As Winter Weather Awareness Week continues, the Jackson Weather Examiner will review winter weather advisories and winter storm criteria here in Mississippi.

Winter Weather Advisories are issued more often in Mississippi than any other wintry weather watch or warning, due to the mostly minor snow and or icing events that occur during the winter months.

So what actually are Winter Weather Advisories issued for?

Winter Weather Advisories are issued for winter events that are of significance to the public but do not constitute a serious enough threat to life and property to warrant the issuance of a Winter Storm Warning.  These advisories cover minor accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle and or sleet, which can cause an significant inconvenience and moderately dangerous driving conditions.  

Winter Weather Advisory Criteria

• .25 to 2 inches of snowfall within 12 hours
• sleet accumulations of less than 1 inch
• less than one quarter inch of freezing rain and or freezing drizzle

While winter storms are not common, it does not take much snowfall to reach winter storm criteria in Mississippi.

Oppose to the Winter Storms in the Northern United States which require a criteria of 6 inches of snowfall or more within 12 hours and or 8 or more inches within 24 hours, it only takes 2 inches or more of snowfall within a 12 hour time frame and or 4 inches or more within 24 hours to reach winter storm criteria.

This amount of snowfall would likely shutdown cities and towns across the state, due to the lack of equipment and materials to deal with significant snows and plus many people here in Mississippi are not accustomed to driving in snow.

The last winter storm to affect the state occurred earlier this year (2009)  on March 1st  when over 2 inches of snowfall fell across across portions of  Northern Mississippi.

• Ashland-5 inches
• Corinth-4 inches
• Southaven-4 inches
• Ripley-4 inches
• New Albany-3 inches
• Booneville-3 inches
• Senatobia-3 inches
• Marks-3 inches                               
• Fulton-3 inches
• Olive Branch-3 inches
• Bruce-3 inches
• Columbus- 3 inches
• Scooba-3 inches
• Starkville-2.5 inches                                                                     

[Note: Winter Weather Awareness/Preparedness Week for the following states : Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, and Kansas]