Historic February

We went from wondering if it was ever going to snow again to saying "STOP!"

Will we ever experience anything like it again in our lifetime? I always say, "never say never to Arkansas weather", but I kinda doubt it. We lived through history. It was a rough time for many, but I see the kids had a good time playing in the snow. Hope those memories last forever.

Thanks to the NWS Little Rock for compiling all the records.

ALL-TIME RECORD COLD

MURFREESBORO -13° ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2021 (old record -7° 1/12/62)

BEEDEVILLE -7° ON FEBRUARY 16TH AND 16TH, 2021 (old record -6° 1/20/85

LITTLE ROCK AFB -6° ON FEBRUARY 16TH, 2021 (old record -3° 1/12/62)

STUTTGART -4° FEBRUARY 16TH, 2021 (old record 6° 1-17-2018)

HOT SPRINGS -3° FEBRUARY 16TH, 2021 (old record -2° 1/11/62)

SNOWIEST MONTH EVER

LITTLE ROCK 20.3''

SHERIDAN 19''

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 18.7''

KEO 18.4"

FORDYCE 16.7''

LITTLE ROCK AFB 16.2''

MALVERN 15.3''

MURFREESBORO 15''

DES ARC 13''

MORRILTON 13''

BEEDEVILLE 10.7''

SNOWIEST FEBRUARY ON RECORD

LITTLE ROCK 20.3''

SHERIDAN 19''

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 18.7''

PINE BLUFF 18.5''

KEO 18.4''

FORDYCE 16.7''

LITTLE ROCK AFB 16.2''

ANTOINE 16.1''

ARKADELPHIA 16.0''

MALVERN 15.3''

MURFREESBORO 15''

HARDY 13.5''

PERRY 13.5''

DANVILLE 13''

DES ARC 13''

MORRILTON 13''

MAMMOTH SPRING 12.5''

STAR CITY 11.5''

BIG FORK 10.7''

The following is taken directly from the NWS statement https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=LZK&product=PNS&format=CI&version=3&glossary=0

Coldest February High Temperatures at North Little Rock
1.15 Feb 2021 - 12*
2.01 Feb 1985 - 16
3.04 Feb 1989 - 17
4.17 Feb 2021  19*
5.05 Feb 1989 - 19

Coldest February Low Temperatures at North Little Rock
1.16 Feb 2021 - -1*
2.04 Feb 1996 -  4
3.11 Feb 1981 -  5
4.09 Feb 1979 -  5
5.15 Feb 2021 -  6*

Highest February Daily Snowfall at North Little Rock
1.15 Feb 2021  9.0*
2.17 Feb 2021  7.3*
3.06 Feb 1979  6.7
4.09 Feb 2011  6.2
5.13 Feb 1997  5.5

Highest February 24-hour Snowfall at North Little Rock
1.     14-15 Feb 2021  10.9*
2.     06-07 Feb 1979 -  9.1
3.        17 Feb 2021   7.3*
4. 31 Jan-01 Feb 1985   7.2
5.     09-10 Feb 2011   6.2

Snowiest Februaries at North Little Rock
1.2021  18.7*
2.1979  15.6
3.2011  10.2
4.2003 -  9.3
5.1985 -  6.6

Highest Daily Snowfall at North Little Rock
1.06 Jan 1988  10.5
2.15 Feb 2021 -  9.0*
3.25 Dec 2012 -  8.6
4.17 Feb 2021 -  7.3*
5.22 Jan 2016 -  6.9

Highest 24-hour Snowfall at North Little Rock
1.06-07 Jan 1988  12.0
2.14-15 Feb 2021  10.9*
3.25-26 Dec 2012  10.3
4.06-07 Feb 1979 -  9.1
5.   17 Feb 2021 -  7.3*

Greatest Snow Depth at North Little Rock
1.18 Feb 2021  14*
2.07 Jan 1988  12
3.19 Feb 2021  11*
4.08 Jan 1988  11
5.26 Dec 2012 -  9

Snowiest Year at North Little Rock
1.1979  19.1
2.2021  18.7*
3.2011  17.1
4.1985  15.6
5.1978  15.1

Snowiest Months at North Little Rock
1.Feb. 2021  18.7*
2.Feb. 1979  15.6
3.Jan. 1988  12.4
4.Dec. 2012  10.3
5.Feb. 2011  10.2

Snowiest Seasons at North Little Rock
1.Winter 1978-1979  19.2
2.Winter 2020-2021  18.8*
3.Winter 2010-2011  15.7
4.Winter 1984-1985  15.4
5.Winter 1977-1978  15.0

Snowiest 3-Month Period at North Little Rock
1.Dec. 1978  Feb. 1979  19.2
2.Jan. 1979  Mar. 1979  19.1
3.Dec. 2020  Feb. 2021  18.8*
4.Jan. 2011  Mar. 2011  15.7
5.Dec. 2010  Feb. 2011  15.7

Highest Snow Depth Average by Month at North Little Rock
1.Feb. 2021  2.3*
2.Jan. 1988  1.8
3.Jan. 1978  1.8
4.Feb. 1979  1.6
5.Feb. 1985  1.4

At Little Rock, the low temperature of -1 on Feb. 16 marked the first reading at or below zero in the month of February since 1951.

Since temperature records began in 1879, this is only the sixth date with a reading below zero in the month of February at Little Rock.

This was also the coldest temperature at Little Rock since Dec. 23, 1989, or the date with the previously most recent below zero reading. The high temperature of 14 on the 15th most recently tied February 8, 1933 for the 2nd coldest on record in the month of February, and for the 6th coldest high temperature of all time.

There have been four days during the month with low temperatures in the single digits or colder. This is the most such number in February since 1899, and the second highest on record for the month. It's also the most in a year, so far, since 1989.

Measurable snowfall (that is snow greater than a trace) was on the ground from February 15th through the 22nd, a total of eight days. This was the highest number of days with snow depth of 1 or higher at Little Rock since 1988 and tied January 7-14, 1988 for the 5th longest period on record. This period was also the longest period with a snow depth of 2 or higher since Jan. 11-Feb. 2, 1918 and the 3rd longest such period on record. Basically, in this eight-day period, Little Rock recorded the longest stretch of snow depth at or above 5, 6, 7, 8, and
9 inches since January of 1918, and the 2nd longest such period on record.

The 11.8 inches of snow that fell on February 17th marked the highest calendar day snowfall on record