Update: Ice storm unfolding; warnings and advisories expanded in Mississippi
A challenging forecast is ahead for portions of western and much of northern Mississippi through Tuesday with significant accumulations of ice possible as rain continues to move over much colder air now in place at the surface.
The National Weather Service (NWS) upgraded the Winter Storm Watch to an Ice Storm Warning from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday for the Mississippi Delta with concerns of ice accumulations of up to at least a quarter-inch on trees, power lines and elevated surfaces including bridges as temperatures hover around or just below freezing.
Such accumulations could bring down trees and power lines, resulting in widespread and or prolonged power outages.
The warning covers the counties of Bolivar, Grenada, Carroll, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Sunflower and Washington. This does include the cities of Greenville Greenwood and Cleveland.
An winter weather advisory has also been issued for much of northern Mississippi, north of Highway 82, from 10 a.m. Monday to noon Tuesday for the likely possibility of occasional freezing rain with accumulations of less than a quarter-inch on trees, power lines and elevated surfaces.
The advisory covers the counties of Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Coahoma, De Soto, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union and Yalobusha.
In addition, a freezing rain advisory has been issued covering Carroll, Webster, Montgomery, Grenada, Holmes, Warren and Yazoo counties until 6 p.m. Monday with minor ice accumulations of up to a tenth possible.
If you have plans to travel across portions of western and northern Mississippi, north of a line from Vicksburg northeast to Yazoo City to just north of Columbus, later Monday morning and afternoon, extreme caution is advised when traveling over bridges, which could become icy.
Otherwise, expect a cold rain including in the capital city of Jackson through the day with temperatures falling and holding in the mid and upper 30s and low 40s. Areas along the coast will manage to hold in the 40s.
This is a developing situation and everyone should stay updated on the latest weather information as it becomes available.
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