Live Map: Track power outages across Arkansas as winter storm sweeps across state
Power outages are possible across Arkansas as a powerful winter weather system is poised to move through the region. Bookmark this link for live updates as the outages are reported.Live-updating map Electric company crews Power companies across Arkansas are preparing for winter weather.SWEPCO utility crews have indicated that response times for power outages during the upcoming winter storm may vary based on weather conditions and the extent of the damage.”Slips, trips and falls are huge in this line of work,” said Trey Good, Apprentice Lineman for SWEPCO. You know, poles get iced over, and if they’ve got to be climb that that poses pretty good risk.”Officials say there’s certain areas that have higher priority than others. “It really depends on critical infrastructure,” said Shanda Hunter, State Government Affairs Director with SWEPCO. “We’re going to make hospitals, or, life saving systems like that are going to take priority, but it really depends on the severity of the problem.”Ultimately, field crews say they want to restore power as fast, and as safely as they can. “We hurry slowly, if that makes any sense,” said Good. “We we really take our time and make sure that, you know, we do what we’re supposed to do based on our safety rules.”Most of the shifts for SWEPCO crews are called major storm restoration, where they start work at 6 a.m. and continue until 10 p.m.Rob Roedel, spokesperson for the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, said crews are checking water lines at power plants and winterizing equipment.He said office and line crews are on standby, and crews are fully stocked on materials in case they need to restore power. Crews also trim trees year-round to make sure limbs don’t fall on power lines if ice or snow accumulates.The Arkansas Electric Cooperative includes 17 cooperatives across the state. They have mutual aid agreements, so each one helps the other.Black Hills Energy, which is not part of the Arkansas Electric Cooperative, released energy-conservation tips for the upcoming weather.Lower your thermostat a few degreesTurn your water heater to 120 degrees and make sure it is properly insulatedUnplug home appliances like coffee makers and phone chargers when not in useForecast infoThe risk of widespread snow or a snow-sleet mix across our area is increasing for this weekend.We could see a sleet or sleet snow mix moving into the River Valley late Friday afternoon, with more of a snow or snow sleet mix moving into Northwest Arkansas Friday night.Right now, snow chances look to be highest later Friday night into Saturday morning. We could get some breaks in the sleet and snow later Saturday afternoon into early Saturday evening before another batch of snow and sleet moves through Saturday night into Sunday.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
Power outages are possible across Arkansas as a powerful winter weather system is poised to move through the region. Bookmark this link for live updates as the outages are reported.
Live-updating map
Electric company crews
Power companies across Arkansas are preparing for winter weather.
SWEPCO utility crews have indicated that response times for power outages during the upcoming winter storm may vary based on weather conditions and the extent of the damage.
“Slips, trips and falls are huge in this line of work,” said Trey Good, Apprentice Lineman for SWEPCO. You know, poles get iced over, and if they’ve got to be climb that that poses pretty good risk.”
Officials say there’s certain areas that have higher priority than others. “It really depends on critical infrastructure,” said Shanda Hunter, State Government Affairs Director with SWEPCO. “We’re going to make hospitals, or, life saving systems like that are going to take priority, but it really depends on the severity of the problem.”
Ultimately, field crews say they want to restore power as fast, and as safely as they can. “We hurry slowly, if that makes any sense,” said Good. “We we really take our time and make sure that, you know, we do what we’re supposed to do based on our safety rules.”
Most of the shifts for SWEPCO crews are called major storm restoration, where they start work at 6 a.m. and continue until 10 p.m.
Rob Roedel, spokesperson for the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, said crews are checking water lines at power plants and winterizing equipment.
He said office and line crews are on standby, and crews are fully stocked on materials in case they need to restore power. Crews also trim trees year-round to make sure limbs don’t fall on power lines if ice or snow accumulates.
The Arkansas Electric Cooperative includes 17 cooperatives across the state. They have mutual aid agreements, so each one helps the other.
Black Hills Energy, which is not part of the Arkansas Electric Cooperative, released energy-conservation tips for the upcoming weather.
- Lower your thermostat a few degrees
- Turn your water heater to 120 degrees and make sure it is properly insulated
- Unplug home appliances like coffee makers and phone chargers when not in use
Forecast info
The risk of widespread snow or a snow-sleet mix across our area is increasing for this weekend.
We could see a sleet or sleet snow mix moving into the River Valley late Friday afternoon, with more of a snow or snow sleet mix moving into Northwest Arkansas Friday night.
Right now, snow chances look to be highest later Friday night into Saturday morning. We could get some breaks in the sleet and snow later Saturday afternoon into early Saturday evening before another batch of snow and sleet moves through Saturday night into Sunday.