Early on Christmas Day, a stationary front was located to the south of Arkansas. During the day, a low pressure center formed along the front, eventually tracking across southeast Arkansas on the evening of the 25th and on toward Middle Tennessee by midnight on the 26th.
During the first part of the 25th, a cold rain fell over most of Arkansas. Then, colder air began spilling into the state to the north and west of the low pressure center's track. Over the northwestern half of Arkansas, a transition from rain to freezing rain, sleet, and some snow occurred during the afternoon, with a changeover to mostly snow by evening. Over the southeastern half of the state, the changeover occurred during the evening, with mostly snow occurring by midnight. Snow began tapering off from the west after midnight, and most of the snow had exited the state by midday on the 26th.
In parts of central and western Arkansas, 0.1 to 0.2 inch of freezing rain accrued before the changeover to snow.
The heaviest band of snow fell from the Ouachita Mountains in west central Arkansas through the central part of the state and then on toward northeastern Arkansas. In this band, snowfall accumulations of 10 to 15 inches were common. The largest snowfall totals reported were 18 inches on Petit Jean Mountain (Conway Co.) and at Perryville (Perry Co.), 17.5 inches at Perry (Perry Co.), and 15 inches at Jessieville (Garland Co.) and Union Valley (Perry Co.). Thunderstorms accompanied the snow in many areas. Commerce and transportation were severely affected. Snowfall totals tapered off both to the northwest and southeast of the heaviest band of snow. Parts of northwest Arkansas received less than 1 inch of snow. Likewise, totals were less than 1 inch over a large part of southeast Arkansas.
Strong winds accompanied the winter storm. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph were common, and gusts reached 35 to 45 mph in many areas. Near-blizzard conditions occurred in the northeast part of the County Warning Area.
The combination of ice, snow, and wind caused massive power outages. Branches, limbs, and entire trees fell over onto power lines. In the County Warning Area, there were around 200,000 power outages. About 70% of electric customers in Little Rock lost power. Most of the power outages were repaired within a week; cable TV repairs took several days longer.
Trees and limbs also fell onto cars and houses. A 60-year-old man was killed in Benton (Saline Co.), when a very large tree crashed into a house. A crane had to be brought in to lift the tree off the victim. In Little Rock, the Public Works Department estimated it could take until summer to collect all the fallen debris, which amounted to about 22,000 tons.
President Barack Obama declared a federal disaster for Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, and Saline Counties.
Numerous snowfall records were broken:
New all-time calendar day snowfall records were set at Perry (Perry Co.) when 17.5 inches of snow broke the record of 10 inches set in 1944, Morrilton (Conway Co.) when 12.5 inches of snow broke the record of 9 inches set in 1944, and at Batesville Livestock Experiment Station (Independence Co.) when 11 inches of snow broke the record of 10 inches set in 2010. At Cabot 4SW, the snowfall of 10 inches tied the record of 10 inches set in 1988.
Monthly snowfall records were broken or tied at Perry (Perry Co.), Batesville Livestock Experiment Station (Independence Co.), Morrilton (Conway Co.), Mountain View (Stone Co.), Alum Fork (Saline Co.), Little Rock (Pulaski Co.), North Little Rock (Pulaski Co.), Cabot 4SW (Lonoke Co.), Gravelly 1ESE (Yell Co.), Pine Ridge (Montgomery Co.), Damascus 2NNE (Van Buren Co.), Evening Shade 1NNE (Sharp Co.), Greers Ferry Dam (Cleburne Co.), Little Rock Air Force Base (Pulaski Co.), Mena (Polk Co.), Parks (Scott Co.), Crystal Valley (Pulaski Co.), Langley (Pike Co.), Batesville Lock and Dam (Independence Co.), Big Fork 1SSE (Polk Co.), Glenwood (Pike Co.), Bonnerdale 4SSW (Hot Spring Co.), Ratcliff (Logan Co.), Augusta 2NW (Woodruff Co.), Clinton 6SE (Van Buren Co.), and Keo (Lonoke Co.).
The 10.3 inches of snow that fell at Little Rock made it the snowiest Christmas on record. It also made it one of the top ten calendar snowfalls ever recorded, as well as one of the top ten 24-hour snowfall amounts ever recorded.

Winter Weather in BOONE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 19:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The cooperative observer at Harrison measured only 0.3 inch of snow, while no snow fell at Omaha.

Winter Weather in MARION, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 19:00:00 to 25-DEC-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Winter Weather in BAXTER, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 19:30:00 to 25-DEC-12 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The cooperative observer at Mountain Home measured 0.5 inch of snow and a CoCoRaHS observer near Cotter measured 0.3 inch.

Winter Weather in JEFFERSON, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 15:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer at Pine Bluff measured 2 inches of snow.

Winter Weather in ARKANSAS, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 17:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer measured 4 inches of snow at Stuttgart.

Winter Weather in DALLAS, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 18:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 2.1 inches of snow at Sparkman and 1.7 inches at Fordyce.

Winter Weather in CLEVELAND, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 19:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer at Rison measured 3.5 inches of snow.

Winter Weather in LINCOLN, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 20:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer at Cane Creek State Park measured 1.3 inches of snow.

Winter Weather in DESHA, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 21:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 1 inch of snow at Kelso and Rohwer, and 0.2 inch at Dumas.

Winter Weather in OUACHITA, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 18:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer at Camden measured 1.5 inches of snow.

Winter Weather in CALHOUN, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 19:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A CoCoRaHS observer near Hampton measured only 0.3 inch of snow.

Winter Weather in BRADLEY, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 20:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Winter Weather in DREW, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 20:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 04:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer measured 0.2 inch of snow at Monticello.

Winter Storm in SHARP, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 19:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 9 inches of snow at Evening Shade, 5 inches at Hardy, and 3 inches at Mammoth Spring.

Winter Storm in NEWTON, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 16:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm spotter in Vendor measured 5.5 inches of snow.

Winter Storm in SEARCY, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 17:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 4 inches of snow at Gilbert and 2 inches at Marshall.

Winter Storm in STONE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 17:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer at Mountain View measured 12 inches of snow, while a CoCoRaHS observer near Mountain View measured 9.5 inches.

Winter Storm in IZARD, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 17:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 7 inches of snow at Calico Rock and 6 inches at Melbourne.

Winter Storm in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 25-DEC-12 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Five inches of snow was reported at Russellville.

Winter Storm in VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 14:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall measurements included 9 inches at Damascus (cooperative observer), 6 inches at Clinton (cooperative observer), 5.5 inches at Higden (CoCoRaHS observer) at 5 inches at Botkinburg (cooperative observer).

Winter Storm in CLEBURNE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 14:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer measured 9 inches of snow at Greers Ferry Dam.

Winter Storm in INDEPENDENCE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 14:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Batesville Livestock Experiment Station measured 11 inches of snow. Other reports included 10 inches at Desha (public report), 7 inches just south of Batesville (public report), and 7 inches at Batesville Lock and Dam (cooperative observer).

Winter Storm in JACKSON, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 14:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 10 inches of snow at Newport and 4.6 inches at Beedeville.

Winter Storm in LOGAN, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 25-DEC-12 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 7.1 inches of snow at Booneville, and 6.5 inches at Ratcliff and Subiaco. A CoCoRaHS observer near Scranton measured 4.8 inches.

Winter Storm in SCOTT, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 12:00:00 to 25-DEC-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 8.9 inches of snow at Parks and 5.6 inches at Waldron.

Winter Storm in POLK, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 25-DEC-12 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWSS

Cooperative observers measured 12 inches of snow at Vandervoort, 11 inches at Bogg Springs, and 7 inches at Big Fork.

Winter Storm in YELL, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 25-DEC-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Cooperative observers measured 10 inches of snow at Gravelly, 4 inches at Dardanelle, and 3 inches at Blue Mountain Dam. CoCoRaHS observers measured 6.4 inches near Danville and 4 inches near Dardanelle.

Winter Storm in PERRY, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall reports included 18 inches at Perryville (public report), 17.5 inches at Perry (cooperative observer), 15 inches at Union Valley (public report), and 14 inches at Houston (public report).

Winter Storm in CONWAY, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An astronomical observatory on Petit Jean Mountain recorded 18 inches of snow. Cooperative observers measured 12.5 inches at Morrilton, 10 inches at Hattieville, and 8 inches at Center Ridge.

Winter Storm in FAULKNER, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 7.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Reports included 11 inches of snow at Mayflower and 10 inches at Conway.

Winter Storm in WHITE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 12:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall reports included 13 inches at Judsonia (public report), 10.5 inches at Steprock (cooperative observer), 9.5 inches at Georgetown (cooperative observer), and 7 inches at Searcy (cooperative observer).

Winter Storm in WOODRUFF, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 13:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 6.6 inches of snow at McCrory and 6 inches at Augusta.

Winter Storm in MONTGOMERY, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 09:00:00 to 25-DEC-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 10 inches of snow at Pine Ridge and Oden, 9.6 inches at Mount Ida, and 8 inches at Hopper.

Winter Storm in GARLAND, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 12.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

There was a public report of 15 inches of snow at Jessieville. Cooperative observers measured 12 inches at Washita and 8 inches at Hot Springs National Park.

Winter Storm in SALINE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer at Alum Fork measured 11 inches of snow, while a CoCoRaHS observer near Benton measured 8.5 inches. Public reports included 11 inches near Salem and 8 inches at Sardis.

Winter Storm in PULASKI, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 10:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 48.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Both Adams Field and the North Little Rock airport measured 10.3 inches of snow. Other reports included 12 inches at Maumelle (NWS employee), 10.5 inches at Jacksonville (spotter report), 7.5 inches at Crystal Valley (cooperative observer), 6 inches at Lake Maumelle (cooperative observer), and 5.8 inches near Landmark (CoCoRaHS observer). Prior to the beginning of the snow, 0.2 inch of freezing rain fell at the North Little Rock airport.

Winter Storm in PRAIRIE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 12:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer measured 6 inches of snow at Des Arc.

Winter Storm in HOT SPRING, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 14:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Cooperative observers measured 7 inches of snow at Malvern and Bismarck, and 6 inches at DeGray Lake State Park.

Winter Storm in LONOKE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 11:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Snowfall reports in Lonoke County included:  12 inches at Austin (Air Force weather forecaster), 10 inches at Cabot (cooperative observer), 8 inches at Lonoke (public report), 7 inches at Cabot (HAM radio and meteorologist reports), and 5 inches at Keo (cooperative observer).

Winter Storm in GRANT, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 15:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 6 inches of snow at Sheridan and 4 inches at Leola.

Winter Storm in CLARK, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 17:30:00 to 25-DEC-12 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A CoCoRaHS observed measured 5 inches of snow at Arkadelphia.

Winter Storm in PIKE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 10:00:00 to 25-DEC-12 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 7.4 inches of snow at Langley, 7 inches at Glenwood, and 6 inches at Murfreesboro.  A CoCoRaHS observer measured 6.5 inches near Delight.

Winter Weather in JOHNSON, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 25-DEC-12 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 4 inches of snow at Coal Hill, 2 inches at Clarksville and 1 inch at the Clarksville Water Treatment Plant.

Winter Weather in MONROE, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 13:00:00 to 26-DEC-12 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Cooperative observers measured 3.5 inches of snow at Brinkley and 2.5 inches at Clarendon.

Winter Storm in FULTON, ARKANSAS
From 25-DEC-12 19:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The cooperative observer at Salem measured 5 inches of snow.