Camden and the surrounding areas have been placed under a Winter Storm warning until 6 p.m. tonight just days after a powerful storm system moved through the area knocking down trees and power lines.
According to the National Weather Service, heavy snow expected with total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. Some sleet could mix in at times, possibly lowering amounts where sleet occurs.
With Arctic air firmly in place before and after the winter weather arrives, impacts from snowfall will last for several days, resulting in a prolonged period of hazardous travel conditions.
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Be sure to check road conditions before traveling in these areas. Visit the Arkansas Department of Transportation`s website Idrivearkansas.com for the latest road and traffic conditions.
The warning states, " Arctic air will remain in place over the forecast area through at least Wednesday morning, with bitterly cold overnight lows falling to single digits at most locations and below-zero values expected across northern and northwestern Arkansas. Wind chill values through this period will fall to -10F to -15F at their lowest, and only reach up to 10F in most locations during the day. Multiple days of bitter and dangerous cold could lead to infrastructure damage, and prolonged exposure to these temperatures could cause frostbite."
The City of Camden and The Ouachita County Courthouse, as well as SAU Tech will be closed Monday due to the Martin Luther King Holiday.
Additionally The Camden Water Utilities stated, "With the forecast calling for temperatures this weekend and the first part of next week to be in the teens and single digits, Citizens need to be prepared for such low temperatures. Letting your faucets drip will prevent the water from standing still in your service lines which in turn allows it to freeze when temps are this low. It's always a good idea to know how and where to turn your water service off in case of an emergency and have the necessary tools available to do so. If your water service does freeze, go ahead and turn the water off until the weather has warmed up. Chances are, if your water lines have frozen you're going to have a busted water line when it thaws out, which can run your water bill up into the hundreds of dollars if neglected.
"Wrap outside faucets and if you have other structures or buildings with water service you need to consider those as well. Inspect those structures and buildings as soon as the temps get above freezing to be assured you don't have a busted line. If your home has a crawl space make sure the vents from the outside are closed or sealed off.
"Dripping water is a small price to pay for insurance to prevent your water service lines from freezing.
"Other things to consider is outside animals. Provide them with a warm place to get out of the wind and make sure their drinking water is not frozen for a long period of time."
The Camden News previously reported, with impending cold temperatures and bad weather being forecast next week, the following warming centers have been set up in Camden: Camden Police Department lobby, Ouachita County Sheriff Office Lobby, District Court and Victory Church will be open 24 hours for those needing shelter. The city encourages all residents unless you are a member of emergency personnel or traveling to work to stay home until it is safe to be out.