Little Rock, Arkansas – Life-threatening cold is locked in across Arkansas, with dangerously low wind chills creating severe risks for residents statewide through Tuesday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Little Rock, an Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect until noon Tuesday for nearly all of Arkansas. Wind chills are expected to plunge as low as 20 below zero, especially during the overnight and early morning hours, making even brief outdoor exposure hazardous.
The cold stretches across central, northern, western, eastern, and southern parts of the state, impacting major population centers and rural communities alike. In Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Benton, Cabot, and Bryant, residents are urged to limit time outdoors and prepare for frozen pipes as temperatures remain well below freezing for an extended period. Northern and higher-elevation areas such as Harrison, Mountain View, Jasper, and Boone County could experience some of the coldest wind chills, while southern communities including Pine Bluff, Camden, Monticello, and El Dorado are also facing unusually dangerous conditions.
Emergency officials warn frostbite can develop in minutes on exposed skin, with hypothermia a serious concern for anyone without adequate heat. Residents should dress in layers, cover faces and hands, bring pets indoors, and allow pipes to drip slowly to reduce the risk of bursting. Space heaters should be used carefully, and generators or grills should never be operated indoors.
Conditions are expected to slowly improve Tuesday afternoon, though additional advisories could follow if the cold lingers. The Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect through Tuesday.
