A very slow-moving upper level low pressure system made its way across Arkansas early in May, bringing an historic weather event to the state. Snow fell in parts of northwest Arkansas, making it the first time snow had ever fallen in the state in the month of May. The previous record for the latest in the spring that measurable snow had ever fallen was 0.2 inch at Corning (Clay Co.) on April 24, 1910. The previous record for the latest in the spring that any snow had ever fallen was a trace at Harrison (Boone Co.), Fayetteville (Washington Co.), and Gravette (Benton Co.) on April 30, 1903.
Also, record-breaking cold occurred at dozens of reporting stations. On the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, numerous stations broke records for the lowest temperatures ever recorded on the dates and others broke records for the coolest high temperatures ever recorded on the dates.
In addition, many stations broke or tied the record for the coldest low temperatures they had ever seen in the month of May. These included Leola (Grant Co.), Sparkman (Dallas Co.), Greers Ferry Dam (Cleburne Co.), Murfreesboro 1W (Pike Co.), Arkadelphia 2N (Clark Co.), Searcy (White Co.), Sheridan (Grant Co.), Alum Fork (Saline Co.), Cabot 4SW (Lonoke Co.), Clarksville 6NE (Johnson Co.), Fordyce (Dallas Co.), Pine Bluff (Jefferson Co.), Hot Springs Airport (Garland Co.), Jacksonville (Pulaski Co.), Des Arc (Prairie Co.), Star City (Lincoln Co.), Keo (Lonoke Co.), Little Rock (Pulaski Co.), Saint Charles (Arkansas Co.), North Little Rock (Pulaski Co.), and Rohwer 2NNE (Desha Co.). All of the aforementioned stations had lows in the 30s; Leola and Sparkman reached 32 degrees.
Finally, numerous stations broke or tied the record for the coldest high temperatures they had ever seen in the month of May. These included Lead Hill (Boone Co.), Harrison (Boone Co.), Mountain Home 1NNW (Baxter Co.), Flippin (Marion Co.), Calico Rock 2WSW (Izard Co.), Devils Knob (Johnson Co.), Evening Shade 1NNE (Sharp Co.), Hardy (Sharp Co.), Mammoth Spring (Fulton Co.), Mountain View (Stone Co.), Batesville Lock & Dam (Independence Co.), Gilbert (Searcy Co.), Newport (Jackson Co.), Batesville Airport (Independence Co.), Booneville (Logan Co.), Alum Fork (Saline Co.), Batesville Livestock Experiment Station (Independence Co.), Clarksville 6 NE (Johnson Co.), Clarksville Water Plant (Johnson Co.), Des Arc (Prairie Co.), Saint Charles (Arkansas Co.), Conway (Faulkner Co.), Jacksonville (Pulaski Co.), North Little Rock (Pulaski Co.), Cabot 4SW (Lonoke Co.), Keo (Lonoke Co.), Morrilton (Conway Co.), Beedeville 4NE (Jackson Co.), Brinkley (Monroe Co.), Rohwer 2NNE (Desha Co.), Star City (Lincoln Co.), Little Rock (Pulaski Co.), Pine Bluff (Jefferson Co.), Russellville (Pope Co.), and Stuttgart Airport (Prairie Co.).

Winter Weather in BAXTER, ARKANSAS
From 04-MAY-13 02:00:00 to 04-MAY-13 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Mountain Home 1NNW recorded a trace of snow on the 4th.

Winter Weather in STONE, ARKANSAS
From 04-MAY-13 02:00:00 to 04-MAY-13 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Mountain View recorded a trace of snow on the 4th.

Winter Weather in LOGAN, ARKANSAS
From 03-MAY-13 04:00:00 to 03-MAY-13 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Ratcliff recorded a trace of snow on the 3rd.

Winter Weather in NEWTON, ARKANSAS
From 04-MAY-13 21:00:00 to 05-MAY-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

The observer 2.7 miles west-northwest of Jasper recorded 0.3 inch of snow on the 5th.

Winter Weather in POLK, ARKANSAS
From 03-MAY-13 04:00:00 to 03-MAY-13 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Queen Wilhelmina State Park recorded 0.8 inch of snow on the 3rd.

Winter Weather in VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS
From 03-MAY-13 04:00:00 to 03-MAY-13 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWSS

The Clinton airport recorded a trace of snow on the 3rd.

Funnel Cloud in GARLAND, ARKANSAS
From 04-MAY-13 13:53:00 to 04-MAY-13 13:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOT SPGS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A cold air funnel was photographed near Hot Springs.

Winter Weather in BOONE, ARKANSAS
From 03-MAY-13 05:30:00 to 04-MAY-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Harrison recorded 0.1 inch of snow on the 3rd and a trace of snow on the 4th. The CoCoRaHS observer 5.4 miles southwest of Harrison recorded 0.2 inch of snow on the 3rd and 1 inch of snow on the 4th.

Winter Weather in NEWTON, ARKANSAS
From 03-MAY-13 04:00:00 to 03-MAY-13 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Compton recorded 1 inch of snow on the 3rd. Jasper and Parthenon each recorded a trace of snow on the 3rd.

Winter Weather in SEARCY, ARKANSAS
From 04-MAY-13 02:00:00 to 04-MAY-13 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Gilbert recorded a trace of snow on the 4th.

Winter Weather in CONWAY, ARKANSAS
From 04-MAY-13 02:00:00 to 05-MAY-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hattieville recorded a trace of snow on the 4th and again on the 5th.

Winter Weather in MONTGOMERY, ARKANSAS
From 03-MAY-13 05:30:00 to 03-MAY-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Mount Ida recorded a trace of snow on the 3rd.