DECATUR — Yet another snowstorm closed schools and businesses in Decatur last week and blanketed the area with more than six inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service in Tulsa.
Large accumulations of ice, accompanied by power outages were initially predicted, but the storm ended up dumping more snow than ice on northwest Arkansas.
Freezing rain and sleet began to fall in Decatur about 3 p.m. on Thursday. During the night the rain and sleet switched overto snow, and heavy snow continued to fall until after midnight Friday.
The storm created hazardous road conditions and closed Decatur Schools on Friday, Monday and Tuesday. At press time, it was uncertain if schools would re-open on Wednesday.
The Decatur Fire Departmentdidn’t respond to any accidents caused by the icy roads, according to Fire Chief David Flynt.
“I think most people just stayed home,” he said.
Children enjoyed the break from school and got another rare chance to enjoy winter games like sledding and building snowmen.
Including the Jan. 28 and 29 storm, northwest Arkansas has received an average of 10 inches of snow in 2010.
The average for the 2009-2010 season is 14 inches - more than 4 inches above normal for the entire year, with the possibility of additional storms yet before winter weather is over.
News, Pages 1 on 02/03/2010