As frigid temperatures and hazardous weather settle over Arkansas, Batesville’s First United Methodist Church has opened its warming center to provide relief for those in need. The center, located at the corner of 7th and Water Streets, will operate nightly from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. through Thursday, Jan. 9.
Dinner and breakfast will be served each day, and laundry and shower services will also be available. Organizers are urging those affected by the cold to seek shelter as temperatures are expected to drop significantly.
And the Humane Society of the United States advises providing outdoor pets with a dry, draft-free shelter that retains body heat, with a raised, insulated floor and a wind-protected entrance. Wipe paws to remove snow-melting chemicals, and clean up and securely store antifreeze, a deadly toxin.
According to the National Weather Service, Sunday night’s forecast calls for lows around 21 degrees with wind chill values plunging to 9 degrees. Gusty west winds of up to 30 mph will add to the bitter conditions. Monday will see sunny skies and a high near 35, but wind chills could fall as low as 8 degrees. Overnight lows Monday are predicted to drop to 17 degrees under clear skies.
In extreme northern Arkansas, freezing rain and light snow could create hazardous travel conditions overnight into Monday morning, particularly on bridges and elevated surfaces.
Colder air is expected to linger through the week, with highs in the 30s and lows in the teens and 20s. Northern parts of the state may experience wind chill values in the single digits during the late-night and early-morning hours.
The forecast hints at a possibility of snow late Thursday and Friday.
Radar image: AccuWeather
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