Winter storm dumps snow over weekend

Nine-year-olds Gary White of Trumann and Shelby Whitlatch of Harrisburg wasted no time in getting outside to enjoy the snow over the weekend. (Photo provided)

It was nothing like the Ice Storm of 2009, but a winter weather blast a year later has provided a beautiful blanket of snow and an extended weekend for some in Poinsett County as around seven inches of snow fell atop a layer of sleet and freezing rain between Thursday night and Saturday morning.

According to Chris Duke, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Memphis, between six to eight inches of snow fell in Poinsett County between Thursday and Saturday. "There was some rain and sleet at first, but Poinsett County received mostly snow," Duke said.

Mayor Sheila Walters said the street department was prepared. "The street crew was out early each day putting salt out on the intersections," she said. "Numerous times each day because o f how much it was falling. They worked all weekend."

Walters added that she knew of no major power outages as a result of the storm. "There were no major power outages that I knew of," the mayor said. "I know the electricity flicked off and on at my house, which is on Craighead Electric."

The mayor noted that while the snow and ice still have not melted in some areas of town, people need to be cautious while walking and driving. "People still just need to be careful," Walters said.

Trumann Police Department's assistant chief Gary Henry said there were only a few minor incidents over the weekend. "Just some little things with no one hurt and no fatalities," Henry said.

"On Friday evening, from West Main, to the Collins Loop to the Days Inn Parking lot, it was so icy," Henry said. "There were several people that were sliding off the roadway. We just called wreckers to come pull them out. Arkansas Department of Highway and Transportation was so busy that night, it was going to take them a while to treat the roadway, so we closed that section until they could come."

As of Tuesday afternoon, snow was still melting with more to happen on Wednesday. The National Weather Service office in Memphis has forecasted conditions to be sunny with highs in the 40s on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, the service is predicting rain with high temperatures in the mid 30s to lower 40s. On Saturday, the service expects a mostly sunny day with high temperatures in the uppers 30s to lower 40s.