Does it snow in Arkansas?
Known currently as The Natural State and once as The Land of Opportunity, the state of Arkansas, the 29th largest by area and the 34 the most populous of the U.S. states, exhibits one of the widest ranges of geographic diversity in the United States.
Arkansas is home to all kinds of natural settings (mountains, forests, lowlands, rivers, etc.) throughout its more than 53,179 mi² of land area.
Like many of the southern states of the United States, Arkansas temporarily seceded from the United States to become part of the Confederate States of America during the events of the Civil War (1861-1865), facing serious consequences after it.
Despite this fact, Arkansas managed to recover, becoming, in the 1960s, the base of the Walmart corporation: the largest retailer in terms of revenue and number of employees worldwide.
Although Arkansas does not have outlets to the sea, this state makes up for this lack with emblematic state parks and beautiful natural destinations such as Petit Jean State Park (Conway County), Mount Magazine State Park (Logan County), Crater of Diamonds State Park (Murfreesboro, Pike County), the Buffalo National River (Newton, Searcy, Marion, and Baxter Counties), and the famous Ozark National Forest, which stretches across 16 counties in Arkansas.
Visit Arkansas and delight in its beautiful tourist destinations and cities while enjoying its characteristic multifaceted climate throughout its territory.
Snow in Arkansas? ❄
Does it snow in Arkansas? The short answer is yes. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight certain aspects of this question.
According to the Köppen climate classification, Arkansas, like most states in the southeastern United States, exhibits a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) throughout its territory, although with certain variations between its extreme north and south. However, in general terms, we can say that its summers are hot and particularly humid, while its winters are mild and a bit dry.
While Arkansas is not bordered to the south by the massive and warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it is close enough that its climate is affected.
Despite the climatological variations that may exist between the northern and southern half of the state, both regions do not escape the extreme and particularly stormy weather of Arkansas. Thus, answering the question at hand. Yes! It does snow in Arkansas (and, sometimes, these snowfalls can turn into a storm).
Thunderstorms, hail storms, snowstorms, and tornadoes are recurring weather events in Arkansas, which is not surprising as Arkansas is part of Tornado Alley, the most tornado-prone area in the central United States.
The climate of Arkansas ⛅
As explained in the previous section, according to the Köppen climate classification, Arkansas exhibits a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) throughout its territory, although with certain variations depending on the state's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico.
The climate of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas is strongly influenced, to a greater or lesser extent, by its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Plains.
Likewise, the characteristics of the relief of Arkansas, typical of the states close to the Great Plains, together with the climatological influence it receives from the warm tropical air of the Gulf of Mexico, make it an honorary member of Tornado Alley.
No wonder Arkansas has been hit by the most destructive tornadoes in US history.
For this reason, Arkansas boasts frequent and dangerous storms throughout the year, despite having a relatively normal range of maximum and minimum temperatures, that is, between 32° F (0 °C) and 86° F (30 °C).
On average, Arkansas gets about 60 days of thunderstorms each year.
Technical characteristics
Some of the following technical characteristics have been calculated by averaging climatological data for the principal cities of Arkansas: Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Texarkana, Monticello, and Fort Smith.
- Climate types (Köppen climate classification): humid subtropical (Cfa).
- Average maximum temperatures in summer: 88.79 °F (31.55 °C).
- Average maximum temperatures in winter: 54.58 °F (12.5 °C).
- Average minimum temperature in summer: 67.37 °F (19.65 °C).
- Average minimum temperatures in winter: 33.29 °F (0.6 °C).
- Range of average rainfall per year: 40-60 inches (101.6-152.4 cm).
- Hottest regions: Texarkana (Miller County), Lewisville (Lafayette County), Magnolia (Columbia County), Hamburg (Ashley County), and Lake Village (Chicot County).
- Highest record temperature: 120 °F / 48.8 °C (August 10, 1936. Ozark).
- Coldest regions: Salem (Fulton County), Ash Flat (Sharp County), and Melbourne (Izard County).
- Lowest record temperature: -29 °F / -33.8 °C (February 13, 1905. Gravette, Benton County).
- Snowiest month: January.
- Average snowfalls per year: unknown.
- Common weather phenomena: thunderstorms, hail storms, snowstorms, tornadoes, and tropical cyclone.
- Tornado season: spring.
When does it snow in Arkansas? 🌨
Does it snow in Arkansas in November?
Yes, it might snow in November. These first snowfalls usually extend throughout the territory of Arkansas, although they are much more frequent and intense in the northeast of the state.
Does it snow in Arkansas in December?
Yes, it does! From this month, it is possible to see considerable snowfalls (above one inch of accumulation on average) in almost all of Arkansas.
There’s a chance of seeing a White Christmas in Arkansas, although it is a rare phenomenon. The last time Little Rock (the capital and largest city of Arkansas) enjoyed a White Christmas was in 2004.
Does it snow in Arkansas in January?
Yes, it does! January is the month with the highest levels of snow accumulation in Arkansas.
Does it snow in Arkansas in February?
Yes, it does! Oddly enough, the cities Salem (Fulton County), Ash Flat (Sharp County), and Melbourne (Izard County) reach their maximum snowfall during this month, and not in January as usual.
Does it snow in Arkansas in March?
Yes, it might snow in March. Despite being the last winter month, the average snow accumulation remains relatively high in some northeastern cities.
Where does it snow in Arkansas? 🌨
Taking the month of January as a reference because it is the one that exhibits the highest levels of snowfall during the Arkansas winter, we present below a table in which we directly answer the question in this section (Where does it snow in Arkansas?):
| County seat | Does it snow? |
| Salem | Yes |
| Ash Flat | Yes |
| Melbourne | Yes |
| Newport | Yes |
| Corning | Yes |
| Marshall | Yes |
| Mountain Home | Yes |
| Searcy | Yes |
| Mountain View | Yes |
| Pocahontas | Yes |
| Walnut Ridge | Yes |
| Paragould | Yes |
| Heber Springs | Yes |
| Harrisburg | Yes |
| Harrison | Yes |
| Jonesboro | Yes |
| Clinton | Yes |
| Augusta | Yes |
| Yellville | Yes |
| Wynne | Yes |
| Berryville | Yes |
| Jasper | Yes |
| Batesville | Yes |
| Forrest City | Yes |
| Bentonville | Yes |
| Hot Springs | Yes |
| Huntsville | Yes |
| Des Arc | Yes |
| Marianna | Yes |
| Mount Ida | Yes |
| Conway | Yes |
| Lonoke | Yes |
| Benton | Yes |
| Fayetteville | Yes |
| Blytheville | Yes |
| Perryville | Yes |
| Little Rock | Yes |
| Marion | Yes |
| Fordyce | Yes |
| Russellville | Yes |
| Morrilton | Yes |
| Sheridan | Yes |
| Pine Bluff | Yes |
| Camden | Yes |
| Star City | Yes |
| Helena-West Helena | Yes |
| Rison | Yes |
| Hampton | Yes |
| Danville | Yes |
| Malvern | Yes |
| De Queen | Yes |
| Prescott | Yes |
| De Witt | Yes |
| Booneville | Yes |
| Arkadelphia | Yes |
| Hope | Yes |
| Texarkana | Yes |
| Charleston | Yes |
| Clarksville | Yes |
| Van Buren | Yes |
| Fort Smith | Yes |
| Waldron | Yes |
| Magnolia | Yes |
| Nashville | Yes |
| Ashdown | Yes |
| Monticello | Yes |
| Warren | Yes |
| El Dorado | Yes |
| Murfreesboro | Yes |
| Lewisville | Yes |
| Lewisville | Yes |
| Hamburg | Yes |
| Arkansas City | Yes |
| Lake Village | Yes |
| Mena | Yes |
The cities shown in the table above are the respective seats (administrative centers) of the 75 counties that make up the state of Arkansas. Likewise, these county seats are ordered according to how likely it is a snowfall will occur in their territory (from most to least likely).
How much does it snow in Arkansas? 🌨
Next, we expose a comparison chart of the average snow accumulation throughout a sliding 31-day period (centered on the day in question) in the seventy-five county seats of Arkansas:
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Salem | 3,5 | 4,4 | 1,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 2,1 |
| Ash Flat | 3,4 | 4,1 | 1,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 2 |
| Melbourne | 3,3 | 3,8 | 1,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,9 |
| Newport | 3,3 | 3,1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2,1 |
| Corning | 3,2 | 3,5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 2 |
| Marshall | 3,2 | 3,5 | 1,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,8 |
| Mountain Home | 3,1 | 3,8 | 1,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 2,1 |
| Searcy | 3,1 | 2,6 | 0,9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,9 |
| Mountain View | 3 | 3,3 | 1,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,8 |
| Pocahontas | 3 | 3,2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,8 |
| Walnut Ridge | 2,9 | 2,9 | 0,9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,8 |
| Paragould | 2,9 | 2,8 | 0,8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,9 |
| Heber Springs | 2,9 | 2,4 | 0,9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,8 |
| Harrisburg | 2,9 | 2,4 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,8 |
| Harrison | 2,8 | 3,4 | 1,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 2 |
| Jonesboro | 2,8 | 2,6 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,8 |
| Clinton | 2,8 | 2,4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,4 |
| Augusta | 2,7 | 2,2 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,7 |
| Yellville | 2,6 | 3,3 | 1,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,6 |
| Wynne | 2,6 | 2,2 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,5 |
| Berryville | 2,5 | 2,9 | 1,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,9 |
| Jasper | 2,4 | 2,9 | 1,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,5 |
| Batesville | 2,4 | 2,4 | 0,9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,6 |
| Forrest City | 2,4 | 2,1 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 |
| Bentonville | 2,3 | 2,2 | 1,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,5 |
| Hot Springs | 2,3 | 1,9 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,7 |
| Huntsville | 2,2 | 2,6 | 1,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,6 |
| Des Arc | 2,2 | 1,9 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,4 |
| Marianna | 2,1 | 2,1 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,2 |
| Mount Ida | 2,1 | 1,8 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,6 |
| Conway | 2,1 | 1,7 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,4 |
| Lonoke | 2,1 | 1,6 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 |
| Benton | 2,1 | 1,6 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,6 |
| Fayetteville | 2 | 2 | 0,9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,2 |
| Blytheville | 2 | 1,8 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,8 |
| Perryville | 2 | 1,6 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 |
| Little Rock | 2 | 1,5 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,4 |
| Marion | 1,9 | 1,8 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,2 |
| Fordyce | 1,9 | 1,7 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,4 |
| Russellville | 1,9 | 1,7 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,1 |
| Morrilton | 1,9 | 1,6 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,2 |
| Sheridan | 1,9 | 1,6 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,4 |
| Pine Bluff | 1,8 | 1,7 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 |
| Camden | 1,8 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,5 |
| Star City | 1,7 | 1,8 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 |
| Helena-West Helena | 1,7 | 1,8 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1 |
| Rison | 1,7 | 1,7 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,2 |
| Hampton | 1,7 | 1,6 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 |
| Danville | 1,7 | 1,6 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,1 |
| Malvern | 1,7 | 1,4 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,2 |
| De Queen | 1,7 | 1,4 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,2 |
| Prescott | 1,7 | 1,3 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,4 |
| De Witt | 1,6 | 1,6 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,2 |
| Booneville | 1,6 | 1,5 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1,1 |
| Arkadelphia | 1,6 | 1,3 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 |
| Hope | 1,6 | 1,2 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 |
| Texarkana | 1,6 | 1,1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,2 |
| Charleston | 1,5 | 1,6 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,1 |
| Clarksville | 1,5 | 1,6 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 | 1 |
| Van Buren | 1,5 | 1,5 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1 |
| Fort Smith | 1,5 | 1,5 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1 |
| Waldron | 1,5 | 1,4 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,2 |
| Magnolia | 1,5 | 1,1 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 |
| Nashville | 1,5 | 1,1 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,2 |
| Ashdown | 1,5 | 1,1 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,2 |
| Monticello | 1,4 | 1,6 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Warren | 1,4 | 1,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| El Dorado | 1,4 | 1,3 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,1 |
| Murfreesboro | 1,4 | 1,1 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,2 |
| Lewisville | 1,4 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,2 |
| Lewisville | 1,4 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,2 |
| Hamburg | 1,3 | 1,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 |
| Arkansas City | 1,2 | 1,2 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 |
| Lake Village | 1,1 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 |
| Mena | 1,1 | 0,8 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,8 |
The numbers shown in the table above represent inches.
Related post → Does it snow in United States of America?
Source → WeatherSpark.