Snow comes, leaves without causing major problems

Published 5:35 pm Monday, January 11, 2021

Despite receiving more than three inches of snow and two nights of well-below freezing temperatures, city and county officials reported few problems.

Only a handful of weather-related wrecks and no power outages were reported during the storm that began Sunday night and continued through Monday morning.

While subfreezing temperatures following the storm Monday night caused concern of icing on area roads and bridges among local officials, no problems were reported Tuesday morning as people returned to work and county public and private schools resumed classes after the one-day vacation.

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“I only heard of one wreck on Oak Ridge Road (Tuesday morning); we did not have very many wrecks over the past couple of days,” Warren County Emergency Management Director John Elfer said Tuesday. “I think everybody heeded the warning and stayed home. It’s (the snow) pretty much all melted now.” 

Alan Campbell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Jackson, said between one and four inches of snow fell in Warren County, with measurements varying by location.

According to preliminary reports to the National Weather Service, Bovina reported getting two inches of snow, with four inches reported in Vicksburg about one mile west of Culkin. Two inches were reported in an area one mile northeast of Vicksburg and 3.5 inches fell in the Eagle Lake area.

Campbell said the 2-inch snowfall met the criteria for the winter storm warning the Weather Service issued for Warren County on Sunday. He said more accurate snow totals will be released in the next two days. Much of the snow remained on the ground as the sunset Monday.

While Warren County sheriff’s deputies worked only one snow-related wreck on Oak Ridge Road Monday, Sheriff Martin Pace said drivers still needed to be cautious.

“County roads are passable, but people need to drive with caution on little-traveled county roads and bridges,” Pace said Monday. “There are still some areas where there is slush on roads and bridges and that could freeze over at night.”

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield, who is over Vicksburg’s public works department, was concerned Monday afternoon that city streets on hills, which froze over Monday during the snow might be in the same condition Tuesday.

Tuesday, however, he said reports from Vicksburg police indicated everything was in good shape.

“All roadways and hilltops are clear of ice and debris,” he said.

The snow began falling late Sunday evening and continued through mid-morning Monday.

Road crews were up early working to ensure city streets and county roads were passable.

“We had few problems,” Pace said Monday. “We had some limbs down on the roads, but county road crews quickly got them off the road. None of the county roads are closed.”

Mayfield reported similar conditions inside the city limits. Vicksburg police reported three weather-related wrecks involving cars leaving Interstate 20 on the side of the road.

“Everything was in good shape,” Mayfield said Monday afternoon. “I was really well-pleased with our city employees and the street department crews did a good job getting the roads open, and the crews from the Mississippi Department of transportation did a good job keeping I-20 open.”

No power outages were reported in the county, Entergy customer service representative Shelia McKinnis said.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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