Children built snowmen, dogs played in the snow and the city and county shut down while emergency workers warned of potential hazards as East Mississippi woke up Friday to its first snowfall of the 2017-18 winter season.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Warning for Lauderdale and surrounding counties, which was in effect until noon Friday.

The City of Meridian issued a special weather curfew for area residents beginning at 8 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Saturday. Roads are expected to deteriorate and ice over early this evening due to temperatures falling below freezing.

City of Meridian Public Works, Police and Fire departments will be monitoring streets and bridges throughout the night. City personnel expect to keep major streets and bridges open so emergency vehicles will be able to respond as needed. Law enforcement officials will be patrolling throughout the evening and early morning.

Snow is accumulating and 2-3 inches are forecast for the area, with more accumulation possible in elevated areas. The National Weather Service advises drivers to use caution.

The weather service issued a statement at 4:19 p.m.: “Due to recent snowfall today, wet roadways and especially bridges and overpasses could become slick overnight. As snow ends and skies clear later tonight, temperatures will gradually drop well below freezing. This could lead to the development of black ice on area roadways, especially secondary or less traveled roads. Black ice is nearly impossible to see and roadways may appear wet. Please use extreme caution, especially on bridges, overpasses and around curves. Allow plenty of stopping distance and avoid braking suddenly.

Scott Spears, the director of the Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency, also, cautioned area residents.

“The moisture is moving farther north than (forecasters) anticipated and there’s more moisture than anticipated,” Spears said. “The road conditions, how they are now, will probably be that way all day and it doesn’t look like the sun will come out today.”

Spears warned that the freezing temperatures anticipated this evening will freeze the snowfall and make traveling conditions dangerous tomorrow. 

“The snow’s probably going to continue, road conditions probably won’t improve,” Spears said. “So if you don’t have to drive, don’t drive.”

Scott said that some communities in Whynot and near Highway 45/145 South have experienced power outages after heavy tree limbs fell on powerlines.

For Mississippi Power outages visit this site. For EMEPA click here.

“We may see more of that with the 10 to 15 mph winds and heavy powerlines,” Spears said. 

The Dixie Electric Power Association reported 9,000 members without electric service at 4:15 p.m., with most outages in Jones and Wayne County. 

Dixie Electric asks its members to remember that if using portable generators they should be outside to avoid dangerous exhaust fumes. Additionally, portable generators should only be connected to specific appliances, not to the home’s wiring.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation said it has received reports of icy bridges and roads. 

Ice has been reported in the following counties: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lincoln, Marion, Neshoba, Newton, Pike, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Walthall, Warren, Wayne, Wilkinson and Winston.

MDOT asks the public to limit travel.

The storm warning was issued for Newton, Lauderdale, Simpson, Smith, Jasper, Clarke, Franklin, Lincoln, Lawrence, Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones, Marion, Lamar and Forrest counties.

Friday night conditions will gradually clear, with a low around 21 predicted. In Meridian, the temperature is expected to drop below freezing around 10 p.m.

The weekend is expected to be clear with a temperature range of mid 20s to high 40s.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 511.

American Airlines flight 3125 from Meridian to Dallas was canceled and Flight 3129 from Chicago to Meridian was still incoming as of 3 p.m. but the flight onward from Meridian to Laurel was canceled. Flight 3126 to Chicago scheduled at 3:37 p.m. is delayed at least until 8:37 p.m.

Please check back for updates. If you have any snow pictures you would like to share, please send them to editor@themeridianstar.com.