Does NW Arkansas get as cold as the rest of the midwest? (Little Rock: college, utilities)

[northbound74]

Arkansas is definitely southern in every way... weather included. Take just a four hour drive north of Fayetteville further into the actual Midwest, and the temps drop a good bit. Lately, highs in the teens, and lows around zero... snow on the ground. Good jogging weather .
Northwestern Arkansas is slightly cooler than the deep south... Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama... and it's coolest place in Arkansas, weather-wise. The Ozark Plateau of southern Missouri and northern AR will generally be a little cooler and and a little less humid than the surrounding areas, even those to the north... at least in the summer.

[GetmeoutofAR]

Fayetteville has a southern climate. Springfield, MO just to the north has much harsher winters. Fayetteville averages about 5 in of snow/ year. Springfield, MO averages 20 in of snow a year. Thats a big difference in my book.

[marmac]

much harsher winters--?

comparing weather data going back the last 50 years in 3 different cities
days per year below 32-------Fort Smith--76
-------Fayetville---102
----Springfield MO--100
snowfall--------------Fort Smith-------5.2 inches
--------------Fayettville-------11.7
--------Springfield MO---------17.4


summer-------days above 90---------Fort Smith-----70
---------Fayettville---47
------Springfield MO--40

yes Springfield does get 5.7 inches more snow, however they also have 2 less days below 32.

I guess I don't read rgat as-------"much harsher winters"

[sherrenee]

Originally Posted by gimme it

Particularly interested in Fayetteville. Arkansas seems to be somewhere between the south and the midwest, but confused about the weather. Ideally, it's winters are not as harsh.

Northwest Arkansas is not in the Midwest so no. Arkansas is a southern state.

As for the winters we truly have had very little winter in the last 8 years. Our last big snow/ice was at Christmas time 2000. We usually get more ice than snow, which with being pretty hilly can make getting around dangerous.

It has just recently turned cold here, the past few months the temps have ranged from 40's-70's during the days and 30's-50's at night. This week the temps have ranged from 12-35. Next week is is suppose to be back up in the 50's-60's during the day.
Northwest Arkansas has some pretty drastic temperature changes in the winter.

[undertheironsea]

Originally Posted by sherrenee

Northwest Arkansas is not in the Midwest so no. Arkansas is a southern state.

AR may be a Southern state, but the Northwestern corner of the state is more like the midwest than the South. I don't mean in terms of topography.

[GetmeoutofAR]

Originally Posted by marmac

much harsher winters--?

comparing weather data going back the last 50 years in 3 different cities
days per year below 32-------Fort Smith--76
-------Fayetville---102
----Springfield MO--100
snowfall--------------Fort Smith-------5.2 inches
--------------Fayettville-------11.7
--------Springfield MO---------17.4


summer-------days above 90---------Fort Smith-----70
---------Fayettville---47
------Springfield MO--40

yes Springfield does get 5.7 inches more snow, however they also have 2 less days below 32.

I guess I don't read rgat as-------"much harsher winters"

That may be the data fro the last 50 years, if you take a look at the past 8 years you may find that to be a different case. Since when did Fayetteville get 11 inches of snow yearly anyway?? Ive been watching weather here since 1992. Rarely have I seen NW Arkansas take a direct hit with a winter storm. !-44 is the storm track for the southern plains pure and simple. IE Nov 30 2006. WOW what a miss that was! Oh what about Dec 2002? We got 2 inches, they got like what 20 in?? Or what about the ice storms of 2007? Where was the winter weather??....The !-44 snow belt........

[GetmeoutofAR]

Oh I forgot another one....Jan 2001...terrible snow/ice storm along I-44....Fayetteville...nothing.................Oh and another one, what about late Nov 2004, Fayetteville nothing, Springfield prolly picked up a couple inches of snow..

[boulder]

'getout' is point on in saying that I-44 is the track that winter weather tends to follow. Tulsa and Springfield seem to get much more snow and ice and are usually a few degrees colder than NWA. Those that follow weather will usually claim that the rise in elevation of the Boston Mountains kinda acts as a buffer as storms come off the Oklahoma plains.

It's been awhile since we've had a nice snowfall in Fayetteville.

[northbound74]

the Northwestern corner of the state is more like the midwest than the South

It has a influx of people from other parts of the country, giving it a somewhat "generic" feel, but definitely NOT midwestern.

[marmac]

to determine living costs, there is a formula used called "heating degree days" that determines how much heating is needed for the entire yeat.

Lower numbers---less
higher numbers=more

Here are some readings for a few cities in both Arkansas and MO.
one can compare and draw ones own conclusions

Arkansas---Little Rock---3155
---Fort Smith--3478
---Fayetville---4141

Missouri---Springfield---4638
---Kansas City--5393