A winter storm forecasters say is capable of producing more than an inch of snow is expected to hit sometime tonight, forcing local officials to take precautions and reschedule McComb’s Christmas parade.
The National Weather Service says a winter weather advisory will take effect 6 p.m. today until 6 a.m. Saturday.
A mix of rain and snow is expected to hit early this evening and gradually change to snow overnight.
Predictions indicate that Pike, Amite and Walthall counties could get up to 3 inches of snow as the system passes through.
The potential for inclement weather has forced the Pike County Chamber of Commerce to reschedule Saturday’s McComb Christmas parade, moving the starting time from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with participants lining up at 1:30 p.m. on South Railroad Boulevard. Magnolia’s Christmas parade will roll as scheduled at 5:30 p.m. today.
“Right now, we’re telling the cities and the county to have some extra sand available to put on bridges and overpasses,” said Pike County Civil Defense Director Richard Coghlan.
“We’re expecting ice on bridges and overpasses to be the biggest problem with this storm,” he said.
Coghlan said snow is expected to fall until about 4 or 5 a.m. Saturday, and he expects Pike County to get about a 21/2-inch accumulation overnight.
Amite County Civil Defense Director Sam Walsh said officials there began preparations Thursday by checking generators and gassing up vehicles. Walsh said he looks for snow to begin accumulating sometime after midnight and begin melting between 9 and 10 a.m. Saturday.
Coghlan and Walsh urged motorists to exercise caution, and the best action is to stay off roads during the storm.
“People shouldn’t go out unless they have to,” Walsh said. “They need to stay inside. When we had that snowfall last year, we had people out looking at the snow, and we had a lot of problems
Entergy customer service manager Jim Hedges said the utility’s vehicles and employees have been placed on standby in anticipation of the weather system.
He said no extra crews have been requested, “but that could change, depending on what happens later today.”
“We are looking for a minimal impact,” Hedges said. “But we’re not taking anything for granted. If we get a wet, heavy snow, it could affect trees and the power lines, and we are preparing for that.”
Magnolia Power Electric Power Association spokeswoman Lucy Shell said this morning that the cooperative’s equipment is ready to go, employees have been put on standby and three additional contractors have been secured to handle possible problems from the weather system.
“Right now, we’re watching and waiting,” she said.
