It does not take much ice to make driving hazardous. During the predawn hours of February 9th, a weak storm system triggered very light precipitation across central and southern Arkansas...with trace amounts common. In central sections of the state, or from Little Rock (Pulaski County) and Searcy (White County) eastward to West Memphis (Crittenden County), temperatures were in the upper 20s to around 30 degrees...with freezing rain or drizzle reported.

In the picture: The WSR-88D (Doppler Weather Radar) showed light freezing rain spreading from central into eastern Arkansas from 3 am to 6 am CST on 02/09/2007.

There was no snow because it was too warm aloft. For example, at the North Little Rock Airport (Pulaski County), the temperature at 5000 feet was around 40 degrees at 6 am CST. If there was any snow, it melted overhead and refroze as it reached the ground (where the temperature was 28 degrees).

Air Temperatures at North Little Rock (6 am CST on 02/09/2007)
Height (ft)	Temperature (deg. F)
Ground	28.2
672	27.8
1936	23.9
3369	24.1
3786	26.4
4481	31.6
5246	40.1
7657	32.4
9695	25.0
In the table: Temperatures aloft were above 32 degrees from roughly 4500 feet to 7700 feet at North Little Rock (Pulaski County) on 02/09/2007. Very light snow fell through this warm layer, with freezing rain resulting.

In general, soil temperatures were above freezing...so the pavement was wet. But bridges and overpasses were exposed to cold temperatures, and a thin layer of ice formed. This greatly reduced traction, and caught some motorists off-guard. Numerous accidents were reported.
In the picture: Temperatures as of 6 am CST on 02/09/2007. Icing was most prevalent along Interstate 40 from Little Rock (Pulaski County) to West Memphis (Crittenden County).