Average Weather Around New Year’s in Arkansas: Key Patterns & Insights

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Spending New Year’s in Arkansas? You’ll probably notice the cool to cold weather, though it often feels mild if you’re used to northern states. Average temperatures usually sit somewhere between the mid-30s and low-50s Fahrenheit, but sometimes they dip below freezing, especially up north or in the hills. Snow and ice can happen, but honestly, they’re not the norm, so the conditions can surprise you each year.

The state’s landscape definitely changes how the weather feels. The Ozark and Ouachita Mountains get colder and might pick up a bit of snow, while the southern lowlands usually stay milder. Rain shows up more often than snow. Cloudy skies are pretty common, but once in a while, you’ll get those clear, crisp days that make you want to be outside.

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It helps to know what to expect so you can pack right and plan your activities. Walking through Hot Springs, hiking in the Ozarks, or exploring historic places? The weather shapes your plans. If you check out temperature trends and cloud cover, you’ll get a better sense of how Arkansas welcomes the New Year.

Typical Weather Conditions During New Year’s in Arkansas

New Year’s in Arkansas usually marks the coldest stretch of the year. Expect chilly mornings, cool afternoons, and the chance for rain or a quick shot of wintry weather, depending on where you are. The weather feels different in the northern hills compared to the southern lowlands.

Average Temperatures and Daily Ranges

Early January temperatures usually run from lows near the mid-20s to mid-30s °F (-4°C to 1°C) and highs from the upper 40s to low 50s °F (8°C to 11°C). Up north, places like Fayetteville and Harrison get colder nights, sometimes in the low 20s °F (-6°C). Down south, towns like El Dorado or Texarkana tend to stay a few degrees warmer.

Central Arkansas, including Little Rock, often sees highs around 50–52°F (10–11°C). Nights drop below freezing, usually landing near 30–32°F (0°C).

Records show extreme cold snaps have pushed temps into the single digits in the north. Sometimes, mild spells bring highs into the 60s °F (15–20°C). It’s rare, but it happens, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to be outside.

Precipitation and Rainfall Patterns

Arkansas gets more rain than snow at New Year’s. Most of the state picks up 3 to 4 inches (75–100 mm) of precipitation in January. The south and east usually get a bit more, thanks to Gulf moisture.

Cloudy days and light to moderate rain are pretty common. Storms sometimes roll through, mixing rain with colder air, so it can feel damp and chilly.

Rain usually doesn’t stick around long, but you might see a few rainy days in a week. If you’re planning to be outside, grab a rain jacket or an umbrella just in case.

Snowfall Occurrence and Accumulation

Snow can happen, but it’s not frequent around New Year’s. Northern Arkansas, especially the Ozark and Boston Mountains, sees the best chance. Most years bring just 1–3 inches (2–7 cm) for the month, though some winters deliver a bit more.

Central Arkansas, like Little Rock, sometimes gets a dusting or maybe an inch. Down south, snow is rare, but the odd flurry can show up during a strong cold front.

Usually, snow melts fast because daytime highs stay above freezing. Still, there have been years when snowfall topped 6 inches (15 cm), mostly up north or in the hills.

Regional Weather Variations Across Arkansas

Weather around New Year’s really depends on where you are in Arkansas. Elevation, latitude, and what’s nearby all influence temperatures, rain, and snow chances.

Weather in Northern Arkansas

Northern Arkansas, including Fayetteville and the Ozarks, gets the coldest weather in late December and early January. Highs usually sit in the mid to upper 40s °F, and lows often fall into the upper 20s °F.

Snow shows up here more than anywhere else in the state. Fayetteville’s weather station usually records about 2 inches of snow in January, and freezing rain sometimes happens too. Icy roads can be an issue in the hills or shaded spots.

Rain’s pretty common, with 2–3 inches for the month. Because of the elevation, temperatures can swing fast. A mild afternoon might turn into a freezing night, so bring layers if you’re heading outside.

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Weather in Central Arkansas

Central Arkansas, home to Little Rock, usually feels milder than the north. Highs often reach the low 50s °F, and nighttime lows average in the mid-30s °F.

Snow isn’t as common, but it’s not impossible. Little Rock typically gets 1–2 inches of snow in January, though most years it’s just a dusting. Freezing rain poses a bigger risk, especially when Gulf moisture meets a cold front.

Rainfall comes in at 3–4 inches for the month, with about a week of measurable rain. Cloudy skies are the norm, but you still get around 10 hours of daylight. If you’re traveling, expect chilly, damp mornings that warm up a bit by afternoon.

Weather in Southern Arkansas

Southern Arkansas, including Texarkana and areas near Louisiana, stays noticeably warmer. Highs average in the mid-50s °F, and lows usually sit in the upper 30s to low 40s °F.

Snow is rare here. Texarkana’s weather station reports less than 1 inch of snow on average in January, and some winters pass with none at all. Rain is more common, with 3–4 inches typical for the month.

Humidity runs higher, and cold air from up north usually loses its edge before it gets this far south. You might see chilly mornings, but afternoons often feel pretty mild. Southern Arkansas can be one of the more comfortable places for winter travel in the state.

Temperature Trends and Historical Records

Around New Year’s, Arkansas temperatures swing between mild afternoons and freezing nights. State weather stations have tracked these patterns for years, and while most years are manageable, the data includes some wild extremes.

Notable Cold Snaps and Warm Spells

In early January, average highs run from the upper 40s °F up north to the low 50s °F in central and southern Arkansas. Overnight lows usually dip into the 20s °F in Fayetteville, and the 30s °F in Little Rock and Texarkana.

Historical records point out some intense cold snaps. Sometimes, statewide lows drop below 0°F during big Arctic blasts, especially in the Ozark and Ouachita regions. Fayetteville has even seen New Year’s temps near -10°F in past decades.

Warm spells pop up too. Occasionally, highs reach the upper 60s °F or even low 70s °F around New Year’s, mainly in southern Arkansas. These warm-ups don’t last long—usually just a day or two before colder air returns.

So, you might wake up to freezing temps but wind up with a surprisingly mild afternoon.

Comparison to National Averages

Nationally, Arkansas sits somewhere in the middle. Northern states like Minnesota or North Dakota often deal with highs in the teens °F and lows way below zero. Meanwhile, Florida can hit the 70s °F. Arkansas falls right between those extremes.

Average January highs in Little Rock (around 51°F) are about 10–15 degrees warmer than the U.S. average for the month. Lows in the 30s °F feel milder than the national average, which usually sits in the 20s °F.

Weather stations across Arkansas confirm that the state avoids the worst winter cold, but it still gets a taste of winter. It’s cooler than the Deep South, but nowhere near as harsh as the Midwest or Northeast during the holidays.

Cloud Cover, Sunlight, and Daylight Hours

Early January skies in Arkansas usually lean cloudy, and daylight hours are limited. Sunshine breaks through sometimes, but you’ll notice shorter days and more overcast skies compared to other months.

Typical Cloudiness Levels

Clouds are a regular sight across Arkansas in the first week of January. Most days, the sky is at least half covered, and totally clear days don’t happen often in winter.

You’ll probably see partly cloudy conditions more than full sunshine. Expect a mix of gray with a few breaks of light. In cities like Little Rock and Pine Bluff, January brings fewer clear days than the yearly average.

Clouds also connect to winter rain. Not every cloudy day brings precipitation, but high humidity and seasonal storms keep skies gray for longer stretches. If you’re planning to be outside, just know that cloudiness is likely and visibility can change.

Average Sunlight and Day Length

Daylight hours hit their shortest point in early January. Across Arkansas, you’ll get about 9.8 to 10 hours of daylight a day. Sunrise is close to 7:15 a.m., and sunset falls near 5:15 p.m., give or take depending on where you are.

Even when the sun comes out, cloud cover limits actual sunshine. Most days, you’ll only get 3 to 4 hours of direct sun, compared to over 10 hours in June.

Short days can make travel or outdoor plans trickier. If you want to catch the most light, aim for midday when the sun’s highest and clouds are most likely to part.

Humidity, Wind, and Other Atmospheric Factors

Around New Year’s, Arkansas air tends to feel damp, and light to moderate winds add to the chill. Humidity can make the cold feel sharper, and steady breezes affect how comfortable you feel outside.

Relative Humidity Levels

Humidity in late December and early January usually stays pretty high, often above 70%. That’s just part of Arkansas’s humid subtropical climate. Even if it’s only in the 30s or 40s °F, the moisture makes the cold bite a bit more.

Mornings bring the highest humidity, especially after overnight rain. Fog isn’t rare, especially in valleys or near water. By afternoon, humidity drops a little but still stays higher than in drier places.

Indoors, things can feel damp if the heat’s not on. Travelers sometimes notice clothes drying slowly and outdoor gear feeling heavy from all the moisture.

Prevailing Wind Speeds and Directions

Winds around New Year’s are usually light to moderate, averaging 5 to 10 mph. Gusts can pick up when a cold front moves in, but calm days are common too.

The wind usually comes from the northwest after a front passes, bringing colder, drier air. Other times, it’ll shift from the south or southwest, pulling in mild, humid air from the Gulf.

Open areas make the wind feel stronger, while woods or cities block it a bit. Even a gentle breeze can drop the “feels like” temperature, so wind chill is worth thinking about if you’re outside.

How Weather Data Is Collected and Analyzed in Arkansas

In Arkansas, weather data comes from long-term monitoring of temperature, rainfall, snowfall, and wind. Meteorologists use these records to track both short-term conditions and long-term climate patterns.

Role of Weather Stations and Monitoring Networks

Weather stations really form the backbone of climate tracking across Arkansas. You’ll spot them in cities, tiny towns, and way out in rural areas.

Each station records temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and humidity at regular intervals.

The National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) run a lot of these stations. Local airports, universities, and agricultural sites pitch in with their own data too.

This wide network helps readings actually reflect Arkansas’s varied landscapes, from the Ozark Mountains to the Delta region.

Stations rely on standardized instruments, like thermometers set up 2 meters above the ground and rain gauges that measure how much liquid precipitation falls.

For snowfall, they use snow boards and rulers. Automated sensors track wind at 10 meters.

By gathering these steady observations, you get data that really shows how weather shifts from one county to the next. Meteorologists can spot unusual events, like droughts or ice storms, and compare them to what’s normal.

Understanding Climate Normals and Data Sources

If you want to make sense of daily weather records, you really have to compare them with long-term averages. Climate normals are basically 30-year averages of temperature, rainfall, and other variables. In the United States, NOAA updates these every decade, using all the data they’ve collected.

For Arkansas, climate normals show seasonal shifts pretty clearly. Take Little Rock, for instance—its average January high sits at about 51°F. Fayetteville’s is a bit cooler, closer to 47°F. Those numbers give you a decent idea of what to expect around New Year’s.

Historical data sets cover extremes too. Think about the driest five-year period in the 1950s or that really wet stretch in the late 2010s. You can use these records to see how today’s weather stacks up against the past.

Climate summaries mix together observed station data, model reconstructions, and quality checks. This approach keeps things accurate and consistent, even when older records came from less reliable instruments.

Once you get the hang of these sources, you’ll find it easier to read weather reports and actually trust how they reflect real conditions across Arkansas.

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