But all was not well in the higher elevations of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains of the north and west. A balloon launch from North Little Rock (Pulaski County) at 600 pm CST on the 22nd showed a layer of subfreezing air not far above the ground and extending to around 3000 feet.
An inversion (rising temperatures) existed farther aloft at 4000 and 5000 feet. Snow and sleet that fell through this layer tended to melt, and then froze in the subfreezing layer.
During the evening of the 22nd, an ice storm was in progress. Photos showed some buildup on branches near Mountain Home (Baxter County). A check of temperatures at a few mountain locations at 400 am CST on the 23rd revealed a reading of 29 degrees at Jasper (Newton County), and 31 degrees at Alco (Stone County) and Compton (Newton County).
In the end, more than a half inch of ice accrued on exposed objects in places such as Botkinburg (Van Buren County), Deer (Newton County), Moreland (Pope County), Mount Magazine (Logan County), Ozone (Johnson County), and Witts Spring (Searcy County). Ice was the most significant at elevations above 1500 feet. The weight of the ice downed numerous trees and caused hundreds of power outages.

Winter Weather in PIKE, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 05:29:00 to 23-JAN-20 09:18:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The observer estimated 0.3 inches of primarily sleet.

Ice Storm in JOHNSON, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 05:00:00 to 23-JAN-20 11:22:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Ice acrruals of 0.75 inches were measured in areas at or above 1800 feet in elevation. This was in Ozone.

Ice Storm in YELL, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 06:05:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

The person estimated one half inch of ice accrual on elevated surfaces. Mt. Nebo State Park is approximately 1700 feet in elevation.

Ice Storm in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 06:22:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

A person measured one half inch of ice accrual on elevated surfaces. The location 3 miles northwest of Moreland is at approximately 1100 feet in elevation.

Ice Storm in JOHNSON, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 05:00:00 to 23-JAN-20 11:54:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

The person measured three quarters of an inch of ice accrual on most surfaces. Three miles south southeast of Yale is approximately 1900 feet in elevation.

Ice Storm in LOGAN, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 05:12:00 to 23-JAN-20 11:10:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

The person estimated three quarters of an inch of ice accrual on most surfaces. Mt. Magazine is at 2500 to 2600 feet in elevation.

Winter Weather in SCOTT, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 04:11:00 to 23-JAN-20 09:48:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The observer measured 0.3 inches of mainly sleet with snow mixed in.

Winter Weather in LOGAN, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 05:12:00 to 23-JAN-20 11:10:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

The observer reported 0.3 inches of snow and sleet.

Ice Storm in NEWTON, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 06:30:00 to 23-JAN-20 11:54:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

The person estimated one half inch of ice accrual on nearly all surfaces. One mile south southeast of Deer is approximately 2300 feet in elevation.

Ice Storm in NEWTON, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 06:30:00 to 23-JAN-20 11:54:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Observer estimated one quarter inch of ice accrual on elevated surfaces. One mile north northwest of Compton is approximately 2100 feet in elevation.

Ice Storm in VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 06:00:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

The person measured one half inch of ice accrual on elevated surfaces. Botkinburg is 1400 to 1500 feet in elevation.

Winter Weather in CONWAY, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 06:00:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

An estimated one tenth of an inch of freezing rain fell at Petit Jean Mountain.

Winter Weather in SCOTT, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 04:11:00 to 23-JAN-20 09:48:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The observer reported 0.3 inches of primarily sleet.

Winter Weather in POLK, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 04:11:00 to 23-JAN-20 09:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The observer reported 0.8 inches of primarily sleet in Bogg Springs.

Winter Weather in MONTGOMERY, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 05:29:00 to 23-JAN-20 10:12:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The observer estimated 0.2 inches of primarily sleet.

Winter Weather in MONTGOMERY, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 05:29:00 to 23-JAN-20 10:12:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An estimated 0.3 inches of primarily sleet was reported.

Ice Storm in SEARCY, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 07:00:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The observer estimated one half inch of ice accrual on elevated surfaces. Witts Spring is approximately 1900 feet in elevation.

Ice Storm in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 07:22:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

The person estimated three quarters to one inch of ice accrual on elevated surfaces. Three miles southeast of Bayou Bluff Campground is approximately 2000 feet in elevation.

Winter Weather in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 07:22:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The observer estimated 0.1 inches of primarily sleet.

Winter Weather in CONWAY, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 06:00:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

The person estimated one quarter inch of ice accrual on elevated surfaces. One mile east southeast of Marshall is approximately 1500 feet in elevation.

Winter Weather in POLK, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 04:11:00 to 23-JAN-20 09:48:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

An estimated half inch of snow was reported.

Winter Weather in POPE, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 07:22:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An estimated 0.2 inches of mainly sleet was reported.

Ice Storm in VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 06:00:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

The person estimated ice accrual of three quarters of an inch on elevated surfaces. Chimes is approximately 1800 feet in elevation.

Winter Weather in VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS
From 22-JAN-20 08:43:00 to 23-JAN-20 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The spotter reported 0.20 inches of ice on elevated surfaces. The location 3 west of Rocky Hill is approximately 1600 feet in elevation.

Winter Weather in NEWTON, ARKANSAS
From 24-JAN-20 03:00:00 to 24-JAN-20 09:51:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The observer measured 1.5 inches of snow and light snow was still falling at the time of observation.