Nearly half an inch of precipitation turned to ice overnight causing more than 40 wrecks and leaving streets and roads slick Tuesday morning as another wave of winter weather was on its way.

From 2 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday, 41 wrecks — 26 in the city and 15 in the county—were reported, Warren County Emergency Manager John Elfer said.

“Travel is extremely hazardous,” Elfer said. “There will be some melting, but in shaded areas and on streets less traveled, that ice will remain until tomorrow.”

Drivers are advised to stay off the roads, unless necessary, Vicksburg police Chief Walter Armstrong said.

“I think that anytime we have ice, snow or even heavy rain, motorists who don’t have to be out there should refrain from being on the roadway. If you are going to be out there, you need to keep in mind that you need to reduce your speed,” Armstrong said.

Among the 41 crashes were three emergency vehicles, Elfer said.

Warren County deputy Johnny Gatson was southbound on Oak Ridge Road Monday when his vehicle struck a patch of black ice, Sheriff Martin Pace said.

“The car slid off the road and struck a tree. He was treated and released from River Region,” Pace said.

Two city patrol cars were also involved in crashes due to ice, but there were no injuries, Armstrong said.

No major injuries were reported in crashes in the city our county.

“Countywide, we have not had any serious incidences related to the weather. Just a lot of fender-benders. Nearly all of the accidents we have taken reports on have been single-vehicle accidents where they just slid off the road,” Pace said.

Power outages were reported in spots around the county, but most were concentrated along Fisher Ferry, Grange Hall and Dana roads, according to Entergy.

One fire was reported in the county during the freezing weather when a heating unit in a home at 5630 Gibson Road caught fire at 3:50 a.m. Tuesday, county fire coordinator Jerry Briggs said. No one was injured in the fire, and firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it caused major damage to the home.

The line of heavy icing seemed to be at the southern tip of Vicksburg, said District 5 Supervisor Richard George, who drove Tuesday morning from near the Claiborne County line to downtown Vicksburg.

“When you get to the city limits, it looks like all of the sudden someone started to throw ice out,” George said.

Additional freezing rain and show is expected Tuesday night and into Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.