Winter Storm Blankets Northern Arkansas, Snarling Highway Travel

A winter storm dropped several inches of snow across northern Arkansas on Tuesday, closing schools, snarling highway travel, and giving the Ozarks a rare deep-freeze scene that lingered into the evening.

The heaviest accumulations fell across the northern tier, but a wintry mix reached as far south as Little Rock, glazing bridges and overpasses. State transportation crews pre-treated major routes overnight and urged drivers to stay home if they could, warning that side streets and rural roads would remain slick.

Dozens of districts canceled classes, and several cities opened warming centers for residents without reliable heat. Grocery stores reported the usual pre-storm rush on bread, milk, and bottled water.

Forecasters said temperatures would stay below freezing for another day before a gradual warm-up melted the snow later in the week. Officials reminded residents to check on elderly neighbors and to keep space heaters clear of flammable materials.