthouse on Friday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. for scheduling or resolution in their case. Defendants should also contact their attorneys in the interim.
Wynne
- Sanitation services suspended until Saturday at the earliest.
The snow moved in early Wednesday morning, undoing all the work state and local crews had done to clear the roads.
By 5:30 a.m. Thursday, streets and highways were covered with another coating of wet snow, making for very slick travel.
Jonesboro & Craighead County E911 Director Jeff Presley warned that small cars and compact SUVs could become stuck or high-centered on snow piles.
“Expect side streets and roads to be snow-covered and slick,” he said. “Please, watch for snowplows and give them room to work.”
Here are the links to the latest road conditions in Arkansas and surrounding states:
- Arkansas: https://idrivearkansas.com
- Missouri: http://traveler.modot.org/map/index.html
- Tennessee: https://smartway.tn.gov/traffic
With supplies struggling to keep up with demand, several utility companies throughout the region and the state called on customers to conserve immediately to avoid forced outages.
Entergy Arkansas asked residential, commercial, and industrial customers to help reduce power from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday to avoid rolling blackouts.
Craighead Electric officials said Wednesday that a rolling blackout Tuesday evening was needed to avoid a major issue.
According to a post on the utility’s Facebook page, CEO Brian Duncan said the utility got word Tuesday evening that work had to be done.
Here are the links to report power outages in your area:
For those looking for a warm place to stay, a few warming shelters have opened:
Black Oak
- New Hope Baptist Church, 101 S. Main, gym open 24 hours a day all week. Free meals, hot showers (must bring own towels), and a washer/dryer provided. Cots available for those needing to spend the night (must bring own blankets). For more information, call Pastor Heath Hawkins at 870-761-3599, Randy Couch at 870-974-2743, or Justin Cook at 870-275-3242.
- Harrisburg Community Center, 200 W. South St., has food, cots, supplies, and a place for people to spend the night. Those needing assistance getting to the shelter should call the Poinsett Co. Sheriff’s Office at 870-578-2116.
- Earl Bell Community Center, 1212 S. Church, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday
- Allen and Parker Parks, open 3:30-9 p.m. weekdays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday
- The Salvation Army in Jonesboro, located at 800 Cate Ave., has opened a 24-hour warming center.
Kennett
- Safehaven, 1201 Ely Rd., for homeless and stranded motorists.
- Abundant Life Assembly, 1902 St. Francis St., open Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Slicer Street Church of Christ, 310 Slicer St., open Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Paragould
- Greater Vision Church and Eastside Baptist Church warming center, 529 East Court St., open 24 hours through Feb. 19. Greater Vision Church will also provide overnight shelter.
- Labor Park building, 309 S. 6th St., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Mission Outreach, 901 E. Lake St., open for hot meals.
The city of Cushman Thursday issued a boil order for the city.
City officials are working to fill the water tanks. However, in the interim, they are asking people to boil their water for several minutes before drinking it.
The Region 8 StormTEAM will provide live updates on-air and online:
- Watch the latest forecasts on KAIT-TV at 4:30-7 a.m., Midday at 11 a.m., News at 5, 6, and 10 p.m. on KAIT-ABC & KAIT-NBC. Newscasts are available over the air, on cable & satellite where available, on kait8.com, on the Region 8 News mobile app for smartphones and tablets (to install or update the news app search KAIT in your mobile marketplace).
- OTT watch Region 8 News from any device by downloading the Region 8 News app, the Region 8 Weather app, the Region 8 News Roku channel, or on the Region 8 News on Amazon Firestick.
Follow the Region 8 StormTEAM on social media:
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