Winter Weather Update

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/graphicast.php?site=jan&gc=2, http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/wwa/, http://www.weather.gov/view/national.php?prodtype=winterstorm

~Jackson, MS

Winter Storm Warning

As you all may have been informed from television as well as from my blog here that we are going to have some significant winter weather on our hands today. A matter of fact only a few hours until those weather conditions enter into the Rankin County area. Even throughout this morning heading to church, I drove through some sleet and I know more will be on the way.

Due to this significant winter weather, the National Weather Service has issued out a Winter Storm Warning. This Winter Storm Warning has been in effect since 9am this morning to 6am Monday morning. This Winter Storm Warning is for all of the central counties and most of the northern counties as well. When a Winter Storm Warning is issued it usually means severe winter weather conditions are expected and significant amount of ice are expected.

Reason for this Winter Storm

A low pressure system will track along the gulf coast to combine with very cold and initially dry air to produce wintry precipitations in the forms of freezing rain, sleet, and snow across northeast LA, southeast AR, and much of Mississippi. Here in MS south of Interstate 20 will see mostly freezing rain and will see mostly ice which is very dangerous considering traveling. Jackson, Brandon, Pearl, Forest, Morton, Newton and many others are including in this. In the Jackson area, we are on that borderline to where we could get alot of snow or just alot of ice. It really all depends but mostly we're looking at freezing rain with mixing snow and sleet. Counties located above Interstate 20 could see anywhere from 4-8 inches of snow especially seeing how the QPF models looked on yesterday.

Preparedness actions/tips

Primary concern right now will be loss of power and telephone service due ice, snow, and gusty winds. So be sure to have a flashlights and extra batteries in case lights do go off. Candles can be used as well but they always carry the risk of fire, so be careful as to where you put your candles. Every home should have this but if you do have a NOAA radio, be sure to have it on especially for emergency reports. Make sure to have extra supples like food and medicines just in case you are not able to go anywhere.

I don't advice anyone to travel especially during tonight but if you do it is still good to encourage in the words of, " Be safe and travel cautiously." You can never hear that enough especially with this type of weather conditions. Also, another tip is to let someone know where and when your have to travel just in case anything goes wrong.

I'll try to have updates later