People in Lauderdale County and surrounding areas may consider insulated underwear for most of the week, but can stay optimistic for a weekend of shorts and short sleeves.

Icy Roads

Mississippi Highway Patrol in Meridian reported at 6 a.m. Interstate 59 traffic blocked between 111 and 118 mile markers in Jasper County due to icy conditions. Essential traffic should use an alternate route.

Mississippi Department of Transportation reports ice on roads in all counties of the state and advises against travel on state highways. Travel conditions are available at www.MDOTraffic.com and on Twitter @MississippiDOT

Near-record setting temperatures will shiver the Meridian area and much of the state Wednesday as wind chill factor can feel like single-digit temperatures.

“I’d stay inside,” said Chad Entremont, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson. “It’s not even going to be fun inside the car waiting for it to warm up.”

Closed Wednesday

Cancellations and closures announced for Wednesday include:

Lauderdale County Schools, Meridian Public Schools, Neshoba County Schools, Newton County Schools, Choctaw Tribal Schools and daycare; Philadelphia Public Schools, Newton Municipal Schools, Newton County Academy, Quitman School District,  Kemper Academy, Noxubee County Schools, Louisville Municipal Schools, Lamar School.

Meridian Community College, all East Mississippi Community College campuses, East Central Community College, Jones County Junior College, MSU-Meridian but events at Riley Center will continue, Mississippi State University’s Starkville campus.

Lauderdale County Courthouse, Choctaw Tribal Schools government offices, East Central Community College, NAS Meridian will delay start of operations until 9 a.m. (All non-essential personnel should report at this time except for certain air operations personnel who have been notified to report at their regular time to open the airfield.)

Mississippi Power customer offices in Meridian will open at noon Wednesday. 

Slight snow accumulation Tuesday seemed like Mother Nature’s warning sign for don’t go outside. The meteorologist reminded people to protect pipes, pets and limit outside activities for the next day or so.

Until the temperatures begin to thaw, local officials encourage people to seek shelter. To assist people who need a place to go, Lauderdale County, the city of Meridian and the Mississippi Department of Health opened The Frank Cochran Center in Meridian as a warming shelter at 5 p.m. Tuesday. No cots or blankets will be supplied, although the Red Cross will provide water, coffee, hot chocolate and snacks.

Weather forecasts for Meridian Wednesday have lows expected around 15 degrees, feeling like single-digit temps with nearly 10 MPH winds.

A wind chill advisory remains in effect until midnight Wednesday. A hard freeze advisory remains in effect until midnight Thursday.

“It’ll be in the top 10 for coldest temperates we’ve had” for Wednesday and Thursday,” Entremont said. The low temperature record both days for Meridian is 10 degrees, set in 1977 for Jan. 17 and in 1948 for Jan. 18.

A cold arctic high pressure area has carried temperatures in the 20s and teens to the state. The region should continue to see cold area for a few days.

“Each day it’s going to gradually get a little bit warmer but the mornings will still be chilly,” Entremont said. “Once we get into the weekend, there’s an opportunity to get into the 60s.”

The temperature at 6 a.m. Wednesday was 12 degrees. Although a sunny day is expected with a high near 32, the wind chill values will be as low as -3 thanks to a north wind 10 to 15 mph an gusts as high as 20 mph.

Clear skies remain through the weekend, with a high of 60 anticipated on Saturday.