Little Rock, AR – Thirty years ago today, on January 18, 1996, a powerful line of thunderstorms swept through central Arkansas ahead of an Arctic cold front, causing widespread wind damage and sharp temperature drops.
According to the National Weather Service in Little Rock, the storms developed in the early morning hours, intensifying as they moved toward Conway and other central Arkansas communities. Conway sustained the heaviest wind damage, with downed trees, power outages, and scattered property loss.
Behind the line, frigid Arctic air poured into the region, sending temperatures crashing from the 60s into the teens within hours. The sudden temperature plunge made this one of the most memorable winter storm events in Arkansas weather history.
Meteorologists note that this 1996 outbreak remains a reminder of how quickly severe weather can strike during winter months across the South — with warmth, wind, and cold converging in dramatic fashion.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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