Snow, freezing rain and sleet headed our way

Showers and a possible thunderstorm today begin a week of cold, wet and freezing weather for Vicksburg and most of the US. On Monday, the National Weather Service in Jackson is predicting snow, freezing rain and sleet with temperatures dropping to 15 degrees.

Monday’s cold will be preceded by a high of 35 on Sunday, patchy freezing drizzle on Saturday and a chance of freezing rain Friday with temperatures dipping as low as 30 degrees. Two winter storms are crossing the country. According to the National Weather Service in Jackson, a “very cold and active weather pattern is set to continue across the country to end the first full week of February, with a plethora of winter weather hazards.”

Weather chart from NOAA Jackson

From John Elfer of Warren County Emergency Management:

“Today we should see rainy conditions as temperatures drop into the 30’s by this afternoon.  The low tonight is around 34 and temperatures will fall throughout the next several days.  There is also a risk for freezing rain Friday night into Saturday, but confidence is growing that on Monday we could see some type of frozen precipitation and temperatures may not get above freezing. “

We could see cold conditions for several days and we encourage everyone to begin making preparations.  Remember to check on vulnerable people and ensure that you have made preparations to protect pets and pipes.

From the NOAA in Jackson:

“First, a continuing ice storm is impacting regions from central Texas to the Ohio Valley. A mixture of sleet and freezing rain is forecast to gradually come to an end today, but not before leaving a long swath of damaging ice accumulations. The areas with the best chance to receive a quarter inch or more of ice extends from the Ozarks to the I-64 corridor in eastern Kentucky. Ice accumulation exceeding a half inch is possible in some locations. This amount of ice will likely lead to hazardous travel conditions, power outages, and scattered tree damage, and Ice Storm Warnings are in effect for these areas.

Accumulating freezing rain is also possible across central Texas today, and some ice amounts over a tenth of an inch are forecast. Northeast of the freezing rain axis, a couple of rounds of light snow are ongoing from portions of the Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians to the Mid-Atlantic through Friday, and generally 2 to 6 inches of snow is forecast across the northern portions of the Mid-Atlantic region.

Additionally, yet another round of freezing rain is possible beginning Friday evening across parts of the Central Appalachians and into parts of Virginia and northern North Carolina. Meanwhile on the warm side of the system throughout the Southeast, showers and thunderstorms could lead to an inch or two of rain through Friday, with locally higher amounts around the central Gulf Coast region. Impactful winter weather is also a possibility across the Pacific Northwest starting today and lasting through Saturday. A low pressure system is forecast to enter southern Oregon this evening while simultaneously interacting with very cold air draining into the region. This combination may lead to not only heavy snow across the typical mountainous locations, but in the lowlands as well. Significant snowfall accumulation will be possible in both Portland and Seattle. Freezing rain could be another threat in lower elevations of northwestern Oregon in particular.

Another round of wintry weather is again possible there by Friday and Saturday. Snow and mixed precipitation are expected to spread across much of the Great Basin and into the Rockies as well. Meanwhile, the arctic airmass located over the central U.S. is not leaving anytime soon and is actually forecast to slowly expand over the next few days. High temperatures 20 to 40 degrees below average will cover a widespread area from nearly the entire Great Plains to the Great Lakes again on Thursday. By Friday these cold temperatures could ooze southward to the Gulf Coast and as far east as the Lower Mississippi Valley. Temperatures will also make a nosedive across the Northwest, where several daily low records could fall. Wind Chill Advisories and Wind Chill Warnings remain in effect and stretch from much of the Northern Plains to Midwest. Light wind combined with subzero temperatures could make it feel as cold as -50 degrees in some northern spots. This bitter cold can be dangerous and lead to frostbite in less than 10 minutes. Be sure to plan ahead and dress appropriately if spending time outdoors.”