First hard freeze of season forecasted Sunday night

The coldest air to hit North Central Arkansas since last winter is forecasted to impact the area Sunday night. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) Saturday will be pleasant with sunny skies and a high of 73. By evening winds turn to the Northwest ushering in the cold air. Sunday’s high is expected to only reach 46 with overnight lows at 23 degrees.The last time the area was this cold was on February 24 of this year when overnight lows reached 25 degrees. The record low for Sunday is from 1991 when temperatures dropped to 11 degrees in Mountain Home and the Aurora Borealis was able to be seen.

At this time the NWS has not issued a freeze advisory or warning but sensitive vegetation and possibly outdoor plumbing could be effected by the below average temperatures. NWS Meteorologist Willie Gilmore says high winds will make the temperature feel even colder than forecasted.

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The University of Arkansas Agriculture Research and Extension Service recommends winterizing gardens by cleaning out leaf litter, draining hoses, replacing old mulch, and storing away unsealed clay pots and other items that may crack in cold weather.

In the home it is important to prepare for the cold season by clearing gutters that could freeze, sealing drafts to lower heating costs and having your heating system inspected by a reputable service company.

Cold weather won’t stick around long in the Twin Lakes area as temperatures are forecasted to reach 59 degrees on Veterans Day and continue to climb through the week back into the lower 70s with sunny conditions.

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