MEMA Urges Mississippians to Prepare for Wet Winter Weather

MISSISSIPPI – (PRESS RELEASE)The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is asking residents to be aware of the potential for heavy rain, flooding and the possibility of snow Tuesday through Wednesday.

The National Weather Service is forecasting as much as six inches of rain in portions of central and east Mississippi. Rain may turn to snow Tuesday evening with light accumulations possible on the eastern side of the state.

MEMA and the NWS remind motorists to “Turn around, don’t drown” when it comes to driving on roadways that may become covered with water. It’s difficult to know how deep the water is or if the roadway is washed out underneath.

“We’re going to have lots of folks traveling for Thanksgiving and we want them to know what to expect with this weather system,” said MEMA Executive Director Robert Latham. “Our goal is for everyone to be safe and enjoy the holiday with family and friends.

Cold rains will continue from Monday afternoon through Tuesday night, with two to four inches falling in most of the central part of the state. North Mississippi could see light snow or sleet into Tuesday, with rain and snow likely in central and south Mississippi on Tuesday night.

In addition to the flooding hazards, bridges and overpasses could ice over as temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s late Tuesday through early Wednesday. Bridges, culverts and overpasses often freeze before other parts of the roadway, and ice patches can be difficult to see.

The sun is expected to return on Wednesday, though the temperatures will remain in the upper 30’s or lower 40’s.

MEMA urges residents to have a fully stocked emergency supply kit and to use extreme caution when operating things like space heaters.