National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce
 
000
NOUS44 KLZK 312039
PNSLZK
ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-012359-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
239 PM CST MON DEC 31 2012

...THE CHRISTMAS SNOWSTORM IN PERSPECTIVE...

THE SNOWSTORM ON CHRISTMAS WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR A LONG TIME TO COME...
FOR NOT ONLY EXCESSIVE SNOWFALL...BUT FOR NEAR-BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN
CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS. IN FACT...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WERE MET IN
PARTS OF NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...WITH WINDS OF 35-40 MPH...AND VISIBILITIES
REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE IN BLOWING SNOW.

THIS WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SNOWSTORM OF JANUARY 28TH 1966
WHEN THE STATE SAW NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. IN THAT STORM...NEAR-BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS WERE FAIRLY WIDESPREAD AT LEAST OVER PORTIONS OF  CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS. EIGHT TO TWELVE INCHES OF SNOW FELL IN A BAND FROM NEAR
BISMARCK TO EAST OF PINE BLUFF...WITH ALL AREAS OF THE STATE SEEING
MEASURABLE SNOWFALL.

WITH THE CHRISTMAS SNOWSTORM...MEASURABLE SNOW FELL IN MOST OF THE STATE...
RANGING FROM A FEW TENTHS AT HARRISON AND MONTICELLO...TO TEN INCHES OR
MORE IN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS. THIS STORM HAS SET MANY ALL-TIME
DECEMBER SNOWFALL RECORDS...BOTH DAILY AND MONTHLY...AS WELL AS SEVERAL
ALL-TIME CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL RECORDS.

AT PERRY...IN PERRY COUNTY...DECEMBER 2012 WAS THE SNOWIEST MONTH ON
RECORD. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 12.0 INCHES...IN FEBRUARY OF 1979.

THE ALL-TIME RECORD DAILY SNOWFALL FOR ARKANSAS DURING THE MONTH OF
DECEMBER WAS 21.0 INCHES...SET AT MONTICELLO ON DECEMBER 31ST 1876. THE
ALL-TIME MONTHLY SNOWFALL RECORD FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WAS 28.0 INCHES
AT MONTICELLO IN 1876.

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN WITH THIS STORM. PLEASE
REMEMBER THAT ALL DATA IS CONSIDERED PRELIMINARY UNTIL CERTIFIED BY THE
NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER IN ASHEVILLE NORTH CAROLINA.

.ALL-TIME CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN...

(NOTE...THESE STATIONS TAKE OBSERVATIONS IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD ENDING
AT 7 OR 8 AM. THEREFORE...THE OBSERVATION IS ASSIGNED TO THE DATE
REPORTED).

                      NEW ALL-TIME CALENDAR     PREVIOUS      RECORDS
STATION               DAY SNOWFALL RECORD        RECORD        SINCE
--------------------  ---------------------  ---------------  -------
PERRY                    17.5 12/26/2012     10.0 01/08/1944   1902
MORRILTON                12.5 12/26/2012      9.0 01/08/1944   1919
BATESVILLE LIVESTOCK     11.0 12/26/2012     10.0 01/30/2010   1940
CABOT 4SW                10.0 12/26/2012     10.0 01/07/1988   1918

.DECEMBER CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN...

                       NEW DECEMBER CALENDAR     PREVIOUS      RECORDS
STATION                DAY SNOWFALL RECORD        RECORD        SINCE
--------------------   ---------------------  ---------------  -------
PERRY                   17.5 12/26/2012        6.0 12/23/2004    1902
MORRILTON               12.5 12/26/2012        5.5 12/22/1963    1919
MOUNTAIN VIEW           12.0 12/26/2012        6.0 12/23/1963    1924
ALUM FORK               11.0 12/26/2012        6.0 12/31/1960    1937
BATESVILLE LIVESTOCK    11.0 12/26/2012        7.0 12/23/1966    1941
CABOT 4SW               10.0 12/26/2012        5.5 12/22/1963    1918
GRAVELLY 1ESE           10.0 12/26/2012        6.5 12/25/1975    1940
PINE RIDGE              10.0 12/26/2012       10.0 12/17/1932    1925
GEORGETOWN               9.5 12/26/2012        9.0 12/07/1917    1912
DAMASCUS 2NNE            9.0 12/26/2012        4.5 12/23/1963    1940
EVENING SHADE 1NNE       9.0 12/26/2012        7.0 12/23/1966    1923
GREERS FERRY DAM         9.0 12/26/2012        8.0 12/23/1963    1903
MENA                     9.0 12/26/2012        9.0 12/12/1914    1887
PARKS                    8.9 12/26/2012        4.2 12/23/2004    1956
CRYSTAL VALLEY           7.5 12/26/2012        7.0 12/23/1963    1941
LANGLEY                  7.4 12/26/2012        5.5 12/16/1983    1948
BATESVILLE LOCK AND DAM  7.0 12/26/2012        6.0 12/23/1963    1904
BIG FORK 1SSE            7.0 12/26/2012        5.0 12/23/1963    1944
DANVILLE                 7.0 12/26/2012        6.0 12/14/1916    1916
GLENWOOD                 7.0 12/26/2012        5.0 12/16/1983    1935
BONNERDALE 4SW           6.5 12/26/2012        4.0 12/25/1975    1965
RATCLIFF                 6.5 12/26/2012        6.0 12/25/1975    1944
AUGUSTA 2NW              6.0 12/26/2012        4.0 12/23/2004    1943
CLINTON 6SE              6.0 12/26/2012        6.0 12/25/1975    1923
KEO                      5.0 12/26/2012        4.0 12/13/1958    1948

.DECEMBER MONTHLY SNOWFALL RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN...

STATION                      NEW RECORD     PREVIOUS RECORD    RECORDS SINCE
-----------                  ------------   ---------------    -------------
PERRY                        17.5 IN 2012     6.0 IN 2004...1902   1902
BATESVILLE LIVESTOCK         12.5 IN 2012     7.0 IN 1966          1941
MORRILTON                    12.5 IN 2012     5.5 IN 1963          1919
MOUNTAIN VIEW                12.0 IN 2012     8.5 IN 1975          1924
ALUM FORK                    11.0 IN 2012     6.0 IN 1960          1937
LITTLE ROCK                  10.3 IN 2012     9.8 IN 1963          1875
NORTH LITTLE ROCK            10.3 IN 2012     2.9 IN 1983          1975
CABOT 4SW                    10.0 IN 2012     7.0 IN 1963          1918
GRAVELLY 1ESE                10.0 IN 2012     8.0 IN 1975          1940
PINE RIDGE                   10.0 IN 2012    10.0 IN 1932          1925
DAMASCUS 2NNE                 9.0 IN 2012     4.5 IN 1963          1940
EVENING SHADE 1NNE            9.0 IN 2012     9.0 IN 1969          1923
GREERS FERRY DAM              9.0 IN 2012     4.5 IN 1963          1903
JACKSONVILLE/LITTLE ROCK AFB  9.0 IN 2012     8.0 IN 1963          1956
MENA                          9.0 IN 2012     9.0 IN 1914          1887
PARKS                         8.9 IN 2012     4.2 IN 2004          1956
CRYSTAL VALLEY                7.5 IN 2012     7.5 IN 1963          1941
LANGLEY                       7.4 IN 2012     6.0 IN 1983          1948
BATESVILLE LOCK AND DAM       7.0 IN 2012     7.0 IN 1914          1904
BIG FORK 1SSE                 7.0 IN 2012     5.0 IN 1963          1944
GLENWOOD                      7.0 IN 2012     5.0 IN 1983          1935
BONNERDALE 4SW                6.5 IN 2012     4.0 IN 1975          1965
RATCLIFF                      6.5 IN 2012     6.0 IN 1975          1944
AUGUSTA 2NW                   6.0 IN 2012     4.0 IN 2004          1943
CLINTON 6SE                   6.0 IN 2012     6.0 IN 1975          1923
KEO                           5.0 IN 2012     4.0 IN 1958          1948

.OTHER NOTEWORTHY RECORDS AND STATISTICS...

LITTLE ROCK
-----------
10.3 INCHES OF SNOW FELL DECEMBER 25TH-26TH. THIS RANKS AS THE HIGHEST 24-HOUR
DECEMBER SNOWFALL AMOUNT ON RECORD. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 9.8 INCHES ON
DECEMBER 22ND 1963. THIS ALSO PLACES IN THE TOP TEN 24-HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS
AS WELL AS THE TOP TEN CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FOR LITTLE ROCK.

THE TOP 10 HIGHEST CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE...

01. 12.0 03/06/1875
02. 11.3 01/05/1960
03. 11.2 01/18/1893
04. 10.4 01/06/1988
05.  9.8 12/22/1963
06.  9.7 01/30/1882
07.  9.4 11/17/1880
08.  9.0 12/25/2012
09.  8.5 02/23/1966
10.  8.2 02/18/1921

THE TOP 10 24-HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE...

01. 13.0 01/17/1893-01/18/1893
02. 12.4 01/06/1988-01/07/1988
03. 12.0 03/06/1875
04. 11.3 01/05/1960
05. 11.2 02/18/1921-02/19/1921
06. 10.3 12/25/2012-12/26/2012
07.  9.8 12/22/1963
08.  9.7 01/30/1882
09.  9.6 02/22/1966-02/23/1966
10.  9.4 11/17/1880

THE AVERAGE SNOW DEPTH FOR THE MONTH IS 0.9 INCHES. THIS IS THE HIGHEST AVERAGE
SNOW DEPTH IN ANY MONTH SINCE JANUARY OF 1988...AND THE HIGHEST IN THE MONTH
OF DECEMBER SINCE 1917. IT IS THE 2ND HIGHEST ON RECORD FOR DECEMBER...BEHIND
AN AVERAGE DEPTH OF 1.0 IN DECEMBER 1917.


NORTH LITTLE ROCK
-----------------
10.3 INCHES OF SNOW FELL DECEMBER 25TH-26TH. THIS RANKS AS THE HIGHEST 24-HOUR
DECEMBER SNOWFALL ON RECORD. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 2.6 INCHES...WHICH WAS SET
ON DECEMBER 22ND 2004. 8.6 INCHES OF SNOW FELL ON DECEMBER 25TH...WHICH RANKED
AS THE HIGHEST CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL IN DECEMBER. THE PREVIOUS RECORD
WAS 2.6 INCHES...SET ON DECEMBER 22ND 2004. THESE SNOWFALL TOTALS ALSO PLACE IN
THE TOP TEN 24-HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS AS WELL AS THE TOP TEN CALENDAR DAY
SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FOR NORTH LITTLE ROCK.

THE TOP 10 HIGHEST CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE...

01. 10.5 01/06/1988
02.  8.6 12/25/2012
03.  6.7 02/06/1979
04.  6.5 01/27/2000
05.  6.2 02/09/2011
06.  5.5 02/13/1997
07.  5.0 02/08/2010
08.  5.0 01/12/1982
09.  4.5 02/01/1985
10.  4.2 01/31/1985

THE TOP 10 24-HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE...

01. 12.0 01/06/1988-01/07/1988
02. 10.3 12/25/2012-12/26/2012
03.  9.1 02/06/1979-02/07/1979
04.  7.2 01/27/2000-01/28/2000
05.  6.2 02/09/2011-02/10/2011
06.  5.5 02/13/1997
07.  5.0 02/08/2010
08.  5.0 02/24/2003-02/25/2003
09.  5.0 03/09/1984-03/10/1984
10.  5.0 01/12/1982

THE AVERAGE SNOW DEPTH FOR THE MONTH IS 1.0 INCHES. THIS IS THE HIGHEST AVERAGE
SNOW DEPTH IN ANY MONTH SINCE JANUARY OF 1988...AND THE HIGHEST IN THE MONTH OF
DECEMBER SINCE 1983. IT IS THE HIGHEST AVERAGE SNOW DEPTH ON RECORD FOR THE
MONTH OF DECEMBER...EDGING OUT THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 0.6 INCHES IN 1983.

JACKSONVILLE/LITTLE ROCK AFB
----------------------------
9.0 INCHES OF SNOW FELL DECEMBER 25TH-26TH. THIS RANKS AS THE HIGHEST 24-HOUR
DECEMBER SNOWFALL ON RECORD. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 8.0 INCHES...WHICH FELL
DECEMBER 22ND-23RD 1963. 8.0 INCHES OF SNOW FELL ON DECEMBER 25TH...WHICH
RANKED AS THE HIGHEST CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL ON RECORD DURING THE MONTH.
THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 7.7 INCHES...WHICH FELL ON DECEMBER 22ND 1963. THESE
SNOWFALL TOTALS ALSO PLACE IN THE TOP TEN CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FOR
THE LITTLE ROCK AFB STATION.

THE TOP 10 HIGHEST CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE...

01. 11.9 01/06/1988
02. 11.5 01/05/1960
03.  8.8 02/23/1966
04.  8.0 12/25/2012
05.  7.7 12/22/1963
06.  6.9 12/31/1960
07.  6.3 02/09/2011
08.  6.3 02/15/1969
09.  5.5 01/09/2011
10.  5.5 01/28/2000

$$

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