If you’re considering moving to Northwest Arkansas, you might be concerned about the winters here. Will you be forced to deal with heavy ice and snow all the time? Will you go weeks without seeing the sun?
Winters in Northwest Arkansas are relatively mild. There is ice and snow, but usually, it disrupts life for just one day before it melts and disappears. Additionally, the temperatures in the winter are relatively mild, and the sun is usually out.
In this article, I’ll discuss everything you need to know about the winters in Northwest Arkansas, so you’re well prepared if you choose to move here. Let’s get to it!
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Snow and Ice in Northwest Arkansas
Let’s talk about ice and snow. Northwest Arkansas is in a little bit of a beltway of ice in middle America and southern America, with Kentucky and Tennessee, but the main difference between here and other areas in this belt is that we don’t have a lot of major ice storms. The last major ice storm here, which was a doozy, was back in 2009, before I was even here.
A couple of times a year, we might get some ice, such as a sheet of ice on the roads. But the interesting thing about living here versus Chicago, where I grew up, is that there isn’t a lot of equipment ready and available to handle the ice because we don’t get a lot of snow or ice usually here in Northwest Arkansas.
Therefore, it isn’t worthwhile for the state or the towns of Fayetteville, Bentonville, or Rogers to maintain a fleet of vehicles for the ice. So instead, what usually happens is that an ice storm may come through about once a year, and usually, it isn’t even really a storm; it’s just a bit of rain that freezes. Then, the world shuts down here for about a day or less.
Interestingly, the world has adjusted to working from home, so it’s not a big shock anymore. So a lot of times people stay at home and schools are shut down. That’s what happens a lot. So when it comes to ice, it’s usually very minimal, and it only disrupts one day, once or twice a year.
Some years will have more major storms, like in 2009, but no major ice storms have happened since then.
Snow-wise, it will snow once or twice a year here, three times tops. It often melts by the next day because it’s usually warmer here compared to anything in the north. So, it will snow here on and off, but it’s usually gone by the next day.
I come from the Chicagoland area, so if I never see snow again, I am completely fine with that. But the people who grew up here in Northwest Arkansas are all excited to see the snow. So, I let them have their fun with the snow, but it can go away the next day as far as I’m concerned. And it usually does!
Another advantage of the snow here is that it doesn’t stick around and get dirty and annoying as it does in the north. That does not exist here in Northwest Arkansas, thank God.
Winter Temperatures in Northwest Arkansas
Let’s talk about the temperatures. I don’t enjoy extremely hot, consistent temperatures all the time, which is why I was never interested in Phoenix, Arizona, or anywhere in Texas. It’s just way too hot down there for me and deserty and dry. Same thing with Florida; just way too hot and humid.
Northwest Arkansas hits that perfect temperature, for me at least, where they have some of the most consistent temperatures in terms of lows in the temperatures. It’ll usually be around 30 degrees (1.11°C), maybe 32 (0°C), maybe 28 (-2.22°C), it all just depends, but that’s usually the average low.
So, the average low is usually right around freezing. In the wintertime, the lowest it’ll go during the daytime is between the thirties to 45 or 50 degrees (7.22-10°C) and sunny.
One of the things that I prefer and enjoy about Northwest Arkansas is that you don’t have super extremes. In Illinois, for instance, you have really hot summers and very, very, very cold winters.
So the usual temperature here in Northwest Arkansas is really good for experiencing all four seasons.
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Northwest Arkansas: Enjoy All Four Seasons!
While winters here can get a little cold, a little icy, and a little snowy, you do get to experience all four seasons and get a variety of temperatures. You get to enjoy wintertime activities and summertime activities. So whether you like biking, hiking, running, rock climbing, or if you’re into water sports, you can do it all here.
Another great thing about Northwest Arkansas is that you can do things all year long. Whereas in other states, it gets extremely hot and unbearable or extremely cold, then coming here is going to be a big win for you because winters may be mild here compared to where you’re coming from. So, you’ll get to do things all year long here instead of being stuck indoors for almost half the year.
If you’d like more information about what there is to do outdoors in Northwest Arkansas, check out my article on outdoor tourism in the area. Alternatively, if you’re in the mood for a short trip, check out my article on the major travel areas near NWA for inspiration.
Another benefit of the temperate climate is that it’s so much sunnier here in the winter compared to Chicago, the Pacific Northwest, and other parts of America. Winters here are a lot sunnier and warmer, and you’ll see the sun a lot more often!
In other parts of the country, like in Chicagoland, you can go 20 days without seeing the sun, which is depressing. Here in Northwest Arkansas, it’s way warmer and sunnier in comparison because we get all four seasons.
Conclusion
Northwest Arkansas has great winters, which makes it a lot easier to be here in the wintertime. You’ll get mild winter temperatures, and the sun is always out. When we do get ice or snow, it usually disrupts life for just one day before we can get back outside again. If you want to experience the full four seasons with mild winters, Northwest Arkansas is the place to be!