Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley's top weather and climate stories of 2023 - 4029tv

NWA and the River Valley's top weather and climate stories of 2023

Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley's top weather and climate stories of 2023

2023 brought strong storms, sweltering temperatures and ice-cold freezes to Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Here are the top weather and climate stories from each month.

January

Snow and ice hit our area hard in 2023. At the end of the month, state, county and city leaders asked drivers to stay home whenever possible.

February

Arkansas filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, saying it abused its regulatory powers in a dispute over what Arkansas needs to do under the Clean Air Act. Attorney General Tim Griffin said the regulations would hurt the state's economy. As of Dec. 2023, the case is still before the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

March

An EF-3 tornado hit Little Rock and nearby towns on March 31, killing five people and hurting dozens. It caused catastrophic damage in the north part of the city, tearing through neighborhoods.

April

The people of Arkansas worked to recover from March's tornadoes. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders activated the National Guard to help and President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration.

May

Northwest Arkansas was named one of the top ten places to live in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The region's scores in desirability and quality of life rose, even as it lost points in value and the job market.

June

An EF2 tornado hit Logan County at 1 a.m. on Father's Day. The 700-yard-wide tornado knocked down power lines and trees across the area.

July

An EF1 tornado hit Mansfield Friday morning. The tornado and other strong storms large parts of the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas. Despite the tempests, no one was seriously hurt.

August

Extreme heat affected the entire state. Outdoor activities, including college and high school football, were rescheduled to try and avoid the highest temperatures.

September

A storm knocked out power to large parts of Alma, including the high school. Students learned from teachers virtually until the damage was repaired.

October

While much of the country got to see an annular eclipse, conditions were too cloudy for most people in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Fortunately, our area is prime real estate for a total eclipse in April.

November

People in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama took videos and photos of a strange object in the sky. Some reached out to 40/29 News, asking if it was a meteor, while others believed it was a fireball or just a plane. The mystery was solved when an aviation expert explained the phenomenon.

December

Below-freezing temperatures caused problems for drivers. One morning, ice on an Interstate 49 onramp caused cars to slip off the roadway, some flipping over.