CD: Cold snap: Dangerously low temperatures in store for Golden Triangle for next several days

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Golden Triangle cities may have dodged an icy bullet Thursday, but dangerously cold temperatures from an arctic storm are expected to remain in the area into next week.

Life largely returned to normal today, after icy road conditions feared by emergency officials didn’t materialize overnight. Area schools and some businesses closed Thursday as snow and light rains fell across the area. But most precipitation dried before it could wreak havoc on roads and bridges today, and all local schools reopened normally.

Farther north, however, icy roads and bridges greeted motorists this morning.

Authorities say a motorist was killed Thursday morning in Panola County, where freezing winter weather coated some roads and bridges in ice.

Locally, Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop G spokesman Brian Mobley reported five weather-related wrecks in nearby counties, including one in Oktibbeha. Injuries were reported from wrecks on Highway 9 North in Monroe County and Highway 278 west of Amory in Webster County.

The Highway Patrol and the state Department of Transportation confirmed the majority of ice has cleared and roadways are safe, but some bridges, hills and shady spots of road may have some lingering ice. The highway patrol is maintaining 24-hour patrols through the weekend.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

CD:Bitter cold, precipitation moving into area forces school closures, agencies to go on alert

ALLEN BASWELL

As concerns about the cold weather in the area remain, emergency officials advised area citizens to stay inside as much as possible, and monitor weather conditions.

Ice accumulated on some north Mississippi roads today. National Weather Service Meteorologist Joanne Culin warned that temperatures could be in the teens Friday night, so there’s still a chance of patches of ice on roads in much of Mississippi.

A hard freeze warning was issued from Thursday night through Sunday.

Culin says windchills could dip below zero in the next few days in north Mississippi and actual high temperatures aren’t expected to rise above freezing through at least Sunday.

“No matter if you are staying in or you need to go somewhere, monitor the weather closely. If you do have to go out, be very careful,” said Lowndes Columbus Emergency Management Agency Director Cindy Lawrence.

On Wednesday, Lawrence met with local government and emergency officials to discuss preparation plans should bad weather arrive.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

Heat Advisory for Oktibbeha County, MS

Issued by The National Weather Service
Jackson, MS
3:50 am CDT, Mon., Jun. 22, 2009

… HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT TUESDAY…

THE HEAT ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT TUESDAY.

HEAT STRESS LEVELS WILL CONTINUE TO BE VERY HIGH. HIGH TEMPERATURES NEAR 100 COMBINED WITH HIGH RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL SEND HEAT INDICES TO ABOVE 105 IN THE AFTERNOON… WHILE LOW TEMPERATURES ONLY MANAGE TO FALL INTO THE MID 70S.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE. BE SURE TO CHECK ON THE ELDERLY. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS… STAY IN AN AIR- CONDITIONED ROOM… STAY OUT OF THE SUN… AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.