New Year’s Eve threatens to be frigid, wet and icy.

The National Weather Service regional office in Jackson issued a winter weather advisory Saturday morning for Lauderdale County and much of Mississippi effective from 6 a.m. Sunday to 3 p.m. Sunday.

In addition, a hard freeze watch is in effect from 10 p.m. Sunday to 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Freezing rain is expected to create hazardous travel conditions beginning late Saturday night and much of Sunday over most of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, according to the weather service.

A weather disturbance will combine with an arctic cold front moving south into the region, bringing a mixture of light freezing rain and sleet, according to the weather service.

The wintry precipitation is anticipated to reach north central Mississippi around midnight, and then gradually develop southward. It’s predicted to reach the I-20 corridor around daybreak.

The primary concern will be for light ice accumulations due to freezing rain that will cause bridges and overpasses to become very slick and hazardous, according to the weather service.

East Central Mississippi Counties affected include Lauderdale, Newton, Jasper and Clarke.

Total ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch are expected between 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Bridges and overpasses will be prone to ice accumulations, especially during the morning hours when precipitation will be heaviest and temperatures at their coldest, according to the weather service.

Freezing weather continues through the start of the week. A series of cold fronts will bring dangerously cold air into the region beginning Sunday night and continuing well into the week, according to the weather service.

Low temperatures will fall into the teens across much of the area on multiple nights, with high temperatures struggling to get above freezing during the days. Wind chills will fall into the single digits at times across most of the area and possibly fall to near or just below zero over parts of north Mississippi, according to the advisory.

The weather service warns that prolonged exposure to freezing weather could lead to hypothermia and may harm pets and livestock. Exposed plumbing is in danger of being damaged. Any remaining sensitive vegetation will be damaged.

The weather service advises preparations to winterize homes and vehicles should be completed Saturday.