Shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday evening, the National Weather Service upgraded Grenada County from a Winter Storm Watch to an Ice Storm Warning as Winter Storm Fern moves toward Mississippi.
The warning will be in effect from 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, through 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, and covers Grenada, Webster, Montgomery, Carroll, Holmes and Yazoo counties. Forecasters said significant icing is expected, with ice accumulations of up to one inch and additional sleet possible.
Officials warned that the storm could lead to power outages, tree damage and dangerous road conditions. The ice buildup may make travel impossible and could disrupt the Friday evening commute.
Residents are urged to delay all travel, if possible. Those who must travel should use extreme caution and carry a winter emergency kit with items such as tire chains, booster cables, a flashlight, blankets, extra clothing, water and a first aid kit. Officials also advised against touching downed power lines and encouraged residents to report outages to their electric provider.
Earlier Thursday, Grenada Emergency Management Agency Director Chris Whitehurst said that the anticipated setup is similar to – and in some ways more concerning than – the more recent 2021 and 2024 ice storms, which left much of Grenada County paralyzed for days, closed schools and businesses and knocked out power to large portions of the community. He said current guidance shows a 65 to 90 percent chance of ¼ inch of ice accumulation in Grenada County, a 40 to 75 percent chance of ½ inch and a 10 to 30 percent chance of 1 inch of ice. He noted that ¼ inch of ice meets the general criteria for an ice storm and said this system has the potential to rival some of the most disruptive ice events on record for the region.
“If you remember what it was like trying to get around town in 2021 and again in 2024 — the trees down, the lines on the ground, the slick bridges — that is the level of impact we are planning for, and in the northwest part of the county it could be worse if the heavier icing band sets up over us,” Whitehurst said.
The Star will continue to post weather updates and alerts as new information is made available.
