On this date in 2000, a major ice storm put 590,000 from New Mexico to Arkansas in the dark. Arkansas and Oklahoma were the hardest hit. In Oklahoma, the Governor declared the state a disaster area. In Little Rock, the second major ice storm in two weeks shut down the state government. The State of Arkansas was in the midst of its second major winter storm in less than two weeks. The combined event is believed to be the worst natural disaster in Arkansas history.

A major long-term ice storm developed Christmas Day and continued through the early morning hours of December 27th. Warm, moist air from the southwest was running up and over a shallow layer of cold air near the surface. This is the classic setup for freezing rain. Western sections of the state were coated by as a layer of ice up to three inches thick, with up to inches elsewhere across the state. The effects were devastating. 300,000 people were without power for several days. Many water systems, including the City of Hot Springs were unable to operate because of no electricity. The Governor was forced to communicate with some parts of the state by amateur radio since communications were so severely disrupted. The National Guard had to be called out to assist residents. Humvees had to be pressed into service as ambulances because of icy roads. FEMA representatives coming to assess the December 12-13 winter storm were unable to fly in as the Little Rock National Airport was closed for nearly two days.

Warnings for the event were very effective and preparations were excellent, but the event was still very crippling because of its severity. One of the most dramatic images from the ice storm was of network reporters in pitch black darkness in the middle of beautiful downtown Hot Springs after the storm.

Moving a little slow this morning, but have the video update traveling up to the web site.

Boy, did we come close to a white Christmas, but I know that you know that old saying about close! I refuse to lose my optimism, and I'm already looking for a chance at a white Christmas next year. But this winter is still new, so we have several months to get some snow yet!

In the meantime, it appears that our long wave trough over the east coast and the cold we've had for a couple of weeks is going to go away for the next week. A new long wave trough position gets established along the west coast putting the eastern US under a ridge. That means southwest flow for Alabama and a warm up with temperatures going above seasonal normals - perhaps by 10 degrees or so. Guess I won't be able to use the cold weather as an excuse for doing some of those outside chores! Darn!

-Brian-

Significant freezing rain continues this morning across Central South Carolina. A wintry mix also continues along the I-95 Corridor from eastern South Carolina, across North Carolina into southeastern Virginia.

Accumulations of ice of 0.3 to 0.5 inch have occurred in the I-20 Corridor from Augusta to Columbia and points northeast. And additional freezing rain is falling at mid morning.

A mix of sleet and snow along and east of the I-95 corridor toward Fayetteville and Greemville NC may change over to freezing rain later this morning.

Needless to say, travel conditions are bad in these areas, and a variety of winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings are in effect.

If you are traveling through any of these areas today, please check the latest conditions before departing.