Winter Storm Helen Rolls Through Region

Winter storm Helen pushed through Arkansas, and into the Midwest, Tuesday leaving a coating of frozen precipitation and forcing school closures for thousands of miles. The storm also accounted for a handful of traffic accidents, including a fatal crash near Bald Knob on U.S. 67.

Rector schools released at 1:10 p.m. Tuesday as the freezing rain and heavy snow approached, with Piggott schools dismissing just minutes later. Meanwhile, Marmaduke, Corning and other districts to the west and south closed their doors around mid-day.

Virtually all of the area schools are closed today, Wednesday, Jan. 16, but warmer temperatures were expected to melt much of the accumulation by Thursday morning.

Motorists are reminded that main highways and city streets are mostly clear, but secondary roads are hazardous. County roads are especially slick, with a coating of ice covered by snow.