Mississippi residents didn’t need the President’s Day holiday to get a day off work this week thanks to the build up of snow and ice.
As of this morning, Washington County remains under a Winter Storm Warning with a Hard Freeze Warning and a Wind Chill Advisory. The storm has been bringing a significant accumulation of ice, sleet and snow that could lead to downed trees and power lines.
According to National Weather Service Senior Forecaster Joanne Culin, there should be at least a few more hours of the wintry mix falling before it temporarily stops.
Monday’s temperature high is 18 degrees with a wind chill of -3 degrees and the low for tonight is 2 degrees, with a wind chill of -12 degrees.
“The biggest band is moving through the area now but there’s some lighter precipitation on the other side of that,” Culin said.
While there is no chance for snow or sleet on Tuesday, the temperatures will stay low enough that nothing will have a chance to thaw and melt before the next winter storm system moves through the region.
Tuesday’s forecast shows mostly sunny skies with a high of 20 degrees and a low of 14 degrees. Then, on Wednesday morning, there is another chance for snow showers and sleet before noon, followed by more snow showers, sleet and freezing rain during the day.
“We have another system moving through the area Wednesday and Thursday,” Culin said Monday morning. “This one’s going to be different. What you’re getting now is more snow and sleet. You’re still going to have that but there may be more freezing rain with this upcoming system. It’s going to compound any issues you get today.”
The City of Greenville declared a Local State of Emergency due to safety concerns for residents.
“The aforesaid conditions of extreme peril warrant and necessitate the proclamation of local emergency in order to provide for the health and safety of the citizens and the protection of their property within the affected jurisdiction,” the City of Greenville’s Facebook page posted Monday morning.
Also as a result of today’s winter storm, the all city and county offices are closed, including no running of garbage trucks.
The City of Greenville also issued a boil advisory for all residents due to low water pressure.
“City Public Works crews and emergency personnel are responding to weather storm as well as attempting to resolve water situation during these extreme cold temperatures. Please know the City is working as hard as it can to get water restored. Thanks for your patience, positivity, and understanding under the circumstances,” stated the City of Greenville’s Facebook page.
Safety measures to take during a water boil advisory, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health, include:
* Do not drink the tap water;
* Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute to kill most organisms;
* Do not use ice made from recent tap water;
* Cook with tap water only if food is boiled for at least one minute;
* Wash dishes, fruits and vegetables in boiled water or water that has been disinfected with bleach. Using your home dishwasher is not recommended;
* Brush your teeth with boiled or bottled water;
* Wash your hands and bathe as usual. Bathing is safe as long as no water is swallowed; and
* Wash laundry as usual. Laundry washed in hot or cold water is safe.
As of Monday morning, there has only been one brief power outage in the City of Leland where about 175 customers lost power that has since been restored, according to Entergy Customer Service Manager Gerald Husband.
More information will be posted as updates occur.
