JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippians awakened Friday morning, Feb. 12 to what many termed, “a winter wonderland.”
The heavy blanket of snow accumulated up to 8 inches along the Natchez to Brookhaven line, according to a weather report from WAPT Chief Meteorologist David Hartman. The Jackson metro area recorded 4 to 6 inches.
It’s the first big February snow since 1985 in the City of Jackson.
“Oh, the snow looks so beautiful,” said The Mississippi Link Publisher Jackie Hampton. “It really does look like a winter wonderland outside.”
That wonderland began to fade as the snowfall dissipated and started to melt a little in the metro area after 1 p.m. However, most of the grounds were still covered with the white powdery-looking ice late Friday evening.
According to weather reports, the big winter blast that hit Mississippi tapered off to the southeastern United States, but not without mishaps.
The rare Mississippi snow left approximately 19,800 Entergy customers without power statewide.
“We have dedicated employees working around the clock to restore electricity in challenging weather conditions,” said Haley Fisackerly, president and chief executive officer for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “Our priority over the next 36 hours is to return service to customers as quickly and safely as possible.”
According to released information, as of late Friday afternoon, Entergy Mississippi is reporting 13,625 power outages. The bulk of those outages-about 9,000–are in Hinds County.
Entergy Mississippi has brought in about 400 of its 550 workers in the I-20 corridor and south from its sister companies in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, and from contract utility companies. The company expects to have power restored to 95 percent of customers who lost electricity due to the storm by late Saturday, Feb. 13
In addition to power outages, the wintry blast caused schools and state offices to close throughout the state. However, the City of Jackson employees had to report to work.
There were also a number of traffic accidents reported on the interstates and tree branches snapping due to the heavy snow.
Gov. Haley Barbour ordered state offices closed south of U.S. 82 Friday due to snowy and icy conditions in the area.
“This is a time to be safety-minded and to check in on your elderly and housebound neighbors to make sure they have what they need to get through this winter storm,” Barbour said.
He declared a State of Emergency on Thursday and alerted the National Guard to be prepared to respond to emergencies. Thursday, the winter blast warning was issued for Central Mississippi and south thereof.
The Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency are also aiding local communities. Agency directors have the discretion to decide whether key personnel or emergency officials should report to work.
Unless otherwise notified, all state employees should report to work on Tuesday. Monday is a holiday for many workers – President’s Day.
By the day’s end, some snow accumulation was still left on the ground in the metro Jackson area. One could also see an array of slightly melted snowmen sculptured by children who receiived an unexpected fun day off from school.
Just prior to this posting, local reports indicated temperatures tonight are expected to fall below freezing, causing bridges and some street to ice over.
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