Update: Winter storm to hit central Mississippi with accumulating snow early Thursday
The ice storm that plagued the state over the last two days has finally come to an end to only be replaced with some possibility of accumulating snow Wednesday night into early on Thursday.
According to the National Weather Service, much of the Delta, extending into north-central and all of northwestern Mississippi, managed to receive at least a quarter to half-inch of ice accumulation on trees and power lines from Monday into to late Tuesday.
This resulted in numerous reports of downed trees and large tree limbs and some downed power lines. Many bridges in northern Mississippi had also iced over, said Brett Carr, a spokesman with the state's emergency management agency.
Dozens of schools and businesses remained closed on Wednesday as areas impacted by the ice storm continue under a state of emergency, declared Monday night.
View slideshow: Ice storm unfolding in Mississippi (Jan. 14, 2013)
A stalled frontal boundary just to the southeast of the state, allowed a series of disturbances to ride up and over the cold airmass in place. And with very warm temperatures aloft, allowed for the rain to fall into surface temperatures at or below freezing, leading to the ice storm across the region.
Other than some drizzle, most of the precipitation had ended for most areas early Wednesday that experienced the ice storm with all winter weather warnings and advisories discontinued.
Rain, however, was continuing for areas further south and east across much of central and southern Mississippi, where temperatures were hovering in the mid and upper 30s to low 40s.
All of the rainfall should shift east out of the state by mid-afternoon Wednesday with high temperatures statewide above freezing, averaging in the upper 30s north and central to the mid 40s south.
By tonight, all attention turns to the next potential for wintry precipitation.
A cold-core upper level low pressure area is expected to track across central Mississippi into north-central Alabama overnight into early Thursday.
Under this upper low, temperatures are forecast to cool enough through the atmosphere to allow for any remaining moisture to fall as a period of light snow or rain/snow mix.
"Scattered snow showers will be possible tonight through early Thursday morning. The potential for light snowfall accumulation exists but is expected to remain below one inch," the NWS said.
This will be monitored closely as these type of systems have the potential to produce a more localized heavier burst of snow in some areas.
After this system moves through Thursday morning, a much drier weather pattern will come into place through at least mid-next week, giving the state a chance to dry out after a very wet start to the year and month.
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