While the most severe weather conditions related to the winter storm passing through the state tonight and early Tuesday should stay well north of the Golden Triangle, the storm could still create some hazardous conditions here, said a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Jackson.
“In your area, you’re probably only going to see, maybe, an inch of snow,” said Shannon Hefferan with NWS. “The problem is that the temperature probably isn’t going to get above freezing until Wednesday, so whatever falls could stick on the roads and could create some hazardous travel.”
According to the National Weather Service forecast, there will be a 20 percent chance of snow showers tonight and a 40 percent chance of snow showers on Tuesday, mainly between 3 and 5 a.m.
Tuesday’s high is forecast to reach just 28 with an overnight low Tuesday/Wednesday of 14 degrees. The Golden Triangle will be under a hard freeze warning until noon Wednesday.
Hefferan said the snow should move into the Delta around 6 p.m. today and arrive in the Golden Triangle in the early-morning hours.
“Most of the heavier snowfall should be well to the west of your area,” she said.
Mike Tagert, Northern District commissioner for the Mississippi Transportation Commission, said crews began work in preparation for tonight’s storm on Sunday.
“We started redistributing our materials on Sunday so that it would be available where we anticipate the needs will be,” Tagert said. “Mainly, we’re concerned with bridges and overpasses because they are more likely to freeze over. We use salt mainly, but we also use some sand, composites and slag-type materials.”
Tagert urged citizens to avoid travel overnight and Tuesday, based on the conditions.
“Unless it’s an emergency or you just have to drive, please stay off the roads,” he said. “If you do travel, use some common sense. Pay special attention to bridges and overpasses and, of course, slow down.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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