LITTLE ROCK, AR – A still, frosty calm hangs over central Arkansas this morning — but conditions are primed to change fast. Forecasters warn that a brief window of freezing rain could impact the Monday morning commute, as colder air and moisture meet just above the surface.
According to the National Weather Service in Little Rock, a mix of light freezing rain and cold drizzle may develop between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Monday, with temperatures hovering near 32°F. Even a thin glaze of ice — up to one-tenth of an inch — could make bridges and elevated highways dangerously slick, especially along I-30, I-40, and I-530.
Commuters should expect slow travel, particularly across Pulaski, Saline, and Lonoke Counties. Conditions will gradually improve by midday as temperatures climb into the upper 30s, changing freezing rain to cold rain. A dry, sunny pattern takes hold Tuesday through Thursday before another weak system brings scattered showers late in the week.
This early December chill marks the start of Arkansas’s winter transition — a reminder that even minor icing events can have major travel impacts. Meteorologists say this is an “elevated caution” event, not a deep freeze, but slick spots could linger through early Tuesday morning.
Five-Day Outlook (Little Rock Area)
- Monday: Freezing rain early, turning to rain, high 35°F.
- Tuesday: Sunny, high 42°F, calm winds.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, high 49°F.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy, slight rain chance, high 43°F.
- Friday: Cloudy, high 43°F, seasonal chill continues.
Plan extra time for Monday morning travel — black ice may form before sunrise.
