PEARL, Mississippi (AP) — At least two people were killed in traffic wrecks Tuesday as the state deals with another round of winter weather.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said it has received reports of two weather-related traffic deaths — one in Lowndes County and one in Carroll County. The agency had no further details.
A spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety did not immediately return a telephone call or emailed request for comment.
In a news release, Gov. Phil Bryant expressed sympathy to the families of those killed.
“I urge Mississippians to stay aware of changing weather conditions and to stay off of roadways in impacted areas if possible,” Bryant said.
The National Weather Service said areas of northeast Mississippi could see as much as 4 inches of snow as a second wintry system moves into the state.
Forecasters said a winter storm watch remains in effect from 9 p.m. Tuesday to noon Wednesday in Tippah, Alcorn, Tishomingo, Prentiss, Union, Pontotoc, Lee, Itawamba, Calhoun, Chickasaw and Monroe counties.
Accumulations will range from two inches to four inches with ice accumulations of less than one-tenth of an inch, the weather service said.
It also issued a storm warning for central Mississippi that could bring 1 to 2 inches of snow and ice accumulations up to 0.75 inches. The warning was in effect until midday Wednesday.
Freezing rain with some ice accumulations are expected to affect roads in 30 central Mississippi counties into Wednesday morning, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Those counties are Attala, Bolivar, Carroll, Choctaw, Claiborne, Clay, Grenada, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Leflore, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Newton, Neshoba, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Rankin, Scott, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, Webster, Winston and Yazoo.
Slippery roads and bridges are being reported across much of the northern part of the state.
State transportation officials said crews are monitoring interstates and highways, and motorists are encouraged to stay off roadways affected by winter weather.
Bryant declared a state of emergency Monday ahead of the winter storm, clearing the way for state officials to move quickly to respond to problems that could be created by snow or ice.
Blue Mountain College and Mississippi State University canceled all classes and activities for Tuesday.
